Profile - print version

Smita Bellur was initiated into Hindustani classical vocal music in the Khayal Style, at the age of twelve by her guru late Shri. P. R. Bhagwat, a renowned musician and recipient of the Sangeet Natak Academy award.

After the demise of Shri. Bhagwat, she started learning from ‘Sangeet Ratna’, late Pt. Arjunsa Nakod, a doyen of the Gwalior – Kirana Gharana, training under him for few years.

Smita is a ‘Senior Diploma’ in classical vocal music from Prayag Sangeet Samiti – Allahabad, has been under the guidance of late Pt. Rajabhau Sontakke (disciple of the legendary Sangeet Martand Pt. Omkarnath Thakur) for higher education in music. She has also been guided by Shri. Vishwanath Nakod in light music.

Currently she is a disciple of Pt. Bhalachandra Nakod and is getting ‘taleem’ from ‘Gaan Saraswati’, ‘Sangeet Kaumudi’ Vidushi Dr. Alka Deo Marulkar.

Smita is actively involved in the nation wide co-operative of performing artistes, ‘Sangeet Sankalp’ as one of the founder members of its Bangalore chapter. She is the secretary of Nadashri Sangeet Sabha – an organization that promotes Hindustani Classical music. She is an engineer by qualification and also freelances as a music journalist.

“Graceful Alliance…Her voice traversed the three octaves with ease, dazzling the audience. The synchronisation was perfect, thereby enhancing the euphonious appeal.” – The Hindu, Feb 2008

“At the Yuva Sangeethotsava, Suchethan R and Smitha Bellur had the audience hooked.” – Gulfvarthe.com Times News Network, Dec 2006

“The high point of her performance was the ‘tar saptak’ where the voice traversed effortlessly...” - Vijay Times, Dec 2003

“I don’t want to commercialize my passion for singing: Bellur” – Hitavada, Jan 2006

“Carving a niche in the realm of Classical music” – Indian Express, Mar 2007

“...she came in for some extraordinary appreciation from the audience...” - Samyukta Karnataka, 2001 (translated)

“With a mellifluous golden voice, sincere approach and abundant talent, her recital was soul-stirring.”- Prajavani, Aug 2004 (translated)

“...not only did she develop the raga beautifully, her exquisite taans made her recital magnificent.”- Dainik Bhaskar, April 2004 (translated)

“Convincing Kajri and Malkauns by Smita Bellur” – Lokmat, Jan 2006 (translated)

“that night the audience was spell-bound by the recital of the Gwalior- Kirana gharana vocalist” - Samyukta Karnataka, Jul 2005 (translated)

“Sing Nightingale, Dance with joy Nightingale” – Kannada Prabha, Mar 2007 (translated)

Recitals/Concerts and Achievements
A regular 'B High' artiste of All India Radio, Dharwad, I gave my first classical performance at the age of fourteen, at Rastrothana Parishat and since then has been performing at more than 200 music festivals, including:

· Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage, New Delhi

· India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

· 67^th Shri Thyagaraja Annual Festival of music, Tirupati

· Bharat Sangeet Utsav, Bangalore

· Sangeet Sankalp Pune – Sudarshan Rang Manch, Pune

· Saptak - Ahmedabad

· Swar Sadhana Samiti – Mumbai

· Pt. Manmohan memorial festival, Jaipur

· Parthasarathy Sangeet Sabha – Chennai

· Bangalore Habba 2006

· Nizar Kala Sansthan, Nagpur

· Pt. ShankarRao Gaikwad Punyatithi, Pune

· ‘Yuva Vandana’, Sree Satya Sai Baba Ashram, Whitefield Bangalore

· Sursagar, Bangalore

· Pt. Sawai Gandharv Punyatithi, Kundgol

· Asthavinayak Pratishtaan, Lathur, Maharastra

· Delhi Karnatak Sangha

· 4th National Level “Bharat Ratna M S Subbulakshmi” Memorial Music Festival - Gitanjali 2009 for Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana University

· Pt. Omkarnath Thakur Smriti

· Ustad Imammuddin Dagar Music festival, Jaipur

· Sree Rama Seva Mandali - Fort High School, Bangalore

· Avani Rasika Ranga, Dharwad

· Indian Institute of World Culture, Bangalore

· Shree Gururaghavendra Temple at Mantralayam, Andhra Pradesh

· Dutta Gaana Sabha – Barshi, Maharastra

· Nadashri Sangeet Sabha, Hubli

· Sangeet Pratishtana, Belgaum

· Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

· SAP CIO conference in Gurgaon, Delhi and Bangalore

· All India Saraswat Cultural programme at Goa

· ‘Yuva Gana Mela’, Karnataka Ganakala Parishat, Mysore and Hassan

· Pt. Panchakshari Gawai Punyatithi at Shree Veereshwar Punyashram- Gadag

· Govt. of Karnataka, Department of Culture and Kannada Music Festivals:

‘Chalukyotsav 2006’ – Aihole- Badami- Pattadkal
‘Karavalli Utsav’, 2003 – Karwar, 2006 Mangalore
‘Lakkundi Utsav’ 2006, Gadag
‘Thingala Sobagu’, ‘Samskrutika Saurabha’ and ‘Yuva Saurabha’ at Gadag, Haveri, Bellary, Bidar and Raichur
Navraspur Utsav 2005, Bijapur
‘Samskrutika Sourabha’ at Ananya, Bangalore