Smita Bellur is a rare talent among India’s classical vocal music scene. She is recognized as India's first female Hindustani vocalist to be accepted into a lineage of traditional Qawaals, the Sufi music singers, and has received extensive mentorship from them.
This exceptional training, combined with her deep engagement with mysticism and over twenty years of immersion in the Khayal form of north Indian classical music, ensures that her performances resonate with profound humanity and provide easy access to the spiritual poetry of the subcontinent—including Nirguni, Bhakti, Sufi, Veerashaiva, and Haridasa traditions dating back to the 12th century.
With over 4.3M views on her YouTube channels and 235,000 streams on Spotify, Smita Bellur's influence is expanding among listeners who appreciate her soulful singing. (Instagram/Facebook)
She has lent her voice to the "Maanav Adhikar" song, commissioned by the National Human Rights Commission, Govt. of India, and has also performed for the popular Netflix web series "Ye Kaali Kaali Ankhein."
Her flawless tones, depth, and ability to sing mellifluously in multiple languages (Hindi, Urdu, Kannada, Punjabi) have connected her with audiences across the subcontinent on numerous occasions—on radio, on TV, at fundraisers, charity shows, inter-faith harmony gatherings, and festivals such as Jodhpur RIFF (Rajasthan), Spree Paisley Festival (Scotland), Jahan-e-Khusrau (Delhi), Eid-e-Milap (Hyderabad), Kalaghoda Arts Festival (Mumbai), as well as for state governments and national agencies like the Indian National Trust for Cultural Heritage.
Smita holds a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and a Master’s in Quality Management from BITS Pilani. She has previously worked for multinational corporations like SAP and Oracle (see LinkedIn Profile).
Additionally, Smita has authored several articles on music published by leading English dailies (read her blog here). She has also engaged in music and documentation projects for ORF and the India Foundation for the Arts, while organizing about 70 concerts as part of her social responsibility initiative through her NGO, Nadanubhava.org.
Now, Smita Bellur is a full-time musician, dedicated to performing, composing, teaching, and researching about the rich world of classical vocal music.