“Anuradha Pal is many legends in one. She is a mind-blowing soloist like no other & an accompanist with the sensibilities of a seasoned musician, despite her young years.” – New Indian Express
“If the male synonym for Tabla is Zakir Hussain, then the female equivalent has to undeniably be Anuradha Pal.” – Hindustan Times
One of the world’s leading & most innovative percussionists and composers’ (Bangkok Post) Anuradha Pal is revered globally for her ‘virtuosic repertoire, creative improvisations, mathematical precision, complimenting musicality in her live wire performances’ (Tribune), built over 20 years of training from Ustads Alla Rakha & Zakir Hussain & daily practice of 8 hours till date! Her story is of talent, fortitude, commitment & creativity, to combat discrimination & nepotism.
As the World’s FIRST female Professional Tabla maestro, Anuradha has received 108 awards & performed over 5000 concerts enthralling audiences in 30 countries with her –
- Groundbreaking Musical innovations like – Anuradha’s Tablas Sing Stories, ‘Krishna ke Taal‘ , ‘Ardha Narishvara’)
- Path breaking bands – Stree Shakti (India’s first all-girls Band) & Su-Fo-Re (Sufi-Folk recharged!).
- Accompaniment with Masters like Pt. Jasraj, Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia, Ustad Amjad Ali Khan etc.
- Collaborations with International masters of diverse genres.
- Anuradha is a Multi percussionist and Music composer in short films like ‘Stealing Gods’, ‘Geet aur Geeta’ & trendsetting albums like Recharge Plus, EDM, Nirvana, Passion & Get Recharged! Her background score in the famous Bollywood film ‘Gaja Gamini‘ using only Tabla & Voice, got great appreciation at the Cannes film festival.
An Outstanding category musician of Ministry of Culture & ICCR and Top Graded Vidushi of Prasar Bharati, Anuradha Pal has been appreciated as ‘Bharat ki Laxmi’ by Honourable PM Narendra Modiji for her outstanding Musical & social contribution. She has been also widely acclaimed as an ‘exemplary Torchbearer’ of Indian Music in Who’s Who journals Worldwide.
Recipient of the Maharashtra Rajya Sanskrutik Puraskar and a President awardee of the ‘First Ladies’ National Award for being the youngest Indian musician & first female Indian Musician to perform at Woodstock & WOMAD Festivals, Anuradha has regaled Honourable President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam & Prime Minister of India at CHOGM & SAARC Summits. She is an acclaimed, trailblazing musician, youth icon, entrepreneur, trendsetter &
Blessed by parents, Ila & Devinder Pal & husband Shyam Sharma, Anuradha is a Masters in Music university topper who has contributed in research & teaches at several prestigious Ivy League US universities and at Anuradha Pal Cultural Academy in the Guru- Shishya Parampara, thus mentoring & inspiring a whole generation! Her organisation Sur aaur Saaz produces premier Music festivals & releases Music Videos, albums & training modules, worldwide.
Brand Ambassador of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao & UNICEF, Anuradha instituted the M.T. Vyas Stree Shakti award in 2020 to encourage outstanding young women towards Indian music, dance and social service. Her Anuradha Pal Cultural Foundation (APCF) is ‘bringing social transformation through Music’ and spreading happiness in all sections of society, with her specially curated ‘Positivity through Music Workshops‘ (PTMW). Her Music videos ‘Dancing Rain‘, ‘Bharat Vandan‘, & ‘Taal Tiranga‘ further demonstrate her patriotism to use Indian Music to unite and heal the world & have been greatly appreciated by several consulates & Indian diaspora, across the world.
Anuradha contributed Rs 10 lakh towards Covid relief, helping 350 marginalised Musicians & instrument makers and 270 women & children with food ration, blankets and monetary benefits across villages and towns in 20 states of India. She also donated mobile phones for online study to poor children and wheel chair, walker, gloves and masks to Covid facilities in Mumbai.
Anuradha Pal has a huge fan following on social media, with her official YouTube channel having got over 2.5 million views! Two of her Tabla Jugalbandi performance videos also received 7 lakh views in less than 3 weeks on Facebook.
AUDIO
PRESS CLIPPINGS
The New Indian Express
" Anuradha carries the methodical intuition of her Ustads, their clarity & showmanship in finger movements... the dynamism, temperament & ‘presence’ of Pandit Kishan Maharaj, the tough lure for softness and detail of Pandit Shamta Prasad & a shooting madness for intrinsic fireworks of Ustad Ahmed Jan Thirakwa."
Afternoon D&C
" Anuradha Pal, the country’s celebrated Tabla player has many firsts to her credit. She has gone beyond her guru’s celebrity glare and today, stands as a woman known for her talent, firm ethics and one who has made it big on her terms. Anuradha is a fiery artist who has not only talked the talk but also walked the walk."
The Tribune
" Anuradha Pal’s sheer determination, passion, a constant endeavour to innovate, whilst holding steadfastly to her values and ethics, along with a deep sense of reverence and responsibility towards her art and tradition have been instrumental in her meteoric rise towards the highest echelons of the percussion firmament."
Maharashtra Times
" Petite and barely in her teens, Anuradha Pal almost brought down the house with a rousing recital of the Tabla playing Teental. Anuradha’s mastery over the Tabla is undoubtedly exceptional. She plays with a spirited verve and obvious enjoyment. It would be no exaggeration to say that she is a ‘Zakira’ in the making."
