Prabha Atre
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By Amjad Ali Khan, January 14, 2024: The Times of India
‘A stalwart, but Prabhaji had a different dimension’
I am deeply saddened by the demise of Prabha Atre, who was like a sister to me. Our families were deeply connected. She was an extremely committed and dedicated person, and that was reflected in her art.
Prabhaji was a stalwart from Kirana gharana, which has other greats like Abdul Karim Khan, Bhimsen Joshi and Gangubai Hangal. But she was multifaceted and gave a different dimension to the musicality of her gharana. Her approach was quite different.
I can’t recall her singing one raga for an hour, or so. Jaroorat sey jyaada nahi gaati thee (She never went on and on). We have to respect her sense of proportion.
She made Kumar Gandharva’s composition “Jamuna Kinaare Mora Gaon” immortal with her singing. She was quite attached to her ailing mother and took great care of her. She also fulfilled her other responsibilities and hence could not get all that she deserved.
A few years ago, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Shivkumar Sharma and I felicitated her in Pune (2018 Punyabhushan award). When she started the Hridayesh festival in Mumbai, I had a regular invite to perform there.
We honoured her in 2002 in Mumbai with an award in memory of my father Ustad Hafiz Ali Khan.
(The writer is a sarod maestro) (As told to Amit Karmarkar)
