Malini Awasthi

Honored as India’s representative for Folk Music by the UNESCO, Padmashri Malini Awasthi personifies the quintessential aspect of the musical tradition that passes down from generation to generation. With more than a thousand shows, nationally and internationally, Malini has preserved, documented, and disseminated various traditional and folk forms of Indian music, ranging from the Kajris, Thumris & Dadras in dialects such as Bhojpuri, Bundelkhandi and Awadhi. Malini runs an organization called “Sonchirayya” which provides a performing platform to various rural, tribal and folk artists from all over India.