My Compelling Story

Alla Rakha hails from the family of the illustrious Sarangi players, Ustad Noor Khan and Ustad Madari Khan of Sikar (Rajasthan). Born on 20th August in the year 1980 in Jaipur, Alla Rakha is said to have acquired the art of playing Sarangi within his genes itself from the previous generations. A noted ‘Sarangiya’ of his generation, Allah Rakha went to a number of national as well as international concerts following his training. It is through this that Allah Rakha started to earn his place in the world of Indian Classical Music. From the year 2004 until that of 2011, he went on having various tours to Europe where apart from Classical Music, he also worked on fusion projects, Jazz projects and many other different genres of global music. Alla Rakha has also composed music for dance and drama projects as well. In 2012, Alla Rakha moved to Kolkata as he was appointed as a member of the Sarangi Faculty by the ITC Sangeet Research Academy. Alla Rakha stands tall amongst the musicians of his age. Disciplined improvisations and unfoldments of Ragas, thoughtful and full of response types of Alap, proper use of Gamak and Khatka and use of Meru Khand Taans are some of the special features of his Sarangi playing. Having mastered the above mentioned qualities and having acquired command over both hands on this rare instrument like the Sarangi, as a result of his hard work, perseverance and of course, the blessings of his elders, he started to conquer the hearts of many with his Sarangi. He is now one among the most demanding sarangi players of his generation. Award & Achievements: • 1st prize and ‘B’ Grade awarded in All India Radio Competition in 1995 • Navadeep Award from Navadeep Pratisthan in 1997 • ‘B’ High Grade in All India Radio in 1997 • 1st prize in Omkarnath Competition in 1997 • Honoured with Swarmani Award by Sur Sringar in Mumbai in 2000 • Scholarship awarded by Sangeet Natak Academy in Delhi in 2003 • Achieved ‘A’ Grade in All India Radio in 2006