Manjusha Kulkarni Patil

Manjusha Kulkarni-Patil (born 2 November 1971 in Sangli, Maharashtra) is an Indian Hindustani classical vocalist associated with the Gwalior gharana tradition. Born into a family with a strong musical background, she began her training in classical music at the age of twelve under Chintubua Mhaiskar. She later received extensive guidance from Sangeetacharya Pt. D. V. Kanebuwa of the Agra and Gwalior gharanas for over a decade. She continues her advanced training under Padma Shri Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar and Dr. Vikas Kashalkar. She holds a Master of Arts in Music and the Sangeet Visharad degree from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, Miraj, and is recognized as an ‘A’ grade artist of All India Radio for both classical and semi-classical music.

As a performer, Manjusha Kulkarni-Patil is particularly known for her presentation of the khayal form in Hindustani classical music. In addition to khayal, she performs a range of semi-classical forms, including thumri, bhajan, natya sangeet, and other traditional repertoire associated with the musical culture of Maharashtra. Her performances have been presented at many major classical music festivals and conferences, including the Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Festival in Pune, Tansen Samaroha in Gwalior, Dover Lane Music Conference in Kolkata, Malhar Festival at Nehru Centre in Mumbai, and Saptak Festival in Ahmedabad.

Over the course of her career, she has performed widely across India and internationally in locations such as the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and Muscat. Her contributions to Hindustani classical music have been recognized through several awards, including the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar from the Sangeet Natak Akademi, the Kumar Gandharva Award, and the Ustad Faiyaz Khan Award. Known for her expressive interpretation of ragas and attention to traditional aesthetics, Manjusha Kulkarni-Patil continues to perform, record, and contribute to the dissemination of Hindustani classical vocal music.