Varada Khadilkar

PLAYS

Santoor

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GHARANA

Kirana

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Varada Khadilkar is a santoor player. Born and brought up in Warananagar, she found her first inspiration in music at the 'Warana Children's Orchestra'. Encouraged by her parents, she learnt the basics of music under the late Shri Shankarrao Kulkarni and Shri Walawalkar, and learnt several instruments including santoor, jaltarang, sitar, harmonium and violin, developing a special interest in the santoor. After her marriage into the Khadilkar family of Sangli, she received support and guidance from the late Smt. Indirabai Khadilkar, a classical singer of Indian drama in her era. A few years later she was accepted as a shishya by santoor player Pt. Ulhas Bapat. She follows her guru's method of tuning the santoor in a chromatic structure, a system he invented. She also takes guidance from sitar player Shri Rafiq Nadaf of Sangli, and is building her career as one of the few leading female santoor players in India.