Shobha Gurtu

Shobha Gurtu was a renowned singer known for her performances in Marathi and Hindi film industries. The legendary songstress is primarily known for her role as a playback singer in the movies “Pakeezah”, directed by Kamal Amrohi Syed Amir Haider Kamal Naqvi, better known as Kama >> Read More... and “Phagun”, written and directed by Rajinder Singh Bedi. In the flick “Phagun”, she crooned the number ‘Bedardi Ban Gaye Koi Jaao Manaao More Saiyyaan’. Besides being honored with several other awards, her song ‘Saiyyaan Rooth Gaye,’ from the super hit movie “Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki”, was nominated for Best Female Playback Singer at Filmfare.

She also hummed songs for Marathi movies “ Samna Bio coming soon... >> Read More... ” and “Lal Mati”. “Samna” was a crime drama, helmed by Jabbar Patel Dr. Jabbar Patel (born June 23, 1942, in Pandharpu >> Read More... , known for the play Ghashiram Kotwal. The movie was nominated for the Golden Bear award at the 25th annual Berlin International Film Festival. Dubbed as the Thumri Queen due to her penchant for light classical music, her first album titled “At Her Best….Shobha Gurtu” was released in 1979. The album, which was released by The Gramophone Company of India (EMI), showcased her exceptional skills in the Purbi Gayaki (Uttar Pradesh) musical tradition. She traversed different nations to give her performances. She once performed with other well-known musicians as well as Pt. Birju Maharaj In today's times, hardly youngsters are intere >> Read More... at the Carnegie Hall, New York City. She worked on several albums like the one with Mehdi Hasan, where she sang gazals for ‘Tarz.’ She also sang for her son’s jazz albums. Gurtu is also known for the Jana Gana Mana video for singing the National Anthem in the 50th year of the Indian Republic. The video was a collaborative effort with other prominent classical singers. It was released in 2000.

Shobha Gurtu’s real name was Bhanumati Shirodkar. She was born and raised in Belgaum, Karnataka, in 1925. She trained under Ustad Bhurji Khan. Ustad Bhurji Khan was the youngest son of Ustad Alladiya Khan, a Hindustani classical singer who created the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana. However, she was initially instructed by her mother, Menekabai Shirodkar, who was a professional dancer.
Gurtu was proficient in semi-classical forms like Thumri, Dadra, Kajri, Hori, among others. Her singing was influenced by Begum Akhtar Begum Akhtar’s birth name was ‘Akhtari Bai Faizaba >> Read More... and Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan.

Gurtu took her later name when she married Vishwanath Gurtu. Vishwanath Gurtu was the son of Pandit Narayan Nath Gurtu, a senior official in the Belgaum Police. He also played the sitar. She had three sons, one of whom, named Trilok Gurtu Trilok Gurtu is an Indian composer. Trilok was bor >> Read More... , is a renowned percussionist and composer. Her son Ravi Gurtu was a rhythm player. Her third son is named Narendra. Gurtu received several prestigious awards during her career. The songstress bagged Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987. Her other honors were the Lata Mangeshkar Puraskar, Shahu Maharaj Puraskar. She also got Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar. However, her most significant achievement was Padma Bhushan, which she received in the year 2002. The veteran singer passed away on September 27, 2004, at the age of seventy-nine. She is survived by two of her sons, Trilok Gurtu and Narendra Gurtu.