PRABHA ATRRE 

Internationally renowned Hindustani classical vocalist Dr. Prabha Atrre is perhaps the only performer who has also excelled as a brilliant thinker, academician, author, composer and teacher of music. She is one of the senior most, front ranking vocalists in the country representing the Kirana gharaanaa, today. A Science and Law graduate, she also holds a Doctorate in music. A former Assistant Producer with the All India Radio, former Professor and Head of the Department of Music, SNDT Women's University, Mumbai, and former Producer-Director of the recording company `Swarashree', devoted only to Classical Music, Dr. Prabha Atrre has a rare blend of skill and insight. She has displayed constant innovation and creative endeavour which has distinguished her from other vocalists, both in the classical and light classical idioms. She is working as a committee member for several social, educational and cultural institutions.

Dr. Atrre has set up `Dr. Prabha Atrre Foundation’ which aims to promote the cause of Indian classical music and performing arts. She has also established `Swaramayee gurukul’ which strives to bridge the prevailing gap between the academic institutions and the traditional guru-shishya paramparaa and plans to nurture talented students into professionals who aspire to take music as a career.

Dr. Atrre has authored academic books on the various aspects of music that are especially relevant to the present day performance. Her Doctoral thesis on `Sargam' or the use of sol-fa names as musical material, is a pioneering work on the subject. Her very first book `Swaramayee' a compilation of her articles on music which has bagged the Maharashtra State Govt. Award is a classic example of her analytical approach and original thinking. Her second book `Suswaraalee' also received great accolades. Madhya Pradesh Govt. Hindi Granth Academy has published Hindi translation of `Swaramayee' and `Suswaraalee' with a view to take these books to Hindi knowing music lovers. `Swaraanginee' and ‘Swaranjanee’ carry 450 of her popular compositions in classical, light classical and bhajans. Her books in English `Enlightening the Listener’ - Contemporary North Indian Classical Vocal Music Performance' (accompanied with an illustrative audio recording) and ‘Along the Path of Music’ have helped the global music lovers to understand and appreciate the Indian art music objectively. Perhaps the only book of its kind, ‘Antahswar’ – a book of poems on music and musical experiences in Marathi and also in English by Dr. Atrre brings out a different aspect of her creative musical personality. ‘AMRUTPRABHA’ – abhinandangranth (souvenir) – published during the felicitation held on the occasion of 75^th birthyear of Dr. Atrre for her contribution towards Indian music contains archival photographs and critical articles from scholars (Indian and non-Indian), musicians, musicologists, critics, connoisseurs, lay listeners, students and family.

Dr. Atrre is an acclaimed guru both in performance and research. Quite a few of her students are well known stage and mass media performers. Dr. Atrre has also been teaching at foreign universities as a visiting professor. Her public concerts, radio and TV programmes and lecture - demonstrations in India and abroad to audiences of varying tastes have always been highly appreciated. She has been honoured with the National Awards `PADMASHREE', `PADMABHUSHAN’, ‘KALIDAS SAMMAN’ and `SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI' Award in recognition of her exceptional creativity, highest artistic excellence, outstanding achievement and distinguished life time services in the field of classical vocal music.

Dr. Prabha Atrre was trained in the traditional `guru-shishya paramparaa' system by the late Sureshbabu Mane and his famous sister, Padmabhushan Hirabai Badodekar, both stalwarts of the Kirana gharaanaa.

Dr. Atrre is a ‘Top’ Grade artist of the All India Radio. Her sincerity to art and sensitivity to the times clearly surface in her thinking and singing. Whether it is khyaal, taraanaa, thumri, daadraa, ghazal or bhajan, she has a distinct style and typical ingenuity in design and presentation. Her pleasant and dignified presence on stage, her chaste and creative approach, her imaginative play with subtleties of tones and dynamics, her effortless control over intricate yet appealing phrases in aalaap, taan and sargam, her precise articulation of words and stirring portrayal of the emotional themes – all these make her music a singularly satisfying experience.