The tunes enfold over her Veena making us sense the vibrant force of waves of the immeasurable oceans.
Dr. Radhika – The befitting inheritor to the bequest of the musical treasure of Umdekar Gharana, Dr. Radhika had an innate urge from childhood to perform in her own distinctive approach in the field of music. This intense desire of hers created an artist Dr. Radhika, devoted to the art of playing Vichitra Veena.
Dr. Radhika is the first woman artist in the world to master playing the Vichitra Veena. Grand Daughter of the renowned vocalist late Pandit Balabhau Umdekar from the court of Gwalior Gharana, Dr. Radhika was raised in a family rejoicing in an ambience filled with music. Along with the Vichitra Veena, she is also an excellent player of Sitar. Dr. Radhika has been learning classical singing, Sitar and Vichitra Veena under the guidance of her father Pt. Shriram Umdekar who himself is an excellent Sitar and Rudra Veena player. Simultaneously she is also learning Vichitra Veena under the proficient guidance of renowned Mohan Veena player Pt. Vishwamohan Bhatt.
While offering wholesomeness to the playing style of Vichitra Veana, Dr. Radhika has made many significant changes to Vichitra Veena that were never been attempted by any other artist till date. Dr. Radhika has crafted some mesmerizing Ragas like the Navalvihangi and Chaitrvani, Madhumanjiri in the small life span of hers so far. Dr. Radhika has mesmerized her listeners with her Vichitra Veena performance in many seminars in India and world over. She has Given Many Concerts in India and abroad and successfully conducted workshops and lectures on Indian Classical music and Fusion music in the countries far and wide. Dr. Radhika has several Indian and foreign students who are learning the Vichitra Veena along with many other Indian instruments.As an acclamation of the work by Dr. Radhika, various international publications, news channels, reality shows as well as Radio and print media have featured news & articles on Dr. Radhika. Informative documentaries are made on her performances of Vichitra Veena by electronic media. Countless music lovers in the country and abroad are ardent aficionado of the Vichitra Veena recited by Dr. Radhika.Dr. Radhika has played the Vichitra Veena for a number of records with various artists and has also ornamented several such records with the musical apparatus. Dr. Radhika has offered an inimitable contribution to Indian Classical music with her magnificent recitals on various television channels. Music Labels have also produced CDs of her unique performances on Vichitra Veena.Several articles, poems and stories written by this famous writer Dr. Radhika Umdekar Budhkar on the topics such as classical music, Indian music and various social issues are being published in different news publications and magazines also such publication being a continual process in future.
Veena Venu Art Foundation, has proved to be a blessing to numerous music students and artists in the country and overseas as well. Her blog Aarohi based on contemporary themes is serving like an inspiration and a guiding light to willful souls. .Through Aarohi Promotions Dr. Radhika is conveying her love and commitment towards music.
Dr. Radhika is the recipient of various acclaims, awards, scholarships, fellowships from all over the world.