Ulhas Kashalkar
Encyclopedia
Pandit Ulhas N Kashalkar (born 14 January 1955) is a noted Hindustani classical
vocalist. He has received training in the Gwalior
, Jaipur
and Agra
gharana
s, and is considered a legitimate representative of all three schools.
. He received his first lessons in music from his father N D Kashalkar, a lawyer by profession and a noted amateur vocalist and musicologist. He went on to study music at Nagpur University, topping his post-graduate class. Around that time, he trained under Rajabhau Kogje and P N Khardenavis.
. An examination of an artiste's musical lineage often yields rich insights into his musical style and personality. Kashalkar studied principally under Pandit Ram Marathe and Gajananrao Joshi
.
Ram (Ramchandra Purshottam) Marathe (1924–1989), popularly referred to as "Rambhau", was a vocalist in the Gwalior tradition. He was a disciple of Master Krishnarao, who in turn studied under the legendary Bhaskarbuwa bakhale
, a key figure in the history of the Gwalior gharana
. Pandit Marathe also trained in the Agra style for fifteen years under Jagannathbua Purohit. That apart, he was a prominent actor and music director in the Marathi stage. Kashalkar undertook a long period of tutelage under him. Indeed, most characteristic features of his style can be traced to Gajananrao's vocalism.
station of All India Radio
. In 1993 he became a Guru
at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, where he remains today.
being presented. He is noted for his authentic presentations of obscure traditional ragas. In an uncharacteristically expansive passage, the veteran music critic Prakash Wadhera once noted:
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...
vocalist. He has received training in the Gwalior
Gwalior gharana
The Gwalior Gharana is one of the oldest Khyal Gharanas. The rise of the Gwalior Gharana started with the reign of the great Mughal emperor Akbar...
, Jaipur
Jaipur-Atrauli gharana
The Jaipur-Atrauli gharana is a Khayal-based stylized singing family-hood , founded by Utd. Alladiya Khan in the late 19th century...
and Agra
Agra gharana
Agra Gharana is a tradition of Hindustani Classical Vocal Music descended from the Nauhar Bani. So far, Nauhar Bani has been traced back to around 1300 AD, during the reign of Emperor Allauddin Khilji of Delhi....
gharana
Gharana
In Hindustani music, a gharānā is a system of social organization linking musicians or dancers by lineage or apprenticeship, and by adherence to a particular musical style. A gharana also indicates a comprehensive musicological ideology. This ideology sometimes changes substantially from one...
s, and is considered a legitimate representative of all three schools.
Early life
Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar was born in NagpurNagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...
. He received his first lessons in music from his father N D Kashalkar, a lawyer by profession and a noted amateur vocalist and musicologist. He went on to study music at Nagpur University, topping his post-graduate class. Around that time, he trained under Rajabhau Kogje and P N Khardenavis.
Tutelage
Indian music is contoured heavily by its pedagogic tradition of the Guru-shishya traditionGuru-shishya tradition
The guru-shishya tradition, lineage, or parampara, denotes a succession of teachers and disciples in traditional Indian culture and religions such as Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism. It is the tradition of spiritual relationship and mentoring where teachings are transmitted from a guru...
. An examination of an artiste's musical lineage often yields rich insights into his musical style and personality. Kashalkar studied principally under Pandit Ram Marathe and Gajananrao Joshi
Gajananrao Joshi
Gajanan Anant Joshi was a vocalist and violinist in Hindustani music.-Early life and background:Joshi came from a family of musicians...
.
Ram (Ramchandra Purshottam) Marathe (1924–1989), popularly referred to as "Rambhau", was a vocalist in the Gwalior tradition. He was a disciple of Master Krishnarao, who in turn studied under the legendary Bhaskarbuwa bakhale
Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale
Bhaskar Raghunath Bakhale was a Hindustani classical vocalist, a composer, and a teacher.-Education:...
, a key figure in the history of the Gwalior gharana
Gwalior gharana
The Gwalior Gharana is one of the oldest Khyal Gharanas. The rise of the Gwalior Gharana started with the reign of the great Mughal emperor Akbar...
. Pandit Marathe also trained in the Agra style for fifteen years under Jagannathbua Purohit. That apart, he was a prominent actor and music director in the Marathi stage. Kashalkar undertook a long period of tutelage under him. Indeed, most characteristic features of his style can be traced to Gajananrao's vocalism.
Career
Ulhas Kashalkar initially worked as a programme executive at the ThaneThane
Thane , is a city in Maharashtra, India, part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, northeastern suburb of Mumbai at the head of the Thane Creek. It is the administrative headquarters of Thane district. On 16 April 1853, G.I.P...
station of All India Radio
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
. In 1993 he became a Guru
Guru
A guru is one who is regarded as having great knowledge, wisdom, and authority in a certain area, and who uses it to guide others . Other forms of manifestation of this principle can include parents, school teachers, non-human objects and even one's own intellectual discipline, if the...
at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, where he remains today.
As a Musician
Both Rambhau and Gajananrao were uncompromising traditionalists despite their eclecticism and diversity of tutelage. This finds ample reflection in Kashalkar's vocalism as well. He possesses the rare ability to switch between three distinct styles (namely Gwalior, Jaipur and Agra), at times even in the course of a single performance. At the same time, he adheres strictly to the aesthetic contours of each individual style, and also to the formal and aesthetic demands of the ragaRaga
A raga is one of the melodic modes used in Indian classical music.It is a series of five or more musical notes upon which a melody is made...
being presented. He is noted for his authentic presentations of obscure traditional ragas. In an uncharacteristically expansive passage, the veteran music critic Prakash Wadhera once noted:
Ulhas is a fabulous vocalist, still in his middle years and young, who has an old musical head stuffed with innumerable current and rare ragas and compositions. Like a computer he never errs in any raga or composition howsoever intertwined or tricky it may be. He, just seems to press one key and out comes a raga in the true Jaipur colours, another to obtain a melody attired in the Agra style and still another to get a raga in the Gwalior habiliments. One can only imagine Kashalkar's questionless loyalty to his various gurus, and his own prodigious capacity to assimilate and consolidate the incoming knowledge.