
Sumati Mutatkar was a renowned Indian classical vocalist and musicologist belonging to the
Agra Gharana. She has contributed her invaluable talent to enrich Indian culture.
Sumati Mutatkar was born in the year 1916. This illustrious performer turned teacher and directed her performance to the dhrupad-dhamar and
khayal, to the lighter
tappa-
thumri. In a short she covered a wide range of classical music. She performed in concerts for many years. Dr. Sumati Mutatkar also served as a broadcaster artist.
Dr. Sumati Mutatkar got her training in
Indian classical music under the great guidance of classical music maestros like Pandit S.N.Ratanjankar. She gained the opportunity of being related with all most all the prominent gharanas of music. She also learnt from Pandit Rajabhaiya Poochwale of
Gwalior gharana,
Ustad Vilayat Khan of Agra gharana, Pandit Anant Manohar Joshi and Ustad Mushtaq Hussain Khan of Rampur gharana.
In the year 1953, Dr. Sumati Mutatkar has been selected for the post of music director at
All India Radio. Acknowledging her talent she had been made the Deputy Chief producer of music afterwards. She joined as the faculty member of Music and Fine Arts,
Delhi University. After retirement in the year 1981, Sumati Mutatkar was ornamenting the post of Dean of the Faculty. In the year 1979, she was nominated as a Fellow of the
Sangeet Natak Academy.
As recognition to this astonishing talent, the
Government of India in the year 1991 conferred her with one of the highest prestigious civilian award, the Padma Shri. In the very next year, she was conferred the ITC award. In the year 2001, she was again awarded with the Kalidas Samman. The Akashvani Samman was also conferred to her.
Dr. Sumati Mutatkar travelled in an extensive manner. Books written by her are also widely published. She was considered as an accumulation of a fund of knowledge and information. She used to visit and participate at the seminars organized by the ITC Sangeet Research Academy. This eminent persona of musical world breathed her last on February 28 in the year 2007 at a private hospital in
Kolkata. At the time of her death she was 91 years old.
(Last Updated on : 15/10/2011)