Product Code Database
Malini Awasthi (born 11 February 1967) is an Indian singer, more commonly referred to as Folk Queen of India. Having been trained classically, she is equally adept in various forms of Hindustani music like vintage Dadra Thumri Chaiti etc. Her knowledge of music finds a reflection in her renditions of Ghazals and Sufiyaana Kalaams too. A Ganda-baandh disciple of Padma Vibhushan Vidushi Girija Devi, she is a connoisseur of 'Chaumukhi gayan' of Benares Gharana. She commands equally over multiple dialects and languages like Awadhi, Bhojpuri, Bundeli, and Braj.
Acknowledging her decades long service to music of the land, Government of India awarded her the civilian honour of the Padma Shri in 2016. She is currently a visiting professor at Centre for Media Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University
Along with her academic training from Mount Carmel College she received her formal tutelage from Ustad Rahat Ali Khan.
She went on to do her Postgraduation in Hindustani classical music from Bhatkhande University, Lucknow. and a Postgraduation in Modern History with specialisation in Medieval and modern Indian architecture, from University of Lucknow simultaneously. She was conferred with a gold medal in both of her master's degrees.
She is a Ganda bandh student of Legendary Hindustani Classical Singer, Padma Vibhushan Vidushi Girija Devi of Banaras Gharana. This was the only satisfaction that her mother, a cancer patient could see happening before she left. She is married to senior IAS officer Awanish Kumar Awasthi (UP:1987) who retired as Principal Secretary to Government of Uttar Pradesh. Currently her spouse is an advisor to Honorable Chief Minister of U.P. They have a son Adwitiya and a daughter Ananya.
By the time she started training under her Guru Thumri Queen Girija Devi she was already a popular artist. Through her Guru she learnt Purab Ang Gayaki, of which she is an acclaimed face today. She ventured into various reality shows like Antakshari Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lux Junoon Her efforts at preserving the folk songs, bringing it back into the popular culture bore fruits and her songs like Railiya Bairan and Saiyan Mile Larkaiyan became a cult.
She is a regular performer at the popular classical music festival, Jahan-e-Khusrau. Rekhta (website) She judged the Bhojpuri - Musical Reality Show "Sur Sangram".
She ventured as a payback singer into many films:-
Mann Ki Asha (Bumm Bumm Bole) Teri Katili Nigahon Ne Mara(Jaanisaar) Tumko Ane Mien Tumko Bulane Mien (Jaanisaar) Yeh Jivan Hai (Soundtrack (film)), Super hit track Dil Mera Muft Ka (Remix) (Agent Vinod (2012 film)), "Sunder Susheel" in the 2015 film Dum Laga Ke Haisha which had music by Anu Malik, Jiggi Jiggi (Lipstick Under My Burkha) her critically acclaimed song Heer (Durgamati) Missed call (Joram (film)), recent Chakka Jaam (Bhaiyya Ji) and many more.
Apart from singing on stage and lending her voice to films, Awasthi lends her voice to preserve culture and help Government promote well-being. Malini has sung the popular title song of the Kisan channel that was launched by the Prime Minister of India. On the occasion of inauguration of Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, Ayodhya, she was invited to lend her voice for Ram Naam Kirtan while statue of Ramlalla was being unveiled.
Malini performed and represented India in an event of ABU TV in 2023 that was held in Seoul, South Korea.
She is an orator, being called on varied national and international platforms to render her views and opinions on topics of importance. She has collaborated with TEDXHYDERABAD TEDXSRMUWOMEN TEDXNIFTJODHPUR. Recently she has been invited to give her valuable insights on topics concerning culture in TOI Dialogues Vision and Voices's Varanasi and Kanpur Sessions. She being an expert in the field of music especially folk music & Purab Ang Gayaki, gave workshops on Kajri at various places across Uttar Pradesh and on Purab Ang Gayaki at the prestigious ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata, (2024) where her Guru took her last breath.
She was recently invited as one of the panelists on the topic Evolution of Folk Music in India along side Ila Arun Prasoon Joshi Papon (singer) and others in the WAVES Summit, 2025 that was recently held at Jio World Convention Center in Mumbai.
During the Covid -19 pandemic, her Facebook live sessions daily at 5 'O' clock in the evening were the talk of the town and were a beam of positivity in the times of distress. She created a song titled "Darna Nahi Muskurana Hai" over Covid-19 pandemic, that was appreciated by Narendra Modi, Honorable Prime Minister of India. Retweeting Awasthi's post he wrote, " Every individual is striving to contribute positively towards the Janta Curfew. Folk Singer, Malini Awasthi is motivating people in her own way !" Malini had been appointed as an ambassador of Election Commission of India for three terms. She had been appointed as a Member of expert committee on folk music by Sangeet Natak Academy. She has also been appointed as a member for the sub Commission on culture under the Indian Commission for cooperation with UNESCO.
She has founded an organisation called SONCHIRAIYA for promotion and proliferation of Folk. It has been giving platforms to many artists belonging from different regions for past 10 years. The Lucknow-based NGO which started with Vidushi Girija Devi as its chairperson, has conceptualised varied critically acclaimed shows and workshops under the able guidance of the founder Mrs.Awasthi. Muktigatha and Deshaj being the top favourites.
Recently she spoke in depth about her experiences and discussed in detail about multiple facets of her book at Sahitya Aajtak, Lucknow, 2025.
Awasthi launched her book at an event held at Indira Gandhi Pratisthan, Lucknow on 22 February 2025 which saw dignitaries like Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Shri Brijesh Pathak and RSS General Secretary Shri Dattatrey Hosabale marking their presence.
On the last day of Banaras Literature Festival, 2025 that was held at Taj Ganges, Varanasi, there was a detailed discussion on her book CHANDAN KIWAD. Awasthi shared memoirs from her life and experiences from her illustrious career including her association with the Thumri legend Girija Devi.
|
|
