Vasundhara Komkali, who spent most of her life as the great Kumar Gandharva’s wife, student and accompanist died after a brief illness. For the longest time, her voice used to fill the spaces in her husband’s music with the selflessness of a devotee.
Vasundhara Komkali with Kumar Gandharva
Somewhere along the way, she became a singer in her own right.
Komkali was 85 years old. She died after a brief illness in Dewas, the small Madhya Pradesh town where she and Kumar Gandharva lived for more than 30 years. They have a daughter, Kalapini Komkali, who is also a musician.
About Vasundhara Komkali
- She was a mere teenager when she met her husband at the All India Music Conference in Calcutta, where he was performing and she was participating in a competition.
- By then, Kumar Gandharva had already established himself as the maverick magical musician who transcended all categories. His haunting music sang of oneness and the universal spirit.
- She was desperate to be a part of this magic so when he agreed to teach her, she left her tutelage with BR Deodhar and joined him.
- Over the years, she internalized his music and when she eventually reached out to the world, she was rewarded with a Padma Shri and a Sangeet Natak Akademi award.
