Dhondutai Kulkarni

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Dhondutai Kulkarni

| image =

| image_size =

| image_caption =

| birth_name = Dhondu Kulkarni

| Also known as =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1927|7|23|df=y}}

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2014|6|1|1927|7|23}}

| death_place = Mumbai, India

| birth_place = Kolhapur, India

| instrument = singing

| genre = Khyal

| occupation = Indian classical music

| years_active = 1935 - 2014

| label =

| website =

}}

Dhondutai Kulkarni, (23 July 1927 – 1 June 2014) was an Indian classical singer from the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. She was the last legendary exponent of orthodox Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana.

Early life

Dhondutai was born in a Brahmin family in Kolhapur, Maharashtra.{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Dhondutai-Kulkarni-A-life-steeped-in-simplicity-soaked-in-music/articleshow/35911853.cms |title=Dhondutai Kulkarni: A life steeped in simplicity, soaked in music | Mumbai News |work=The Times of India|date=2014-06-02 |accessdate=2020-01-17}} Her father initiated her into music. Subsequently, she came under the tutelage of Bhurji Khan of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana.{{cite news|title=Dhondutai Kulkarni: A life steeped in simplicity, soaked in music|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Dhondutai-Kulkarni-A-life-steeped-in-simplicity-soaked-in-music/articleshow/35911853.cms|accessdate=25 March 2018|work=The Times of India}} Gaining recognition as a child artiste she became an All India Radio performing artiste at the age of eight{{citation needed|date=April 2018}}. Her training continued under the mentorship of Gaan-Chandrika Laxmibai Jadhav and Ustad Azizuddin Khan, disciple and grandson of Ustad Alladiya Khan, the founder of the gharana. She received most of her repertoire of rare Ragas from Ustad Azizuddin Khan. Thereafter, she spent a long number of years under the tutelage of Kesarbai Kerkar, ending up as her sole disciple.

Awards and recognition

Dhondutai has been awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1990.{{cite web|title=SNA: List of Akademi Awardees – Music – Vocal |publisher=Sangeet Natak Akademi |url=http://www.sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/awardeeslist.htm |accessdate=21 May 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331060603/http://www.sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/awardeeslist.htm |archivedate=31 March 2016}} She was regularly featured at the "Surashri Kesarbai Kerkar Sangeet Sammelan" since its beginnings, she sang last at these concerts.{{cite news|url= https://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column-a-purist-to-the-core-dhondutai-kulkarni-s-legacy-is-in-danger-1993274|title= A purist to the core, Dhondutai Kulkarni's legacy is in danger|date= 4 June 2014|work= Daily News and Analysis}}

Journalist Namita Devidayal's book The Music Room chronicles a significant part of Dhondutai's life, music and career. Namita has been one of her students and learned from her over a period of 25 years. The book talks about the life and music of Alladiya Khan, Kesarbai Kerkar and Dhondutai.{{cite web | url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070928/asp/opinion/story_8367570.asp | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011155542/http://telegraphindia.com/1070928/asp/opinion/story_8367570.asp | url-status=dead | archive-date=11 October 2007 | title=Of Lost Worlds and Timeless Spaces | publisher=Telegraph India | date=28 September 2007 | accessdate=2 June 2014 | author=Ghoshal, Somak}}