Veena Sahasrabuddhe, classical singer, dead at 67

Pune: Veena Sahasrabuddhe, an acclaimed Hindustani classical singer and exponent of the Gwalior gharana has died following a prolonged illness, family sources said on Thursday.

The 67-year-old singer, who died at home on Wednesday, is survived by her husband, a son and a daughter.

Born in Kanpur on September 14, 1948, Sahasrabuddhe learnt music from her father Pandit Shankar Shripad Bodas, and her brother, Pandit Kashinath Shankar Bodas.

Known for her Khayal and Bhajans, Sahasrabuddhe had a bachelor’s and master’s degree in both vocal performance and Sanskrit literature.

She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 2013.

Vocalist Anjali Malkar, one of her disciples, told PTI, “I was fortunate that I got a chance to be with Veenaji for 20 years and also got an opportunity to learn music under her tutelage”.

“There was vibrancy in her voice, which used to captivate the audience and used to make them spellbound,” she added.

Malkar described Sahasrabuddhe as a great teacher and human being.

“Her attitude towards life was truly aesthetic and vibrant as her music,” she added.

Sahasrabuddhe moved to Pune in 1984 with her husband, Hari.

“After migrating to Pune, she got an invite to sing at the prestigious Sawai Gandharva Music Festival... she never looked back and achieved success,” Malkar recalled.

Sahasrabuddhe was cremated in the city. Noted tabla players Pandit Suresh Talwalkar and Ramdas Palsule and vocalist Vikas Kashalkar were at the funeral.