Pandit Chitresh Das (9 November 1944 – 4 January 2015) was a classical dancer of the North Indian style of Kathak. Born in Calcutta, Das was a performer, choreographer, composer and educator. He was instrumental in bringing Kathak to the US and is credited with having firmly established Kathak amongst the Indian diaspora in America. In 1979, Das established the Chhandam School of Kathak and the Chitresh Das Dance Company in California. In 2002, he founded Chhandam Nritya Bharati in India. Today, there over ten branches of Chhandam worldwide.

Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar (29 December 1900 - 24 April 1942) was an exceptional Hindustani Classical, Semi-Classical and Natya-Sangeet Vocalist and Marathi theatre actor. He is popularly addressed as Master Deenanath Mangeshkar and better known as the father of great Mangeshkar sisters. His kids -Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Hridayanath Mangeshkar, Meena Khadikar and Usha Mangeshkar are of course the biggest names of Indian musical industry!

An Archival photo of Legendary Hindustani Musicians;
Pandit Chidanand Nagarkar (one of the foremost disciples of Gayanacharya Dr. S. N. Ratanjankar) in a concert with Ustad Allarakha Khan on Tabla, Pandit P. Madhukar on Harmonium and Pandit Ram Narayan on Sarangi. 🙏🙏🙏

Born in 1919 in Bangalore, Chidanand Nagarkar, began his training in music under Shri Govind Vithal Bhave. At a very young age he moved to Lucknow to pursue his chosen path under the guidance of Pandit S. N. Ratanjankar at the Marris College of Music, now known as Bhatkhande Vidya Peeth. A brilliant musician, Chidanand grew to become one of the foremost disciples of Pt. Ratanjankar and gained a wide repertoire that included Dhrupad, Dhamar, Khayal, tappa and thumri. He was known for his fast-paced concerts, wherein he combined his thorough training with a supremely confident, flashy style.

Born in Bhandara, Maharashtra now settled in Mumbai, 25 year old Gandhar Deshpande is a powerhouse of talent. He commenced his musical training at the age of five. His first gurus were his parents, Pandit Dr. Ram Deshpande and, Smt. Archana Deshpande, both vocalists and experts in Hindustani music; he is further honing his skills under the able guidance of Pt. Dr. Ram Deshpande for Gwalior, Jaipur, and Agra Gharana gayaki by ‘Gurushishya Parampara’, from past 15 years.