Thumri-dadra exponent Vidya Rao talks to the Indian Cultural Forum about the history and roots of Thumri as a genre; the themes of longing and desire in Thumri; its place within Hindustani classical music and more.
Vidya Rao is one of the leading exponents of the delicate style of thumri-dadra singing, and is one of the few singers who combines the delicate shringar of thumri gayaki with the stark shoonyata of Kabir. She is also an accomplished writer and has written on various subjects such as feminism, music and spiritual traditions.Ishita Mehta is a member of the editorial collective of the Indian Writers Forum.
