MUMBAI: Meeta Pandit, the internationally acclaimed Classical Music Diva, has been awarded the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademy’s Ustad Bismillah Khan Puraskar. The Sangeet Natak Akademi introduced the award for young artists in the name of Ustad Bismillah Khan, Bharat Ratna and Fellow of the Akademi from 2006. The objective was to identify and encourage outstanding young talents in diverse fields of performing arts and give them national recognition early in life so that they work with greater commitment and dedication in their chosen fields.

Acknowledged as the scion of the Gwalior musical gharana, Pandit has emerged as a shining star in the world of classical music. She is grand-daughter and disciple of Padma Bhushan Pt Krishna Rao Shankar Pandit, the doyen of Northern Indian Classical music in the 20th century and the daughter of legendary Pt LK Pandit respectively.

Her voice, coupled with intricate handling of ragas, has won her admirers—young and the old alike. She has seriously worked on the rigorous talim, sadhana to flower her own unique style. Besides Khayal, Meeta is equally popular with genres of Tappa, Bhajan, Thumri, Sufiandcross cultural music.

Currently in the country to increase awareness of Indian classical music in India, Pandit is hosting a program Swar Shringaar on World Space Radio ‘Radio Gandharva’.