Songs of the Divas 4

For hundreds of years, classical music in India appeared to have been a male dominated profession. In historical literature in which music is discussed, men have been identified as the great masters of music, men's names dominated all the lists of performers recorded during the period from 12th to 19th century.

Women's role in classical music throughout history, appears to have been subordinate. Women musicians seldom received the individual recognition that men did. Women have been referred to strictly as the ones whose primary artistic contribution was in dance. In North India the system of hereditary musicians excluded women by not allowing them to be either Ustads or Pandits (teachers). Women in some musician communities were used primarily to maintain a strict lineage in the family.

Arati Ankalikar - Meera Bhajan :  (Download)



Kaushiki Chakrabarty - Dadra Pahadi :  (Download)





Malini Rajurkar - Bandish Ki Thumri :  (Download)



Veena Sahasrabuddhe - Kabir (Ramaiya Ki Dulhan) :  (Download)



Fortunately, much of that has changed dramatically during the last few decades. Women classical artists of today are not only doing fabulously well in their artistic field, but many of them have proved their mettle in other areas as well. Women musicians of the modern era are thorough professionals, and a few of them are pursuing successful careers, in as diverse a field as, for example, a software consultant. Music remains their first passion, of course.

.. more Songs of the Divas »

QUIZ ANSWERS : Here are the correct answers to the two Quiz Songs posted in my previous posts :

Quiz Song 3 : Badara Ki Chhanv Tale Nanhi Nanhi Bundiyan
Male Singer : Mukesh
Female Singer : Suraiya
Film : Lekh (1949)

Quiz Song 4 : O Janewale Balamwa
Male Singer : Shyam Kumar
Female Singer : Amirbai Karnataki
Film : Rattan (1944)

Comments are welcome.