Ajay Pohankar (born 24 February 1947) is an Indian classical vocalist belonging to Kirana Gharana school of Hindustani classical music.[1][2]

Pandit Ajay Pohankar
Born (1947-02-24) 24 February 1947 (age 77)
OriginJabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India
GenresHindustani classical music, Kirana Gharana
OccupationClassical Vocalist
Websitewww.ajaypohankar.in

Background and career

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Ajay Pohankar (Marathi: अजय पोहणकर) was born in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh in a Deshastha Brahmin Marathi family, where his father was a lawyer. His first Guru was his mother Sushilabai Pohankar, a classical vocalist and a musicologist of Kirana gharana. At a young age of 11, Pohankar was invited to perform at the annual Sawai Gandharva Music Festival in Pune[3] His sister, Swati Natekar, is also a singer based in London.

Ajay Pohankar is married to Anjali, a vocalist and musicologist who has also written a book on Thumri. They have a son, Abhijit Pohankar, a keyboard player of Indian classical music and a fusion music composer and producer.[4]

Awards and honours

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In 2009, Pohankar was awarded the Tansen Samman by the Government of Madhya Pradesh[5] In 2012, he was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the highest award for performing artists, conferred by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama.[6][7]

References

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  1. ^ "Ajay Pohankar concert". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 9 November 2010. Archived from the original on 13 November 2010.
  2. ^ "Sitara, Keka to perform in Mumbai". The Times of India. 8 March 2011. Archived from the original on 23 March 2012.
  3. ^ Samhita Barooah. "Five decades of uncompromised music". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  4. ^ "Magical fusion - Express India". Archived from the original on 21 September 2012. Retrieved 26 February 2009.
  5. ^ "Tansen Samman for Ghulam Mustafa Khan". The Pioneer. 26 November 2010. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
  6. ^ "Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowships and Akademi Awards 2012" (PDF). Press Information Bureau, Govt of India. Retrieved 28 May 2012.
  7. ^ "SNA: List of Akademi Awardees". Sangeet Natak Akademi Official website. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015.
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