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"माझ्यासाठी संगीत ही केवळ अभिव्यक्ती नाही, तर साधना आहे. प्रत्येक रागात मला भाव, शब्द आणि नादाचा एक नवीन आयाम सापडतो. माझ्या आजी, गायनसरस्वती किशोरीताई अमोणकर यांच्या शिकवणीतून मी हेच शिकलो की, संगीत म्हणजे आत्म्याशी संवाद स्वरांच्या माध्यमातून शांततेचा, प्रार्थनेचा आणि प्रेमाचा शोध."
"For me, music is not just an expression — it is a form of devotion. In every raga, I discover a new dimension of emotion, word, and sound. From my grandmother, Gāyana Saraswati Kishoritai Amonkar, I have learned that music is a dialogue with the soul — a search for peace, prayer, and love through the language of swaras."
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ABOUT TEJASHREE AMONKAR
Tejashree Amonkar is a Hindustani classical vocalist of the Jaipur–Atrauli gharana, the grand-daughter and disciple of Gāyana Saraswati Padma Vibhushan Smt. Kishori Amonkar, and the great-grand-daughter of Gaana Tapaswini Smt. Mogubai Kurdikar.
Immersed in the musical atmosphere of her family from an early age, Tejashree grew up absorbing the subtle aesthetics of her grandmother’s art — the search for beauty through swar, bhav, and silence. Trained under the rigorous and intimate guru–shishya paramparā, she continues the tradition with deep sensitivity and contemporary clarity.
Her performances reflect a balance of introspection and intensity — a journey through the architecture of raag and the emotional resonance of poetry. Beyond performance, she is involved in the Gāyana Saraswati Kishori Amonkar Foundation, dedicated to preserving and sharing Kishoritai’s musical legacy. Through teaching, lecture-demonstrations, and concerts, Tejashree continues to explore music as a spiritual dialogue — a bridge between discipline, emotion, and devotion.
Concerts
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At the Rang-o-Adab festival in Patna, Tejashree Amonkar presented a Hindustani classical recital featuring Rāg Jaunpuri. The performance included vilambit and drut compositions in the raga.
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At the KALYANI Festival, held at the Asia Society Hong Kong Center, Tejashree Amonkar presented Rāg Bhinna Shadja. The recital featured two compositions by Gāyana Saraswati Kishori Amonkar — “Ud ja re kaaga le jaiyo sandesa” (vilambit in 16 beat cycle) and “Angana more aaja kaaga” (drut in 16 beat cycle).
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At the Baithak series held at the G5A Warehouse, Mumbai, Tejashree Amonkar presented a Hindustani classical recital exploring taal and swar relationships through selected compositions. The performance was recorded live at the G5A Black Box.
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Mharo Pranaam
At the Morning Riyaaz concert held at the G5A Warehouse, Mumbai, Tejashree Amonkar presented the composition “Mharo Pranaam.” This bandish, composed by Gāyana Saraswati Kishori Amonkar, is set in a devotional mood that expresses deep reverence and surrender before the divine. Through this piece, Kishori Amonkar explored the idea of pranaam—a musical salutation that transcends formality and becomes an offering of sound.
Tejashree’s presentation followed the original structure and phrasing of the composition, retaining its meditative character while maintaining the discipline of the bandish. The performance took place in the early hours as part of the Morning Riyaaz series—an initiative designed to recreate the quiet concentration of morning practice within a performance setting. The atmosphere emphasized introspection, allowing the nuances of swar, taal, and the textual meaning of “Mharo Pranaam” to emerge with simplicity and clarity.
Conversations
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As part of Baithak at the G5A Warehouse, Tejashree Amonkar was in conversation with Sumana Ramanan. The session offered insights into her musical journey, training, and reflections on performance practice. It was recorded live at the G5A Black Box, known for its intimate and reflective concert setting.
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At Rang-o-Adab, Tejashree Amonkar in conversation with Shailaja Khanna at the Navras School of Performing Arts, Patna. The discussion revolved around Tejashree’s musical journey, and reflections on the legacy of Indian classical traditions.
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In this short talk, Tejashree Amonkar discusses the importance of Sam—the point where rhythm and melody meet—in Hindustani classical music. She explains how the Sam anchors a composition, why arriving at it precisely matters, and how working within rhythmic structure encourages creativity rather than limiting it. The reflection highlights the idea of finding freedom through discipline, a principle central to her musical training.
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Living and Learning with Guru (Hindi)
In this Kala Kahani episode, Tejashree Amonkar shares her experiences of learning and living with her grandmother and guru, Gāyana Saraswati Kishori Amonkar. She speaks to Resptd. Sadhana Srivastava about the guru–shishya relationship, how lessons often continued beyond the music room, and the many casual, humorous moments that shaped her understanding of both music and life. The conversation offers a glimpse into a world where art, discipline, and everyday living became one seamless journey.
Gāyana Saraswati Kishori Amonkar Foundation
The Gāyana Saraswati Kishori Amonkar Foundation, established as a Section 8 not-for-profit organisation in Mumbai, is dedicated to preserving and promoting the artistic and philosophical legacy of Gāyana Saraswati Kishori Amonkar. The Foundation envisions a vibrant centre for Indian classical music—an archive, research, and creative space where her recordings, manuscripts, compositions, and writings can be safeguarded, studied, and shared with future generations.
Its objectives include the creation of a permanent centre in her memory, complete with a library, archive, museum, and recording studio; the publication of literature and audio-visual documentation; the organisation of concerts, festivals, and lecture series; and the protection and dissemination of Gāyana Saraswati Kishori Amonkar’s original compositions and intellectual works. The Foundation also seeks to support scholars, musicians, and craftsmen devoted to the preservation of Hindustani classical art.
As the granddaughter and disciple of Gāyana Saraswati Kishori Amonkar, Tejashree Amonkar plays an active and integral role in the Foundation’s work. She contributes to shaping its artistic vision, curating archival and concert initiatives, and ensuring that the interpretative depth and emotional essence of her grandmother’s music remain at the core of every project.
Through these ongoing efforts, the Foundation not only honours the memory of Gāyana Saraswati Kishori Amonkar but also nurtures a living continuum—where the ideals of beauty, discipline, and spiritual inquiry in music continue to inspire future artists, scholars, and listeners.
