About
Pratibha Singh Baghel, born in Rewa, Madhya Pradesh, is a versatile singer trained in Hindustani classical music who is equally at home in ghazal, thumri, Bollywood playback and musical theatre. She earned the classical qualifications Sangeet Prabhakar and Sangeet Parveen and rose to notice as a top finalist on Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Challenge 2009. Ghazal remains her favourite genre, and A.R. Rahman has described her as a generational voice.
Baghel has sung playback for films from Manikarnika to Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania and for the series Bandish Bandits, and released the acclaimed ghazal album Bole Naina with violinist Deepak Pandit, featuring the lyricist Gulzar and Zakir Hussain. On stage she played Bahar in Mughal-e-Azam: The Musical, which won Best Indian Play at the Broadway World India Awards, and the title role in Umrao Jaan Ada - The Musical, staged to sold-out houses at Sadler's Wells in London.
The artistry
Baghel has a rich, soulful voice built on solid Hindustani classical training, moving with ease between the poise of a ghazal, the intricacy of a thumri and the demands of playback and stage. Her theatre roles add an actor's command to her singing.
Baghel offers a host a classically rich ghazal and thumri mehfil, playback-backed mass appeal, and marquee musical-theatre credentials. A strong, versatile booking for ghazal evenings and stage productions alike. [Atlas Assessment]
A leading younger voice who bridges the classical ghazal, film playback and the new wave of Indian musical theatre.