Pt. Vinayaka Torvi Bio

Pt Vinayaka Torvi

Pandit Vinayak Torvi, eminent Hindustani Classical Vocalist of international renown is known among classical music aficionados as “ Sur Lay Ka Badashah”. It is no surprise that a musician of his calibre hails from Dharwad – Karnataka , home of musical greats. Pt Torvi, Karnataka Kala Tilaka , Kirana Gharana awardee is an untiring propagator of Hindustani classical music. Gifted with a rare sense of aesthetic creativity and technical expertise he is a consummate musician bar none.

Pandit Vinayak Torvi was born into a family of keertankars on the auspicious day of Vinayak Chaturti in 1948(4 Sept 1948). The Child prodigy had his early training in music under Pandit Narayan rao Majumdar of Dharwad. Later the young Torvi underwent twelve years of rigorous “Gurukul” training under the legendary doyen of Gwalior Gharana, Gayanacharya Gururao Deshpande. During this period he mastered the intricacies of the Gwalior Gharana as well as the Agra Gayaki. Later Panditji mastered the Kirana Gayaki under the able guidance of none other than Bharat Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.

Gayaki

Endowed with a powerful, resonant , deep voice , his sheer genius and his masterly blending of Gwalior and Kirana Gharana shines through in his widely acclaimed performances all over India and abroad. He is a versatile full-fledged musician who has imbibed the essence of various raagas popularized by the legends of different Gharanas. His full-throated voice and his imaginative note-by-note improvisations do full justice to the aalaap pradhan ragas. He is equally at ease with presenting phrase and taan pradhan raagas, which require a totally different voice culture. The intricacy of his taan patterns is simply brilliant. Lay-laykari-Bol aalaap and Bol tans are the livewires of the Khyal gayaki. Pandit ji’s mastery over laykari makes his concerts enchanting.  His enunciation of the words in compositions blended with Sur lay and taal makes his music sensational. His gayaki whether classical or light classical is always brimming with Ras-Bhav which truly is the heart and soul of music. He also excels in light classical music and Bhakti Sangeet in Kannnada, Marathi and Hindi. Panditji ‘s electrifying singing and his powerful voice impact the audiences with an everlasting heavenly, spiritual experience.

As an icon for Gurushishya Parampara tradition, ardent disciple of Gayanacharya Gururao Deshpande and Pt Bhimsen Joshi, Pt Torvi puts his heart, mind and soul into teaching music with bondless love and affection which has produced many performing artistes today.

He has been honoured with a number of national level prestigious awards and accolades and has released numerous CDs of Classical and light classical music.

Service to the music field

Pandit ji with his boundless energy has succeeded in transforming Bangalore , traditionally a strong hold of Carnatic music into a hub of Hindustani Classical Music. He is the founder of Gururao Deshpande Sangeet Sabha – a prestigious platform for Hindustani Classical Performers in India . He introduced the concept of All Night Music Mehfils to the music lovers of Bangalore and now this has been the most awaited annual event in Bangalore attracting large crowds of music lovers. His other innovative ideas include Malhar Festival and Dharwad Festival which are held yearly.

It is a fact that busy performing artistes seldom devote time and energy to further the cause of music. Pandit ji is an exception to this norm and works tirelessly towards the preservation and development of this traditional art by way of organising music festivals and more importantly by conducting Sangeet Shibir , Lecture cum Demonstrations and monthly baithaks to encourage young music aspirants.

In a nut shell Panditji known affectionately as “Guruji” to one and all is a disciplined , honest and sincere performer , Guru and organiser.

Pandit Vinayak Torvi is the unequivocal torch barer of the rich legacy of Indian classical music of musical stalwarts like Gayanacharya Gururao Deshpande , Bharat Ratna Bhimsen Joshi , Dr Gangubai Hanagal ,Pt Mallikarjun Mansur and Pt Kumar Gandharv etc.

Panditji’s performances at different National level music platforms, to name a few:

Sawai Gandharwa Mahotsav, Pune

SRA Music Conference, Kolkata.

Golden Jubilee Conference of Central Sangeet Natak Academy, New Delhi, at Hyderabad

Mysore Dussehera Durbar Hall Concert, Mysore

India International Trade Music Conference, ITPO, New Delhi.

World Kannada Meet, Houston, USA.

SAARC International music festival, Bangalore.

Tansen Festival Gwalior

Rajabhayya Poochavale music Festival Gwalior

Kumar Gandharva music festival Dewas

Mugubai Kurdikar music conference Goa

AIR and Doordarshan Sangeet Sammelan and National programmes

Pandit ji has Performed jugalbandi with eminent artistes like Vidwan R. K. Srikantan, Vidwan T N Sheshagopalan, Vidwan S.Shankar etc.He is a Regular performer for Spic Macay.

Awards and accolades :

‘Kirana Gharana Award’ from Music Forum Bombay

 ‘Rajyotsava Award’, Govt. of Karnataka.

‘Karnataka Kala Tilaka’, Sangeet Nritya Academy, Karnataka State.

‘Swara Sadhana Ratna’ Swara Sadhana Samithi Mumbai

‘Celebrity Artiste’ of SRA Kolkota  

‘Nadashree’ award from Hidustani Kalakar Mandali , Bangalore

‘Chandrahasa’ award from Sangeet Seva Samithi , Sorab

‘Chalukya’ award

‘Sangeetya Puravankara Puraskar’ from Sangeet Asthan ,Bangalore

‘Arya bhatta Prashasti’, Aryabhatta Cultural Organisation, Bangalore.

‘Parishath Puraskara’, Karnataka Gana Kala Parishath, Bangalore.

‘Shruthi Saagara’,Vasundhara Performing Arts Centre, Mysore

‘Chowdiah Memorial Award’, Bangalore

‘Surmani’ from Sursingar sansad mumbai

[Courtesy - Wikipedia (More) , Official website :  vinayakatorvi.in ]

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