Gangubai Hangal

Gangubai Hangal (05 March 1913 – 21 July 2009) was an Indian singer of the khayal genre of Hindustani classical music from Karnataka, who was known for her deep and powerful voice.^[6] Hangal belonged to the Kirana gharana.^[7]

Gangubai Hangal was born in Dharwad to Chikkurao Nadiger, an agriculturist^[1] and Ambabai, a vocalist of Carnatic music.^[8] Hangal received only elementary education^[5] and her family shifted to Hubli in 1928 so that Gangubai could study Hindustani music.^[1][9][10] She began to train formally aged 13 with Krishnacharya Hulgur, a kinnari (stringed instrument like a veena)player, studying Hindustani classical music.^[11] From Hulgur, Gangubai learned sixty compositions in one year before he stopped teaching her after an argument about his fees. She also learned from Dattopant Desai before studying under Sawai Gandharva, a respected guru.^[12][13] Hangal could only study sporadically under Gandharva when he returned to his home, but she received an intensive training of three years after he relocated permanently to Hubli.^[11]