Jun 06 2026 to Jun 06 2026 11 a.m.

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

A voice that could whisper and blaze, shatter and seduce, in the same breath.

Asha Bhosle was one of India’s most iconic playback singers, one of the most recorded voices in history. Her repertoire spanned cabaret numbers to ghazals, pop experiments and timeless classics. She was also a woman who navigated personal struggles, artistic competition, and reinvention with resilience and flair.

This discussion will trace her evolution as an artist and public figure through the decades of change in Indian cinema and music industries. Interwoven through the conversation are live renditions of some of her memorable songs. The session will conclude with an audience Q&A.

Courage, wit, and joie de vivre: that is Asha Bhosle.

In collaboration with:

Speakers & Performers

Pavan Jha
Cultural Historian & Technocrat
Pavan Jha is a technocrat, cultural historian, and noted chronicler of Hindi cinema and film music. He collaborated with the BBC for four years on contemporary film music and has written extensively for publications including The Hindu, Outlook, and The Quint. Jha has also created and sustained digital archives on artists such as Gulzar and Salil Chowdhury, among the longest-running repositories of their kind, active for over twenty-five years. He hosts the popular podcast Haal-Chaal Theek Thaak Hai, which examines cinema, literature, and music through the lens of Indian culture. His recent works include Meel ke Patthar, a comprehensive history of Hindi film music co-authored with historian Vijay Verma; Shailendra – A Love Lyric; and a major volume on Gulzar’s work for children.

S R Ramakrishna
Writer & Musician
S R Ramakrishna is a journalist, translator, and musician. He was till recently associate editor, Deccan Herald. He has worked with a host of publications, including The New Indian Express, Bangalore Mirror, Mid Day, Yahoo!, and Talk, and cobtinues to write a column for Prism, Deccan Herald’s opinions page.

As a harmonium player, he has accompanied leading Hindustani classical vocalists on stage. He has also scored music for theatre, television, and films directed by such luminaries as Girish Karnad and Girish Kasaravalli. He founded The Music Magazine, India’s first online music magazine, and is now working on setting up Hit (hitmusicmag.com), an online magazine covering all genres.

Ramakrishna has translated renowned writers such as Siddalingaiah, U R Ananthamurthy, P Lankesh, and Devanura Mahadeva from Kannada to English. He currently heads quality at IIMBx, IIM Bangalore’s digital learning foundation.

Gaurav Sharma
Storyteller
Gaurav Sharma is a storyteller and motivational speaker known for bringing rare, unheard stories from the world of Indian films and music to life and leadership. He has collaborated on the National Award-winning film Pancham Unmixed on Rahul Dev Burman, as well as Kaagaz Ki Kashti, celebrating the life and legacy of Jagjit Singh. His content and talks have garnered over a million views on Instagram. Alongside his creative pursuits, Gaurav is also a senior corporate leader at a fast-growing start-up, having graduated from IIT and, as a Gold Medallist, from IIM.

Shruti Bhide
Singer, Performer & Voice Artist
Shruti Bhide, widely celebrated as the ‘Golden Girl of Karnataka’ is a dynamic, versatile, and expressive multilingual vocalist known for blending tradition with innovation. She is admired for her rich tonal quality, magnetic stage presence, and effortless renditions across languages, eras and genres.

An All India Radio graded artist and a versatile professional, Shruti has carved a unique space in India’s contemporary and concert music circuit. She is a playback singer, concert performer, audio engineer, voice-over artiste, and theatre performer. She has been honoured with prestigious recognitions including the International Fellowship of Rotarian Musicians Award and the Sangeeta Kala Ratna. With over 3000 performances across India for major concerts and corporate events, Shruti is also the founder of the Golden Girl Voice Series, cementing her place as one of the country’s most celebrated and impactful stage performers.

Samarth Desai
Hindustani Guitarist & Composer
Samarth Desai is a Bengaluru-based Hindustani Classical guitarist and among the rare musicians to adapt the 12-string acoustic guitar to the Indian classical tradition. Rooted in the Guru-Shishya parampara while embracing contemporary and fusion influences, his music blends classical depth with a distinctive modern sensibility.

He has performed alongside leading Indian musicians including Pt. Jayateerth Mevundi, Vijay Prakash, Mahalakshmi Iyer, Shivamani, Roop Kumar Rathod, and Runa Rizvi. Samarth also leads 7-Headed Soul, a live fusion ensemble, and has released original albums such as Fusion Regalo and Romanticism. A Trinity College of London alumnus with Distinction, he is the recipient of four State Awards and a National Award at the Government of India’s National Youth Festival.

As founder of his guitar academy, Samarth mentors students across levels, focusing on Hindustani Classical guitar through the traditional Guru-Shishya approach.