Mar 08 2025 to Mar 08 2025 5 p.m.

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

Mai Ri beautifully captures the legacy and struggles of two extraordinary women in Indian classical music: Padmabhushan Gaanatapaswini Mogubai Kurdikar and her daughter, Padmavibhushan Gaanasaraswati Kishori Amonkar. Smt. Mogubai Kurdikar, an eminent vocalist of the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana, navigated a time when women in music faced societal and institutional barriers. Through sheer dedication and artistic brilliance, she not only earned her place as one of the most revered figures in classical music but also ensured that her daughter and disciple, Kishori Amonkar, became one of the most influential vocalists of her era.

Conceptualized by noted vocalist Radhika Joshi, who carries forward this lineage as a disciple of Pt. Raghunandan Panshikar (a senior disciple of Kishori Amonkar and student of Mogubai Kurdikar), Mai Ri is a thematic presentation that brings alive their musical and personal journeys. Through a carefully curated selection of bandishes composed by Mai (Mogubai Ji) and Kishoritai, Radhika interweaves music with storytelling, sharing anecdotes from their lives that offer a rare glimpse into their artistic and emotional worlds.

Radhika Joshi will be accompanied by Sumith Naik on Tabla and Surya Upadhyay on Harmonium, enriching the performance with their artistry.

This event is part of Unheard Narratives, BIC’s programmes to commemorate Women’s Day 2025. It celebrates the power of unheard narratives—spotlighting the resilience, artistry, and impact of women whose stories have shaped India’s cultural and social fabric. Through performances, talks, and films, we bring these voices to the forefront.

Performers

Radhika Joshi
Vocals
Dr. Radhika Joshi is a distinguished Hindustani classical vocalist, trained under Pt. Raghunandan Panshikar, a senior disciple of Gaansaraswati Kishori Amonkar. She has also studied semi-classical forms like Thumri, Kajri, Hori, and Dadra under Padmabhushan Smt. Girija Devi at the Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata.

She has performed at renowned festivals and institutions, including Ustad Abdul Karim Khan Smriti Samiti, Deval Club, and Dadar Matunga Cultural Centre, and is a graded artist of All India Radio. As part of the G20 celebrations, she was invited by AIR to present a special semi-classical concert for Akashwani and Doordarshan. A recipient of the National Scholarship for Performing Arts, she is also the founder of Jaipur Gunijankhana, a Pune-based archive dedicated to documenting and preserving Hindustani music, for which she received the Museum and Research Fellowship from the India Foundation for the Arts.

Beyond music, Radhika holds a master’s in economics from Tufts University and a PhD from IIM Bangalore, but her deep commitment to her artistic heritage led her to pursue music full-time.

Sumith Naik
Tabla
Sumith Naik, is a talented young tabla artist from Kerala and now settled in Bangalore. Pandit Naveen Pai and Dr Udayraj Karpur have been his Gurus in Kochi and Bangalore respectively.

He has accompanied many renowned Hindustani and Carnatic Classical musicians including Padmashri Pt. Venkatesh Kumar, Pt. Arun Kashalkar, Vidushi Shruti Sadolikar, Pt. Nityanand Haldipur, Ustad Faiyaz Khan, Pt. Jayateerth Mevundi, Pt. Sudhakar Deole, Vid. Lalit J Rao, Dr. Ravindra Katoti, Pt. Parameshwar Hegde, Vid M. Chandrashekaran, Vid. Patri Satish Kumar, Pt. Somnath Mardur, Pt. Upendra Bhat, Dr. Jyothi Kale, Vidwan O.S.Arun, Vid. Shankaran Namboodiri, Vidushi. Sangeeta Katti Kulkarni, Vid. Shriram Parasuram and several others across the country.

Surya Upadhyaya
Harmonium
Surya Updhayaya is a Harmonium artist who started his initial training under Sri. Ananth Bhagwath and then went on to train with Pandit Ravindra Katoti. He has accompanied several senior and young musicians in performances.