Shashikala Dani

Vidushi Shashikala Dani (Kannada: ವಿದೂಷಿ ಶಶಿಕಲಾ ದಾನಿ, Hindi: विदूषी शशिकला दानी) is an Indian Hindustani classical Jal Tarang artist. She is one among the few musicians and presently the only All India Radio-graded female exponent of the Jal Tarang.^[1][2] She is a multi-instrument artist with concert and teaching experience in Jal Tarang, Harmonium, Sitar, Violin, Dilruba and Tabla. She is also an All India Radio-graded vocalist in the Gamaka genre of Hindustani Light Music.^[3]

Vidushi Shashikala Dani
Shashikala presenting a Jaltarang music concert
Background information
Born	(1959-11-11) 11 November 1959 (age 65) Kalaghatagi, Karnataka, India
Genres	Hindustani classical music, Indian classical music
Occupation(s)	Jaltarang Musician, State Bank of Mysore
Instrument(s)	Jaltarang, harmonium, sitar, violin, dilruba, tabla

Biography

Shashikala earned a Bachelor of Arts and lives in Hubli, where she married Shri Arun Dani, son of journalist T.S.R. Awardee Lt. Shri Surendra Dani.^[4] They have a son, musician Sugnan Dani. After working at the State Bank of Mysore for 33 years, she is now a Jal Tarang artist.^[5][6][7][8]

Musical career

Learning Jal Tarang, she decided to develop her classical music career with a focus on this instrument.^[9]

After learning the Jal Tarang, she has imbibed both "Gayaki and Tantrakari Angs"^[10] in her playing style. She is trained in the Gwalior Gharana School of Hindustani Classical Music under her father and Guru Pt. D. R. Warang.^[11][12] She has also developed multiple other styles of playing. Her focus is "Layakari".^[13][14]

She is presently involved in mentoring young artists at her institute, Swara Naada Sangeeta Vidyalaya®.^[15]

Awards and recognitions

• "A Grade" in Jal tarang by Prasar Bharti – All India Radio
• "Gāyana Gangā" Life-Achievement Award by Padma-Vibhushan Dr.Gangubai Hangal – 2009^[16]
• "Karnataka Kalashri" Award by Government Of Karnataka ^{[17][18][19][20]}
• "Kitturu Rani Chennamma" Award by Government Of Karnataka ^{[21][22][23][24]}
• "B Grade" in Gamaka (Hindustani Light Music) by Prasar Bharti – All India Radio
• First at National-Level Inter-Bank Music Competition held in Chennai – 1991
• Selected twice for scholarship by Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy – 1982, 1985

Concerts [25]

• 'International Women's Day' celebration, S.J.M.V.S. Women's College, Hubballi – 2020
• At Banker's Colony, Hubballi – 2020
• Interview and concert at Radio Mirchi 98.3 FM – 2020^[26]
• At the prestigious 'Puligere Utsav', Laxmeshwar – 2019^[27][28]
• Krishnaveni Samskrutik Vrund, Goa – 2019^[29][30][31]
• 'Navaratri Utsav' at Ramakrishna-Vivekanand Ashram, Gadag – 2019
• '40th Sangeeta Sammelana' by Pt. Narasimhalu Vadavati, Raichur – 2019^[32]
• '111th Janmotsav Music Concert', Shanti-Kuteer, Vijayapura – 2019
• 'Shivaratri Utsav', Siddharoodh Math, Hubballi – 2019
• 'Sangeet Nrutyotsava' by Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy, Chintamani – 2019
• Akhila Bhaarata Kannada Saahitya Sammelana, Dharwad – 2019
• "All-Night Sangeet Mahotsav" by Pt. Vinayak Torvi, Dharwad – 2019
• Ustad Rehmat Khan & Pt. V.D. Paluskar Smruti Sohala by Pt. Vinayak Torvi, Kurundwad – 2018
• 'Raashtreeya Sangeeta Mahotsava' – National Music Festival, Karkala – 2018
• At the prestigious 'Kadambotsava', Banavasi – 2018^[33]
• 24th Koti Gayatri Japa Yagna, Gayatri Tapobhoomi, Tadas – 2018
• 'Shri Gavisiddeshwar Jatra Mahotsav', Gavi Math, Koppal – 2018
• 'Swara Namana, Naada Namana' – Sangeeta Samavesha, Gandhi Bhavan, Bengaluru – 2017
• At the prestigious 'Karavali Utsav', Karwar – 2017^[34]
• At the prestigious 'Hampi Utsav', Hampi – 2017^[35]
• Musical event at Brahmakumaris, Mt.Abu, Rajasthan – 2017
• 'Navratri Utsav', Ramkrishna Ashram, Hubballi – 2017
• Jal tarang – Vocal Jugalbandi with Sugnan Dani by TablaGyan Academy of Music, National Gallery of Modern Art, Bengaluru – 2017
• Jal tarang – Vocal Jugalbandi with Sugnan Dani at Dr. Da. Rā. Bendre Rāshtriya Smārak Trust, Dharwad – 2017
• Karnataka Rajyotsava Musical Celebration, State Bank Of Mysore, Hubballi – 2016
• 'Sangeet Mahotsav', Bhandarakavate, Solapur – 2016^[36][37]
• 'MahāShivratri Utsav', Gokarna – 2016
• 'MahāShivratri Utsav', Gayatri Tapobhoomi, Hubballi – 2016
• 'Adamya Chetana Seva Utsav', Bengaluru – 2016
• 'Hubballi Kannada Sahitya Sammelan' – 2016
• Jal tarang – Vocal Jugalbandi with Sugnan Dani on 'World Water Day', Dr. Da. Rā. Bendre Rāshtriya Smārak Trust, Dharwad – 2015
• Shri Manikprabhu Sansthan, Maniknagar – 2014
• Dharwad Utsav, Dharwad – 2006, 2014^[38]
• '3rd Kannada Sāhitya Sammelan', Hubballi- 2014
• 'State Bank of Mysore Centenary Celebrations', Hubballi – 2013
• '79th All-India Kannada Sāhitya Sammelan', Vijayapura – 2013
• 'Women Music Festival', S.J.M.V.S. Women's College, Hubballi – 2013
• 'Rare Instrumental Concert', SriRam Kala Vedike, Bengaluru – 2012^[39]
• 'Jal tarang – Violin Jugalbandi' with Vadiraj Nimbargi, Dr.Mallikarjun Mansur Rāshtriya Smarak Trust, Mansur – 2010^[40]
• 'Jal tarang – Sitar Jugalbandi' with Shrinivas Joshi, Hubballi and Koppal – 2008
• 'Panchakshari Gavayi Punyatithi', Gadag – 2007
• 'Academy of Performing Arts', Belagavi – 2007
• 'Hubli Arts Circle', Hangal Music Foundation, Hubballi – 2005
• 'Kundagol Music Festival', Kundagol – 1992, 2005

Discography

• Vid. Shashikala Dani – Jal tarang Concert – Kurundwad Utsav
• Vid. Shashikala Dani – Jal tarang Concert – Karkala Utsav
• Vid. Shashikala Dani – The Only AIR & DD Recognised Classical Jal tarang Female Instrumentalist
• Jal tarang Instrumental Concert Videos by Vidushi Shashikala Dani
• Vid. Shashikala Dani – Jal tarang Concert at Hampi Utsav
• Vid. Shashikala Dani – Jal tarang Concert at Karavali Utsav
• Vid. Shashikala Dani – Jal tarang Telecast by Doordarshan
• Vid. Shashikala Dani – Jal tarang Concert at State Bank Of Mysore
• Vid. Shashikala Dani – Jal tarang Concert at Dharwad Utsav