Malini Awasthi

Malini Awasthi was born in the city of perfumes, Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh into a family of doctors. She was the youngest amongst the trinity that the couple were parents to. Her father Dr. P.N. Awasthi, was fond of classical music and her mother Mrs. Nirmala Awasthi, deeply cherished the Purab Ang Gayaki and Bhajans. This blend reflects in the mellifluous singing of the singer today . She was innitiated into music at a tender age of 5, on the insistence of her melophile mother. Neither her family nor she herself had an idea that this innitiation will eventually add an important facet of folk music into cultural landscape of the country . The picture of the puzzle got better when she cleared her exams of Prayag Sangeet Samiti years before she was expected to. This can be figured out by one such incidents where as per the singer, she slept during an exam as she was tired because she used to stand and write her exams, as benches were taller than her existence. Along with her academic training from Mount Carmel College she received her formal tutelage from Ustad Rahat Ali Khan. She went on to do her Postgraduation in Hindustani classical music from Bhatkhande University, Lucknow. and a Postgraduation in Modern History with specialization in Medieval and modern Indian architecture, from University of Lucknow simultaneously. She was conferred with a gold medal in both of her master's degrees. She is a Ganda bandh student of Legendary Hindustani Classical Singer, Padma Vibhushan Vidushi Girija Devi of Banaras Gharana. This was the only satisfaction that her mother, a cancer patient could see happening before she left . She is married to senior IAS officer Awanish Kumar Awasthi (UP:1987) who retired as Principal Secretary to Government of Uttar Pradesh. Currently her spouse is an advisor to Honorable Chief Minister of U.P. They have a son Adwitiya and a daughter Ananya. Malini Awasthi started as an artist for Akashvani (radio broadcaster) at a very young age and went on to contribute immensely towards it in varying age and capacity . She is a Top grade artist of All India Radio and an 'A' grade artist of Doordarshan, Lucknow. Contrary to the popular notion this accreditation is for Ghazals and not for folk. She was an ICCR approved artist and a performing artist prior to her marriage. By the time she started training under her Guru Thumri Queen Girija Devi she was already a popular artist . Through her Guru she learnt Purab Ang Gayaki, of which she is an acclaimed face today. She ventured into various reality shows like Antakshari Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Lux Junoon where she made an impressive mark and her talent was recognized worldwide. In one such instance, Malini talks about her interaction with Jagjit Singh who was a judge of then Sa Re Ga Ma PA alongside Mehdi Hassan Farida Khanum Runa Laila, was amazed by the knowledge of the Hindustani music that she had. He remarked, "Malini, you don't know what you have, very few have the knowledge that you have!" But the transferable nature of the jobs of both her father and her husband helped her connect better with the roots. Much like her name, she was always inclined towards spewing the fragrance of the soil that she comes from. Her efforts at preserving the folk songs, bringing it back into the popular culture bore fruits and her songs like Railiya Bairan and Saiyan Mile Larkaiyan became a cult . Today Malini is synonymous with Folk and her fans are spread everywhere like the air is around the earth. She is a regular performer at the popular classical music festival, Jahan-e-Khusrau. Rekhta (website) She judged the Bhojpuri - Musical Reality Show "Sur Sangram" . She ventured as a payback singer into many films:- Mann Ki Asha (Bumm Bumm Bole) Teri Katili Nigahon Ne Mara( Jaanisaar) Tumko Ane Mien Tumko Bulane Mien (Jaanisaar) Yeh Jivan Hai ( Soundtrack (film)), Super hit track Dil Mera Muft Ka (Remix) ( Agent Vinod (2012 film) ), "Sunder Susheel" in the 2015 film Dum Laga Ke Haisha which had music by Anu Malik, Jiggi Jiggi ( Lipstick Under My Burkha) her critically acclaimed song Heer (Durgamati ) Missed call (Joram (film)), recent Chakka Jaam ( Bhaiyya Ji ) and many more. Apart from singing on stage and lending her voice to films, Awasthi lends her voice to preserve culture and help Government promote well-being. Malini has sung the popular title song of the Kisan channel that was launched by the Prime Minister of India. On the occasion of inauguration of Ram Janmabhoomi Mandir, Ayodhya, she was invited to lend her voice for Ram Naam Kirtan while statue of Ramlalla was being unveiled . Malini performed and represented India in an event of ABU TV in 2023 that was held in Seoul, South Korea. She enthralled the audiences and made a mark in their hearts.