Ruchira Kedar

Ruchira Kedar is a well-known young singer in Hindustani classical music. She mixes two styles: Gwalior and Jaipur-Atrauli. Her voice is firm and smooth, so she can sing hard songs easily. Many people, both music experts and newcomers, enjoy listening to her. 

Ruchira was born in Bhopal and grew up surrounded by music. Her dad, Dilip Kale, taught her music first and saw her talent early on. He helped her start learning music and always encouraged her. At fourteen, she moved to Pune to learn more. This was a big step for her, and her family stood by her side. 

In Pune, Ruchira learned from Dr Alaka Deo Marulkar, a well-known Jaipur gharana singer. Dr Marulkar provided her with a strong foundation in music and taught her the distinctive features of this style. At the same time, Ruchira finished her studies and got a Master's degree in English and Music. 

Later, Ruchira got a scholarship to study at the ITC Sangeet Research Academy (SRA) in Kolkata. There, she learned from Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar, a well-known singer. This time was crucial for her. She got better at both the Gwalior and Jaipur styles, learning to blend the intense sound of Gwalior with the detailed tunes of Jaipur. 

At SRA, she also learned from Vidushi Girija Devi, known as the Thumri Queen. This experience gave her singing more feeling and depth, especially in the Banaras style. She learned to sing semi-classical forms like Thumri, Dadra, Hori, and Kajri with great emotion. This helped her develop a flexible style, moving easily between the serious Khayal and the more expressive Thumri. 

People often praise Ruchira for her smooth singing and accurate notes. She builds each raga step by step, showing careful planning and skill. She keeps the raga pure but also adds her own emotion. Her singing shows she understands both the words and the mood of the music, making her performances both thoughtful and moving. 

She has performed at many major music festivals in India and abroad, including the Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav in Pune, the Tansen Samaroh in Gwalior, the Dover Lane Music Conference in Kolkata, and the Darbar Festival in London. She also sang at the Bengal Classical Music Festival in Dhaka. People like her calm stage presence and strong performances, and she has fans worldwide. 

Ruchira received the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar from the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2018 for her work in Indian classical music. Besides performing, she teaches the next generation. She leads the School of Music at Vishwakarma University in Pune and has taught students at Lalit Kala Kendra. She has released albums such as "Rising Stars" and has worked in devotional music, demonstrating her talents as both an artist and a teacher.