About
Arshad Ali Khan is a leading Hindustani classical vocalist of the Kirana gharana, descended from the family lineage of Abdul Karim Khan and Abdul Wahid Khan, the gharana's founders. A former child prodigy, he has become one of the notable khayal voices of his generation.
Descended from the founding family of the Kirana gharana, Arshad Ali Khan trained under his maternal uncles Mashkoor Ali Khan and Mubarak Ali Khan. At the age of nine he was hailed as the sensation of the Sawai Gandharva Sammelan, performing on special invitation by Bhimsen Joshi on the maestro's seventy-fifth birthday. He received the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar in 2013 and has performed at leading festivals worldwide, including Sawai Gandharva, Harballabh and Saptak.
The artistry
Trained in the Kirana gharana's lyrical, note-centred style by his maternal uncle Mashkoor Ali Khan, Arshad Ali Khan sings khayal with melodic purity and emotional depth, extending into thumri and bhajan. His singing carries forward the aesthetic of the great Kirana masters from whom he descends.
[Atlas Perspective] Arshad Ali Khan is among the leading Kirana vocalists of his generation, with a distinguished lineage and early acclaim. For flagship festivals and heritage programmes, he is a strong choice.
Arshad Ali Khan carries forward the Kirana gharana as a direct descendant of its founding family, sustaining one of the most beloved khayal traditions of Hindustani music into a new generation.