Arati Ankalikar Tikekar

Arati Ankalikar Tikekar is one of the leading vocalists in Hindustani classical music, known for her powerful voice, intricate raga interpretation, and command over traditional gayaki. Born on 27 January 1963 in Bijapur, Karnataka, and later based in Mumbai, she began her musical training under Pandit Vasantrao Kulkarni of the Agra–Gwalior tradition. She later received advanced guidance from the legendary vocalist Kishori Amonkar of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana and from Dinkar Kaikini, shaping a style that blends elements of the Agra, Gwalior, and Jaipur-Atrauli gharanas.

Over the decades, Ankalikar Tikekar has built a distinguished career as both a concert performer and playback singer. She has performed widely at major music festivals and cultural venues across India and internationally, presenting khayal, semi-classical compositions, and devotional music. Alongside her classical repertoire, she has contributed to film music in Marathi, Konkani, and Hindi cinema, singing for films such as Sardari Begum, De Dhakka, and Samhita, where her classical grounding brought depth and authenticity to playback singing.

Her artistic achievements have been recognized with numerous honors, including two National Film Awards for Best Female Playback Singer and the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2020. Through her concerts, recordings, and teaching initiatives, Arati Ankalikar Tikekar continues to contribute significantly to the preservation and dissemination of Hindustani classical vocal music for audiences in India and around the world.