Sumati Mutatkar was a Hindustani vocalist and Khyal singer of the 20th century. She practised the Agra gharana in classical music. She was also a musicologist who served as a Professor of the Department of Music at the University of Delhi. She is a recipient of multiple honours and recognitions, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 1979, Padma Shri in 1999, and the Kalidas Samman by the Government of Madhya Pradesh in 2002.
Professor Dr. Sumati Mutatkar – 20th Century Khyal Singer Belonging to Agra Gharana
Her maiden name is Sumati Amberdekar. She was born in Balaghat on 10 September 1916. Her father, Gajanan Amberdekar, was a judge. Her mother’s name is Sundari Subedar. She was the eldest child of the couple.
She received formal training from different schools of music. Pandit Rajabhaiya Poochwale of Gwalior Gharana, Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan and Pandit S. N. Ratanjankar of Agra Gharana, and Pandit Anant Manohar Joshi and Ustad Mushtaq Hussain Khan of the Rampur Gharana taught her music. She studied at the Bhatkhande Music Institute under Pandit S. N. Ratanjankar.
Dr. Sumati Mutatkar actively practised and performed as a vocalist on stage for many years. She was the very first woman permitted to perform Dhrupad and Dhamar, performed by male artists till then. Her concert career spanned several decades, and Sumati performed across prominent cities in the country.
She joined AIR in 1953
After studies, she joined All India Radio as the Director of Music in 1953, and subsequently became Deputy Chief Producer of Music. In 1968, she joined the Faculty of Music and Fine Arts at the University of Delhi, where she taught students until her retirement in 1981, serving as Dean.
Sumati Mutatkar also researched music and published several books. She died on 28 February 2007, aged 91, at a private hospital in Kolkata. Her daughter survived her.
Also read: Ustad Faiyaz Khan – The Greatest Hindustani Vocalist Belonging to Agra Gharana.
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