Adorned in a ponchampalli saree, Sawani Mudgal, a Hindustani classical music artist, captivates attention with her mesmerizing eyes. During her visit to Chandigarh for a performance at the cultural festival organized by the Indian National Theatre in collaboration with the Durga Das Foundation, Mudgal, named after a raga, shares, “There is no deeper meditation than music.” Her words come to life as the audience experiences her rendition of a thumri.
Raised in a family of musicians, Mudgal’s musical journey began at an early age at the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in New Delhi, founded by her grandfather Padma Shri Pt Vinaya Chandra Maudgalya and currently led by her father and guru, Padma Shri Madhup Mudgal. Mudgal commenced rigorous musical training under her father’s guidance at the age of 12, frequently accompanying him to concerts in India and abroad. She actively participated in the cross-cultural project “Samwaad” in Sao Paulo, Brazil, spreading awareness of Indian classical arts through workshops and demonstrations.
Emphasizing the importance of introducing children to classical music, Mudgal states, “Parents should make efforts to initiate children into classical music. Schools should also make them experience our traditional art forms.” Drawing inspiration from her own upbringing, she aims to instill dedication and devotion to music in her children, emphasizing the values of honesty, hard work, and discipline.
A gold medallist in music from Khairagarh University, Sawani expanded her artistic repertoire by learning Bharatanatyam under the guidance of Padma Shri Leela Samson. As a core member of Samson’s troupe, Spanda, she performed across East Asia, including Japan, China, and India.
Mudgal’s artistic pursuits have taken her around the world, with notable performances in Brazil, Russia, Pakistan, Morocco, Greece, and the United States. In 2008, she toured Germany, Spain, Belgium, and France with the presentation ‘Famille Mudgal.’ Alongside her performances, Mudgal imparts knowledge as a teacher of classical vocal music at the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and serves as the conductor of Gandharva Baal Vrinda (children’s choir). Additionally, she voluntarily practiced music therapy at Sanjivani, an NGO for schizophrenics, for two years.
Expressing her foremost goal, Mudgal emphasizes her commitment to creatively engaging the youth by sharing her musical experiences. She has conducted workshops for hundreds of students across both rural and urban areas in Rajasthan through SPIC MACAY and spent two years training students at Step By Step School in Noida. Mudgal also led an immersion program in classical, devotional, and experimental music at Zakir Hussain College in Delhi.
