DHANANJAY KAUL

Training Background

Training in classical music began at an early age, Dhananjay Kaul gave his first stage performance at the age of nine years and passed the radio audition at the age of twelve years, learned Hindustani classical Vocal from his father Pt. Shanti Kaul, later got opportunity to learn from Acharya Nirmala Arun (Renowned exponent of Patiala Gahrana) She Taught him the finer nuances of Punjab Ang, went through a long journey of self-learning, studying musical literature and listening to renowned vocalists of the country, also received formal training in Tabla from Ustad Hashmat Ali Khan of Ajrada Gharana.

Major Performances and Achievements

• Performed in Saptak Sangeet Festival (Ahemedabad) January 2006. Saptak is considered most prestigious and the biggest festival of Indian  Classical Music in the World. This is a festival in which all the stalwarts of Indian classical music like Ustad Zakir Hussian, Pt. Kishan Maharaj, Shubha Mudgal and many more, performed.

• Empanelled  with ICCR (India Council for  Cultural Relations) Ministry of External Affairs Govt. of India.

• Presented a Sufiyana Recital before President of India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam in July 2006 at Sri Nagar, Kashmir

• Dhananjay Nite Organised by J&K Academy of art, culture and languages at Abhinav Theatre, Jammu in 1997.

• Performed for international melody foundation Delhi.

• Kalyani Sangeet Mahaotsava, performed in this three-day festival at Srifort auditorium Delhi in 1995, sharing stage with great names like pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Shiv Kumar Sharma, Hariharan.

• Yatra festival and Yauva Mahaotsava organised by Sahitya Kala Parishad Delhi, in 1998.

• Performed in Chandigrah and some other cities of Punjab, organized by NZCC and Punjab academy, 1993 and 1996.

• Performed on Independence Day at Bakshi Stadium, Srinagar in 1998, a unique kind of classical performance given by any Kashmiri vocalist on such an occasion.

• Performed at Dachi Gam Kashmir for Indian Medical Association, hosted by Dr. Farooq Abdulla Ex Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir, May 2001.

• Participated in the festival of India in Germany in the year 1992.

• Performed on the annual event of Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust, held on 1^st January 2002.

• Performed in world Kashmiri Conference at Sri Fort Auditorium Delhi 1993 and 1998. 

• Presented a classical devotional recital at Nehru Garden Delhi, jointly organized by N.D.M.C. and Nav Bharat Times in Feb. 2002.

• Performed in The World Music Festival at Leh Laddakh, in August 2004, jointly organized by Australian, Swedish and British musicians supported by Govt. of India and some NGOs.

• Performed at India Habitat Center New Delhi in Feb 2002, organized by I.H.C in collaboration with Impresario Asia.

• Concert at Baroda (Thumri, Dadra, Ghazal), organized by Komal Nishad, June 2003.

• Presented a recital based on Nayika Bhed, in Thumri at Dehradoon, The Virasat International festival, September 2003 and again in November 2004.

• "Dargah ke Mureed", Presented Kashmiri sufi songs and some compositions of Hzt. Amir Khusro, at India Habitat center, October 2003.

• Rendered Punjabi sufi Kafi, in Opera Vichde Pani, Kapurthala, Punjab, October 2003.

• Himachal Sangeet Samaroh, Sunder Nagar, November 2003.

• Presented a vocal recital on Annual Function of "Jammu Kashmir Vichar Manch", Feb. 2004 and in March 2005 at FICCI Auditorium.

• Appeared as invited Guest on evening live show, a popular of Doordarshan. He has also recorded several programmes for Doordharshan.

• Recorded an hour long Thumri and Ghazal programme for satellite T.V. channel ETV (Urdu).

• Award of National Fellowship in the field of Music by the cultural department of HRD Ministry Govt. of India, 1996.

• Performed in other cities of India as well, like Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, Panchkula, Uttar Kashi, Allahbad, Kolkata, Ahamedabad etc.

• Other concerts at different places include, Hrishikesh, Gandhi Nagar, Rajkot, Surat and a memorable concert at Batara, Gujrat Sharing the stage with world famous Sarangi maestro Ustad Sultan Khan, January 2005.

• Presented 8 hours long vocal recital in The Gurukul of world famous saint Sh. Murari Bapu at Mahua, Gujrat, in October 2004.

• Directed classical music workshops for children organized by Sahitya Kala Parishad Delhi, also directed a classical Music workshop (1^st of its kind) for the students of music and fine art collage Srinagar Sept, 2002, organized by J & K Cultural Academy.

• Composed music for several Theatre and Television productions. Participated in some theatre festivals as music director and singer, organized by J&K cultural academy, Sangeet Natak Academy (North Zone Drama Festival) National School of Drama and Allahbad Natya Sangh.

• Composed music for Opera Pari Mehal, written by Sh. M.L. Saqi (Padma Shree), staged in Delhi under the scheme of financial assistance to outstanding artists by HRD Ministry Govt. of India, November 1998.

• Composed around 700 songs based on Kashmiri Sufi Poetry, Punjabi Sufi Kalam, Urdu Poetry, Sanskrit, Hindi, Awadhi, Poorbi and several compositions and bandishes as well.

Other Achievements

• His recent works on Kashmiri Music include compilation of Shiv Bhajans by Great Saint of Kashmir,  Mahatama Krishna Joo Razdan. The CD which has accompaniment of Kashmiri Instruments like Rabab and Santoor, was released by Jammu Kashmir Vishar Manch in August 2006.  

• He has sung several songs for Dordarshan serial Choraha under music direction of Sh. Bhajan Sopori in 1991-92.

• Composed Music and sang for Serial Yes Lagi Tas lagi Sarkari (D.D.K. Srinagar) in 1994, directed by Bashir Dada.

• Composed all songs for Telefilm Sardar in 1995 (D.D.K. Srinagar).

• Performed in Programme Sham-e-Kashmir, conceived and recorded by C.P.C. Doordarshan 1996.

• Composed music for several song based television productions like a documentary series on Sufi Poets of Kashmir (Gulha-e-Rangarang) directed by Sh. C.L. Hakhoo in 1997 (D.D.1) and in 2000 (D.D. Kashir)

• Composed music for Serial Gumrah, D.D. Kashir in 2000.

• He has appeared twice as an invited guest in the morning programme (Subhai Subhai) of D.D. Kashir.

• He sang the title song of D.D. Kashir Serial Intezaar in 2000.

• He composed music and (Lal wakhs) for a series of plays directed by Sh. M.K. Raina.  It was a P.T.I.  T.V. production for Dordarshan.

• He composed music and also sang for some C.B.R. productions of D.D.K. Srinagar. He also anchored some programmes especially a musical serial based on the folk songs of different regions of J&K and there relation with Raag Pahari.

• Produced a musical programme (Kharaaj) a tribute to the path finders of Kashmiri music for D.D. Kashir Channel. Presently he is also connected with Kashmir education Culture and Science Society (K.E.C.S.S.) Delhi.

• Composed music for a theatre production (Kaali Baraf), written by Meera Kant and directed by Mushtak Kaak, Produced by Sri. Ram Center for performing arts, New Delhi. 

• He has recently recorded some songs for a CD, which is to be released by AIR in 2005.

VIDEO CLIPS

Dhananjay Kaul performing

Sanskritic Sandhya (Dec. 27-28, 1993)
	Cultural Protests by Kashmiri Pandit Artistes World Kashmiri Pandit Conference New Delhi, India Organized by Panun Kashmir
Kharaj (2004)
	Manasbal Productions Presentation - Introduction - Part 1 - Part 2 Courtesy: Rakesh Kaul