Dhanashree Pandit Rai

Hindustani Singer

Dhanashree Pandit-Rai is one of the leading exponents of the Thumri form of music and her repertoire, includes thumri, chaiti, hori, kajri, sawan, jhoola as well as khayal. Her vision is to give thumri its rightful place on the concert stage.She was trained by Pandit Firoz Dastur, stalwart of the Kirana Gharana, and Thumri legend Shobha Gurtu. She has also been mentored by Begum Afroz Bano and Batuk Dewanji. She has performed in most of the leading music institutions and festivals in Mumbai and all over India including the NCPA, Nehru Centre, Naad Brahma, Vile Parle Music Circle, Udayan, Karnatak Sangh, Shiv Sangeetanjali, Y.B. Chavan Pratishthan, Prabha Atre Foundation, Megh Malhar Festival, Lucknow Music Festival (2006), Suburban Music Circle, Kalaghoda festival, Alladiya Khansaheb Festival, Delhi Thumri Festival organized by Sahitya Kala Parishad.She is a regular performer over All India Radio and has also recorded for Music Asia ("Alaap") and Star Plus ("Ninaad"). Dhanashree is a visiting lecturer at S.N.D.T. University, Mumbai. She also trains leading jazz musicians in Indian classical music and Thumri.