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Biography......
 
''She has not just shattered the stereotypical image of women musicians but has established herself as the country's only woman Tabla player who is pushing the dimensions with her experimentations. Today Anuradha Pal's name commands as much respect as that of Ustad Zakir Hussain…''
http://www.the-south-asian.com/Sep2004/anuradha_pal.htm

The first & only female professional Tabla player in the world (according to the Limca Book of records,1991), Anuradha Pal stormed into the music world with her extraordinary concert performances as a ‘child prodigy’ when she was barely ten & a half years old. Performing a rare blend of diverse styles of Tabla soloing & accompanying the virtual who’s who of Indian classical music, Anuradha has also extensively performed with African, Jazz & World Music musicians in major festivals in U.K, USA, Europe, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore & Africa.

Single minded dedication and an over riding hunger for musical excellence backed by excellent training from her Gurus, Tabla legends Ustads Alla Rakha & Zakir Hussain & the guidance of great musicians & her accomplished parents Devinder & Ilaa Dev Pal, have established Anuradha Pal as one of the ’30 leading Women of India’ & ‘a percussionist par excellence’(India Today 2006)

Clarity & tonal balance, pinpoint precision in rhythm & an amazing repertoire spiced with creativity & spontaneity have made Anuradha Pal ‘the most creative & influential female musician of Indian classical music’ according to the A. V Max Music Magazine, May 2001.

Anuradha is the only Indian woman musician & the youngest Indian musician to perform in the world renowned WOMAD festival in UK to an audience of 1.5 lakh people in 1999. She has the unique distinction of performing for dignitaries like the Queen of England, Prime Minister & President of India.

Music Direction- Anuradha Pal is the founder and music director of two distinct music groups ‘Stree Shakti’ (1996) & ‘Recharge’(2006) Anuradha Pal’s ‘Stree Shakti’ is Asia’s much acclaimed only all female, percussion-based, instrumental and vocal fusion group whereas Anuradha Pal’s Recharge is a unique World music fusion group combining various elements of Indian, African, Latin and Jazz music. Anuradha gave the background score in the acclaimed M.F Husain film ‘Gaja Gamini’ in 1999, which won tremendous acclaim in the Cannes Film Festival.

A recipient of several important awards, Anuradha was given the ‘Sanskrutic Puraskar’, the highest cultural award by the State of Maharashtra in 2006. She has been appreciated by the prestigious Encyclopedia Britannica, Asian-American/ Indo American Who’s who journal & ‘Influential people of the world’ journal for ’her well balanced musicianship & pioneering contribution as a trail blazer and trend setter for societies around the world.’

Anuradha has several CDs like ‘Sheer Magic’, ‘Nirvana’, ‘Sensational’, Stree Shakti, ‘Anu’ & ‘Jugalbandi’ and DVDs (Learn Well series) to her credit, released internationally.

 
Landmark Performances in prestigious International festivals
   
In U.K- WOMAD (World of music & dance festival), World premier of the Commonwealth Games, Greenwich & Docklands International Festival, BBC Music live festival, Bath International Music Festival, Rhythm Sticks festival, Cardiff Jazz festival, Asian Music festival, City of London festival amongst several tours with prominent artists.
   
In USA- Masters of Indian Music festival, Young Music Wizards of India, Ali Akbar Khan festival & workshops/ lecture- demonstrations at prestigious universities like Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, Johns Hopkins etc.
   
She was also invited as an artist in residence by the prestigious New England Conservatory, Boston to teach percussion to Percussion major students in September 2006.
   
In Japan- Tokyo Music Festival, Phoenix Music festival etc.
   
In Europe-Voices of the world festival (Denmark), Museum Rietberg (Zurich), Sangam Indian Music Festival ( Germany)
   
In Australia-Bellingen Global Festival, Carnivalli Festival, Melba Conservatory of music, Queensland Performing arts complex
   
In Hong Kong, Singapore, New Zealand & for the CHOGM summit in Africa amongst other concerts all over the world.
   
Anuradha has performed in India for major organizations like:
   
Sangeet Natak Academy ( Delhi, Kota, Imphal)
   
Sangeet Research Academy ( Bombay, Allahabad, Kolkatta)
   
Ajanta- Ellora festival, Banganga & Elephanta Festival, Pune Ganesh festival, MTDC festival etc.
   
North/ South/ West/ East Zonal centres
   
Spirit of Unity concerts ( Delhi, Puttapurthi, Vishakapatanam)
   
Harballabh Sangeet Sammelan ( Jallundhar)
   
Sankatmochan Festival ( Varanasi)
   
Dassehra Festival ( Mysore)
   
Madhya Pradesh Kala Parishad & Bharat Bhawan ( Bhopal, Indore, Maihar, Gwalior, Ujjain & Dewas)
   
Vishnu Digamber Music festival (New Delhi)
   
Malleshwaram Sangeet Sabha ( Bangalore)
   
NCPA, Nehru center, Spicmacay concerts amongst numerous other organizations.
 
Distinctions:
   
Anuradha is the youngest and only female Indian musician to perform at the World renowned WOMAD festival in U.K in 1999 for a record audience of 1.5 lakhs.
   
Anuradha has been lauded by the following prestigious journals, not only as India’s only female professional Tabla player but for her well balanced musicianship & contribution to music:
     
  The Encyclopedia Britannica
     
  Indo American Who’s who Journal
     
  Limca Book of Records.
     
  Asian - American Who’s who Journal.
     
  Who’s who Historical society of the World.
     
  Biography International.
     
Anuradha Pal-the Tabla Virtuoso, was the brand ambassador for a film by UNICEF to spread a social message for child education, female infanticide & women’s development all over the world. (October 2006)
   
Represented India in the ‘Asian Performers Summit’ in Japan where she spoke on Performers rights amidst an august gathering of International Musicians (1998)
   
Anuradha is an approved artist on the prestigious panel of the Indian Council of Cultural relations (ICCR) since 1990. Corporate shows as a brand ambassador/ woman of substance for Tanishk, Levis’ Diva Quest and Mercedes Benz etc...
   
Media Appreciation & Documentaries:
   
Anuradha was featured in the documentary titled 'Aaj ki Nari’ by the Films Division of India in 1999.
   
'Adventure Divas' by USA based Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) made a film titled featuring Anuradha Pal as one of the great women achievers of India and the World in 2001.
   
In 1999, the BBC World Service recorded her group ‘Stree Shakti’s’ memorable concert at the world famous WOMAD festival in Reading, UK where she had the packed audience of 1.5 lakh begging for more! This recording was shown by BBC T.V in 56 countries.
   
Featured Anuradha in film by Doordarshan National Archives titled 'Woman of Substance'
   
Documentary 'All about her’ on the Times now channel.
   
Anuradha was featured in the BBC Radio World Service Program as one of the 'Five Prominent Women Musicians of India' in 1991. She has been widely featured on ITV, Asia TV (USA), BBC world service television and radio (UK), Australian and Japanese TV- Radio channels and Indian TV channels.
   
Awards & Recognition:
   
Anuradha has just received the ‘Sanskrutic Puraskar’- the highest cultural award from her state of Maharashtra, India for ‘Extra-ordinary contribution to Music through Tabla’. (Sept 2006)
   
Pandit Jasraj award for ‘Excellence in Music – Best Musician of the Year 1999’
 


‘ Tal Ratna’ from the Bhatkhande Lalit Shiksha Samiti ( Raipur- M.P- 1997)
   
‘ Vocational excellence Award ’ (Rotary Club, 1995- 96, Bombay)
   
‘ Mahakal Sanman’ – ( Ujjain- M.P-1993)
   
‘ Tal Mani ‘ in Swami Haridas Sangeet Sammelan, Sur Singar Samsad, Bombay- 1990
   
Gold medal in the ‘All India Music competition.’
   
‘National Merit Scholarship’ in 1988 for outstanding academic & music achievements all through college where Anuradha majored in English Literature.
   
International Collaborations & Versatility :
   
Anuradha is the founder- musical director of the much acclaimed group Stree Shakti, India's only all female percussion based instrumental and vocal fusion group which has performed extensively in very prestigious festivals in India & UK.
   
Anuradha has also extensively collaborated with musicians of other cultures like the Pan African Orchestra of Ghana in 'Africa & India in conversation', Japanese musicians, Jazz & even Rajasthani Folk musicians, recently even creating new groups like 'Energy' ( Indo- Jazz Fusion) and 'Kala Siddhi' ( Fusion of Carnatic, Jazz, Rajasthani & Hindustani styles of music)
 


Anuradha composed & performed the entire background score using only Tabla & mouth percussion in ‘ Gaja- Gamini ‘ the much acclaimed film by celebrated painter, M. F Husain. The background score was extremely appreciated especially in International film festivals like Cannes, Big Bear etc.
   
Anuradha has directed music for commercial music albums like 'Nirvana’ and ‘Stree Shakti’ which has been highly appreciated.
   
Anuradha has good selling music albums like 'Sheer Magic’, 'Anu’- A Tabla solo', ‘Sensational’, ‘Jugalbandi’ etc featuring her as a Tabla soloist and accompanist, released both in India and abroad.
 
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