Gwalior was one of the major centres for the development of dhrupad in the 16th century, but the Gwalior gharana, or school, as we know it today is considered to be the fountainhead of the khayal form.
This style was popularised in the 19th century by two brothers, Haddu Khan and Hassu Khan, and later by Haddu Khan’s sons, Chhote Muhammad Khan and Rehmat Khan, the latter of whom died in 1922.
The brothers Shankar and Eknath Pandit studied this style under Haddu and Hassu Khan as well as Nissar Hussein Khan. Krishnarao Pandit, the son of Shankar Pandit, was an important representative of this style at festivals across the country.
The Gwalior stream in Maharashtra was represented by Balkrishnabuwa Ichalkaranjikar and his disciples, noteworthy among them being the music educationist Vishnu Digambar Paluskar.
Many Gwalior gharana singers studied with other gurus and amalgamated stylistic features from various gharanas. But Krishnarao Shankar Pandit continued performing and teaching the traditional Gwalior style.
The state-run Films Division produced a documentary on Krishnarao Shankar Pandit, who died in 1989. Even though the spoken word in the film is stilted, it is an important document for future generations.
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This style was popularised in the 19th century by two brothers, Haddu Khan and Hassu Khan, and later by Haddu Khan’s sons, Chhote Muhammad Khan and Rehmat Khan, the latter of whom died in 1922.
The brothers Shankar and Eknath Pandit studied this style under Haddu and Hassu Khan as well as Nissar Hussein Khan. Krishnarao Pandit, the son of Shankar Pandit, was an important representative of this style at festivals across the country.
The Gwalior stream in Maharashtra was represented by Balkrishnabuwa Ichalkaranjikar and his disciples, noteworthy among them being the music educationist Vishnu Digambar Paluskar.
Many Gwalior gharana singers studied with other gurus and amalgamated stylistic features from various gharanas. But Krishnarao Shankar Pandit continued performing and teaching the traditional Gwalior style.
The state-run Films Division produced a documentary on Krishnarao Shankar Pandit, who died in 1989. Even though the spoken word in the film is stilted, it is an important document for future generations.
Pandit Krishnarao Shankar Pandit (1986), directed by Vijay Raghav Rao
