Naina Devi (27 September 1917 – 1 November 1993) was a Hindustani vocalist best known for her Thumri renditions. She also performed dadra, chaiti and ghazals. She studied Hindustani vocals in both Rampur-Sahaswan and Benaras traditions. She was married into the royal family of Kapurthala State, and started her musical journey at the age of 32 after her husband’s death. She was awarded the Padma Shri in 1974 and many other honours. She was a music producer at All India Radio and Doordarshan, both in Delhi. She published a biography titled Mushtaq Hussain Khan in 1964 and, in 1985, Thumri, Its Development and Gayeki.
Naina Devi – Thumri Queen
Naina Devi
Naina Devi was born in Kolkata. She was born to social reformer Keshab Chandra Sen’s son Saral Chandra Sen, and famous dancer & actress Sadhana Bose was her elder sister. Born into an aristocratic family, she and two of her aunts were married to royal families. Her sister Sadhana Bose was married to film director Madhu Bose, son of the famous geologist and palaeontologist Pramatha Nath Bose. Once her uncle took her to a local theatre for a concert, and she was drawn towards the world of music.
Belonging to a conservative family, learning music was a next-to-impossible task for her. Pandit Dhruvatara Joshi, who was based in Lucknow during his early career, was one of her early gurus. He was working with All India Radio then, and he unreservedly taught her the intricate voice production and authentic bandishes of the Agra lineage.
Later, she took musical lessons under Girija Shankar Chakravarty, Mushtaq Hussain Khan, Pandit Dhruvatara Joshi, and Rasoolan Bai. At the age of 16, she got married to Ripjit Singh, a member of the royal family of Kapurthala State. As per Rajput tradition, she was not allowed to sing. After her husband’s death, she moved to Delhi, where she lived the rest of her life. She also started her singing career. Her meeting with Sumitra Charan Das and his wife helped her to revise her singing career. She also taught numerous students.
Naina Devi – Some interesting facts
During her younger days
1. When Naina Devi got married to a royal family of Punjab at the age of 16, she was not allowed to sing, even for pleasure.
2. She took the name Rani Nina Ripjit Singh after marriage.
3. She served as the artistic director of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra while in Delhi.
4. Despite being a successful dancer and actress, her sister Naina Devi lived in penury and even begged on the streets during her last days in the 1950s.
5. Subha Mudgal and Vidya Rao are among her famous students.
6. Her signature, world-renowned performing style was Benaras Gharana Thumri (Purab Ang) – Her primary style.
7. Because she lived in Lucknow for a massive portion of her life and loved its Urdu poetry culture, she was also highly proficient in the Lucknow style of Thumri and Ghazal singing (Secondary style).
Recent Comments