About
Dr. Radhika Chopra, born and raised in Jammu, is a leading ghazal singer and composer based in Delhi. She holds a doctorate in Indian classical music from the Faculty of Music and Fine Arts, Delhi University, where she topped the university, and learned thumri, dadra and ghazal from the eminent Padma Shri Shanti Hiranand, a renowned disciple of Begum Akhtar. She is a top-grade artist of All India Radio.
Chopra is known for a puritan, raga-based gayaki and a deep understanding of the poetry of Ghalib, Meer, Faiz and Faraz, alongside a large repertoire of her own compositions. Commissioned by the Ministry of Culture to commemorate figures such as Ghalib and Begum Akhtar, she has performed at Parliament House and Rashtrapati Bhavan and across some twelve countries. The Rekhta Foundation describes her as a leading exponent of ghazal singing in India.
The artistry
Chopra sings with a crisp, clear voice and impeccable Hindi and Urdu diction, in a traditional raga-based style that prizes the meaning of the poetry. She renders intricate ghazal, dadra and thumri with ease, and moves into bhajan, film, Punjabi folk and Sufiana kalam.
Chopra offers a host a refined, poetry-literate ghazal recital of the highest order, well suited to Urdu-heritage festivals and cultural institutions. Her scholarship also supports lecture-recitals. [Atlas Assessment]
A scholar-performer of the ghazal who upholds a traditional, poetry-rooted style while composing extensively of her own.