Rajendra Kulkarni
Rajendra Kulkarni
Flute
8 Renditions • 2 h 20 m
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8
PLAYS
Flute
GHARANA
Kirana
AWARDS
Sur-Mani, Sur Singar Samsad1981
Yuva Kalakar award, Sangeetonmesh Sanstha, Pune
Late Pt. B. S. Upadhye Puraskar2002
Rajendra Kulkarni is a basuri player, born in Belgaum in 1961. His father, Shri Bhagawantarao, alias Balasaheb Kulkarni-Bedakihalkar, is a radio artist who plays flute and violin and is closely connected with the 'Art-Circle' of Belgaum. Rajendra developed an interest in the basuri at the age of six. He excelled academically, scoring 90% in XII, and was admitted to engineering, but realising that his real passion was the basuri and classical music, he gave it up for a BSc instead, ranking second in his college and being named 'The Best Student of the Year'. He has been employed with the State Bank of India since 1988. He is an A grade artist of All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan. He received the 'Sur-Mani' award from the Sur Singar Samsad in 1981, while still a college student, and The Times of India described him as a 'Find of the Sammelan' and a 'Rising Maestro'. He holds the 'Sangeet Alankar' degree from the Gandharva Mahawidyalay Mandal, Mumbai, where he stood first in the instrumental section, and has been an Honorary Artist of SPIC MACAY since its inception. His other honours include the 'Yuva Kalakar' award from Sangeetonmesh Sanstha, Pune, presented by Bhimsen Joshi, and the 'Late Pt. B. S. Upadhye Puraskar', Pune (2002).