Sangeeta Katti Kulkarni

Sangeeta Katti Kulkarni is a renowned Indian Classical Vocalist. Born on October 7, 1970, on Saraswati Puja day, in Dharwad, she was aptly named “Sangeeta” (meaning music) by her parents, Dr. H.A. Katti and Smt. Bharati H. Katti, inspired by Mantralayam Shri Raghavendra Swamiji.

The Early Spark of Genius

Sangeeta’s innate musical talent was evident from a very young age, recognizing ragas at just 2 to 2.5 years old. Her father, recognizing this extraordinary inclination towards music, ensured her talent blossomed by providing unwavering support.

At the tender age of four, she was hailed as a “Wonder in music” by the legendary Sangeet Samrat Naushad Saheb of Indian Cinema. His awe stemmed from her ability to recognize the ragas of his classic compositions, an event that profoundly shaped her path towards learning Hindustani Classical Music.

Guidance from Illustrious Gurus

Sangeeta deeply values her gurus, considering them the “ultimate strength of a disciple.” Her father, Dr. H.A. Katti, significantly influenced her with his immense interest in Bharateeya Sangeet.

Her foundational training began with Pt. Sheshagiri Dandapur from Dharwad, under whom she studied until the age of eight, gaining a strong musical base.

Subsequently, she continued her learning with Pt. Chandrashekhar Puranikmath of Gadag, who introduced and trained her in khayal gayaki. It was Pt. Chandrashekhar Puranikmath who also introduced her to Padmabhushan Pt. Basavaraj Rajguru, a legend of the Kirana Gwalior gharanas. Under his tutelage, Sangeeta trained in the Kirana and Gwalior styles of khayal gayan for approximately 12 years. During this period, she also honed her skills in bhajans and Dasawani under Shri Anantacharya Kattegeri (Dasaru). This productive phase saw the release of several albums in bhakti sangeet and light classical music by esteemed companies like SANGEETHA and HMV, also paving the way for her successful entry into playback singing with a superhit debut song.

Upon the passing of Rajguru ji when Sangeeta ji was 21, her quest for a guru led her to the eminent Kishori Tai Amonkar of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. From Kishori Tai, she profoundly unfolded the “SwaraBhasha” of Raga-Raginis, continuing her learning for an impressive 22 years until Kishori Tai’s demise in 2017.

Versatility and Musical Expertise

Sangeeta Katti Kulkarni is celebrated for her versatility, singing various genres including Devotional, Light Music, Folk (Traditional folk – Kannada, Hindi, Marathi), Sufi, and Film music. Her khayal presentations are a beautiful blend of the Kirana, Gwalior, and Jaipur gharanas, marked by effortless Alaapi, profound Layakari with taans, and a deep exploration of raga nuances. Blessed with a sonorous voice, her ability to captivate audiences with her unique presentation of diverse musical facets truly sets her apart as a performer.

Significant Achievements

  • Performed thousands of solo concerts in Hindustani classical and light music worldwide.
  • Holds the first rank in Junior, Senior, and Vidwat state board exams in Hindustani classical vocal music.
  • Released hundreds of albums in devotional and classical music with various audio companies, including Master Rec. Co., HMV, Lahari, and Magnasound.
  • Had the distinct privilege of singing with maestros such as Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, Dr. S.P. Balasubramanyam, Dr. K.J. Yesudas, and Dr. Rajkumar.
  • Rendered playback for several South Indian movies, earning awards for her renditions, notably in the movie “Nagamandala.”
  • Worked as a composer for numerous devotional, folk, and light music albums.
  • Her debut movie as a music director, “July 22 1947,” was released by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2016, who blessed her with the words “NADABRAHMOVIJAYATE.”
  • Served as a cultural bridge between Indian classical music and Western music through lectures and demonstrations like “THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN MUSIC AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC” at Ohio State University, Columbus, and other universities in India.
  • Her unique rendition of “VANDE MATARAM” has garnered millions of appreciations and followers globally and is a regular feature on national networks during national festivals.
  • Received appreciation for her “VANDE MATARAM” rendition from esteemed leaders including Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Shri L.K. Advaniji, Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji, and Smt. Sonia Gandhi.
  • Received special appreciation and blessings from BharatRatna Pt. Ravishankarji for rendering his thumri compositions for AIR.
  • Through her organization SURBAHAR, she actively conducts music festivals such as SurbaharSangeet Puraskar, GuruSmaran, and Diwali-Prabhat, dedicated to preserving her gurus’ tradition and promoting Indian classical music.
  • Her innovative concept-based shows, including “SangeetSarita” (a journey of Indian classical Ragas through Indian Cinema), “Parampara” (the evolution of Music in India), “Sangeet-Ninad” (Nada, Nritya, Laya – a fusion), and “BendreGeeta Yatra” (a literary musical feature on Varakavi Bendre), have become regular and highly anticipated features.
  • She also frequently presents musical tributes to various maestros, such as Mukesh.

Awards and Recognitions

  • Honorary Doctorate by CMR University (2026)

  • Suvarna Karnatak Rajyotsav award, the highest civilian award in the state (2006-07).
  • Pt. Basavaraj Rajguru Rashtreeya Puraskar (2011).
  • Saarthak Naari (2016) by CNBC news18.
  • VachanaSahityaShri (2016).
  • Ramanshree Sharana Prashathi (2016).
  • Sangeetya Aasthan (2008).
  • Astha Vidushi of Sringeri Sharda Peetham.
  • Nadprabhu Kempegowda award (2025).
  • Numerous other awards for playback and teleserials

Notable Performances

  • Sawai Gandharva Sangeetotsav, Kundagol (1978).
  • Mysore Dasara, palace durbar.
  • Historic Hampi Utsav.
  • Navraspur Utsav.
  • Chalukya Utsav.
  • Kittur Utsav.
  • Prestigious “Bolava Vitthala” a devotional sojourn of marathi Abhang series by Pancham Nishad.
  • Pt. Gururao Deshpande Sangeetotsav, Bangalore.
  • Rajguru Smriti Sangeetotsav, Bangalore.
  • Bengaluru Habba, the cultural fest, Bangalore.
  • Sawai Gandharva Sangeetotsav, Pune (2003).
  • Gan-Gandharv Sangeetotsav, Pune.
  • Spirit of Unity Concerts for Universal Integration.
  • MahaKumbh Mela, Haridwar (2010).
  • Surajkund Mela, Haryana.
  • National Integration Fest, New Delhi.
  • Sankat-Mochan music festival, Varanasi.
  • Subah-e-Banaras, Varanasi.
  • Dev-Deepawali Gangotri Utsav, Varanasi.
  • Barashat Music festival, Kolkata.
  • National Music festival, SCZ, Nagpur.
  • Dindi Utsav, Goa.
  • Basant Bahar, California, USA.
  • Indo-Canadian panorama, Toronto, Canada.
  • Millennium meet at USA, UK.
  • APKO-Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong.
  • AKKA-USA.
  • NAVIKA-USA.
  • UAE-Bahrain, Doha-Qatar.