Bhimsen Joshi
Hindustani classical vocalist of the Kirana gharana
- Lived
- 88 yrs
- 1922 – 2011
- Works listed
- 2
- Album, Song
- Honours
- 4
- Most recent 2008
- Profile views
- 1
- 0 followers
Bhimsen Joshi was one of the greatest Hindustani classical singers of the twentieth century, known for his powerful voice and his devotional abhangs. A singer of the Kirana gharana, he also founded the Sawai Gandharva music festival in Pune and received the Bharat Ratna. He died in 2011.
Biography
Searching for a guru
As a boy in Karnataka, Bhimsen Joshi was so moved by a recording of Abdul Karim Khan that he left home at about eleven to look for a music teacher, travelling without a ticket to Gwalior, Jalandhar and other centres of music. His father eventually found him and arranged for him to study with Sawai Gandharva, a disciple of Abdul Karim Khan, in the Kirana tradition.
A commanding voice
He gave his first public performance in 1941 and soon became known for a deep, powerful voice, long breath and brilliant fast passages, combining the Kirana gharana’s focus on pure notes with energy drawn from other styles. Ragas such as Miyan ki Todi, Puriya and Darbari were among his favourites.
Devotional music
Alongside khayal, he recorded Marathi abhangs and Kannada and Hindi bhajans that became hugely popular, including the Santavani series. Millions of Indians know him from the 1988 national integration video “Mile Sur Mera Tumhara”, in which he sings the opening lines.
Festival and honours
In 1953 he started the Sawai Gandharva music festival in Pune in memory of his guru; it became one of India’s most important classical music events. He received the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan, and in 2008 the Bharat Ratna. He died in Pune on 24 January 2011.
Timeline
-
1922
Born in Ron, Gadag district, Bombay Presidency (now Karnataka)
-
1941
First public performance
-
1953
Starts the Sawai Gandharva festival
-
1972
Padma Shri
-
1985
Padma Bhushan
-
1988
“Mile Sur Mera Tumhara”
-
1999
Padma Vibhushan
-
2008
Bharat Ratna
-
2011
Dies in Pune
-
2011
Died, aged 88
Notable works
-
—
Santavani Album
Marathi abhangs.
-
1988
Mile Sur Mera Tumhara Song
Awards and honours
-
Padma Shri
1972
-
Padma Bhushan
1985
-
Padma Vibhushan
1999
-
Bharat Ratna
2008
Did you know?
-
1
He ran away from home as a boy to find a music teacher.
-
2
He sings the opening lines of “Mile Sur Mera Tumhara”.
-
3
The Pune festival he founded now carries his name too.
Connections
Frequently asked
Who is Bhimsen Joshi?
Bhimsen Joshi was one of the greatest Hindustani classical singers of the twentieth century, known for his powerful voice and his devotional abhangs. A singer of the Kirana gharana, he also founded the Sawai Gandharva music festival in Pune and received the Bharat Ratna. He died in 2011.
When did Bhimsen Joshi die?
Bhimsen Joshi died on 24 January 2011 at the age of 88.
Where is Bhimsen Joshi from?
Bhimsen Joshi was born in Ron, Gadag district, Bombay Presidency (now Karnataka).
What is Bhimsen Joshi known for?
Bhimsen Joshi is best known for Khayal singing, abhangs and bhajans, Mile Sur Mera Tumhara, Sawai Gandharva festival.
What awards has Bhimsen Joshi received?
Notable honours include Padma Shri (1972), Padma Bhushan (1985), Padma Vibhushan (1999), Bharat Ratna (2008).
References
- Bhimsen Joshi — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Bhimsen Joshi — Britannica. Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Bhimsen Joshi — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Bhimsen Joshi — Spotify. Spotify. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Bhimsen Joshi — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 27 October 2026.
- Bhimsen Joshi (Q121077) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 27 October 2026.
Includes material from the Wikipedia article “Bhimsen Joshi”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. That text is available under the same licence. Learn more
External links
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About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editorial team; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal under our editorial policy
- First published 27 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Bhimsen Joshi.” TrackFame, last updated 28 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/bhimsen-joshi
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