Purnima Chaudhuri

Late Vidushi Purnima Chaudhuri (1946-2013) was born in Calcutta, Bengal, where she received her initial training in Indian classical music. She later became a student of Pandit Mahadev Prasad Mishra, one of the most acclaimed singers and teachers in Varanasi, entering the vast and fascinating poetical universe of thumri. She received the complete heritage of her teacher, becoming one of the only singers to master the entire repertoire of the Purvi Ang, the branch of the East typical of the Varanasi area. After the demise of her guru, she continued her studies under Girija Devi, the celebrated thumri singer belonging to the same ang. Purnima Chaudhuri was a superb singer of all the Banaras specialties: dadra, chaiti, kajari, and tappa, as well as thumri. She was a rare example of a specialist in semi-classical music who did not come from a tawaif background. She held an A-grade rating from All India Radio and was the recipient of many prestigious awards. She performed in musical festivals all over India as well as abroad, in the UK, Europe, Canada, and the United States. Her disciples include Indrani Mukherjee, who continues the tradition of thumri singing. The Purnima Chaudhuri Thumri Foundation was established in her memory to preserve and promote the thumri tradition.