Gaanewali legacy comes alive in Bengaluru

For decades, women known as gaanewalis shaped the worlds of thumri, dadra and ghazal, carrying these semi-classical forms through mehfils, salons and royal courts. Curated by Avanti Patel and directed by Mallika Singh and Meghana AT, O Gaanewali blends live performance, storytelling and traditional instrumentation to celebrate legends such as Gauhar Jaan, Begum Akhtar, Iqbal Bano and Shobha Gurtu. Excerpts from a chat:

‘These singers are more than what cinema portrays’
“Popular portrayals in cinema have shaped how tawaifs are remembered mostly as dancers or the tragic woman. What’s missing is her daily practice — her talim and riyaz. These women were serious musicians whose lives were built around rigorous training and performance. Restoring their history is essential to understanding the music,” explains Avanti.

‘We still have access to a living archive through their voices’
A key part of Avanti’s research involved listening closely to early recordings preserved in gramophone archives. “You can actually hear what they sang. That archive is still speaking to us,” she says. These recordings, she explains, reveal individuality and emotional depth that written history often fails to capture, offering direct access to how semi-classical music was once imagined and expressed.

Bengaluru listens with curiosity and care
“Bengaluru has consistently stood out as a city with an attentive and open listening culture. Every time we perform here, people stay back — to talk, to ask questions, or to discover these artistes for the first time,” says Avanti. “When audiences want to know more about the musicians, the history, or where they can listen further, it tells me the music has truly reached them,” she adds.

Catch the performance at:Windmills Craftworks, BangaloreFriday, December 19th & Saturday, December 20th, 20259:30 PM onwards