Amonkar had a career spanning seven decades.
Renowned classical vocalist Kishori Amonkar, 84, passed away on Monday evening at her house in Mumbai, news media reported.
The legendry Hindustani classical singer’s mortal remains have been kept at Ravindra Natya Mandir in Prabhadevi for people to pay their last respects. The funeral will be held at the Shivaji Park crematorium late on Tuesday.
“Demise of Kishori Amonkar is an irreparable loss to Indian classical music. Deeply pained by her demise. May her soul rest in peace,†Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.
The prime Minister also shared a link of a documentary about the singer, with a caption, “The works of Kishori Amonkar will always remain popular among people for years to come.â€
Revered as ‘Gaan-Saraswati’, Amonkar had a career spanning seven decades and also know as an innovative exponent of the Jaipur Gharana.
Born on April 30, 1932 to Madhavdas Bhatiya and Mogubai Kuradikar, Amonkar got her initial training in music from her mother, who was also a well-known vocalist. Amonkar was a performer of the classical genre ‘Khyal’ and the light classical genres ‘thumri’ and ‘bhajan’. She is considered as one of the pre-eminent representatives of Hindustani classical music.
She was married to Ravindra Amonkar, a school teacher, who died in 1992. The couple is survived by two sons and grandchildren.
In 1987, Indian government honored Amonkar with Padma Bhushan and in 2012 she was awarded Padma Vibhushan. She also received the Rashtrapati Award, Sangeet Natak Academy Award and Sangeet Samragni Award, among other accolades.