Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha

Umakant Gundecha and Ramakant Gundecha have emerged as the torch-bearers of the great dhrupad tradition, which they have inherited from their gurus, the Dagar brothers. Born in Ujjain, India, the Gundecha brothers had their musical training at the Madhav Music College in Ujjain. After obtaining post-graduate degrees in music, both brothers received rigorous training in dhrupad from the renowned vocalist Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar and his elder brother, the veena virtuoso Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar, at the Dhrupad Kendra in Bhopal.

The Gundecha brothers' rendition of dhrupad is marked by a sense of melody, sensitivity, and an emphasis that takes the listener back to dhrupad's ancient and timeless roots. Their voices, displaying an impressive range, fullness and power, together produce a ringing timbre and seamless style. Their openness to other forms of music has led them to smooth the tonal quality of their music and further enhance its meditative quality. This has also led to eclectic partnerships with artistes like Astad Debu, who danced to an alap (the initial elaboration of a raga without a set rhythm) sung by them at the Khajuraho dance festival in 1992. The brothers have, in fact, led the way in the revival of dhrupad by incorporating the poetry of Tulsidas, Padmakar, Nirala and Keshav Das into their music. This has served to significantly enhance the poetic content of dhrupad.

Over the last several years, the brothers' fame and popularity have spread steadily both in India and abroad. They have been invited to perform by various organizations such as the Sangeet Research Academy, the Dhrupad Society, the Sangeet Natak Academy, and the Music Academy. They have been featured internationally in various festivals including the Festival of India held in various countries and have won the hearts of audiences and critics alike. In the words of one critic, "Dhrupad is safe and Dagarvani (the legacy of their gurus, the Dagar brothers) is all set to enter the 21st century."

Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha are accompanied on the pakhawaj by another musician in the family - their brother, Akhilesh Gundecha. Akhilesh is a disciple of Pt. Shrikant Mishra. He has also had training in pakhawaj under the guidance of Raja Chhatrapati Singh Judev. Akhilesh has an M.A. in Vocal Music from KhairagarhUniversity, where he is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in dhrupad's Dagarvani.