Manjusha Kulkarni-Patil was born into the Maharashtra village of Sangli, famous for producing superb musicians. She learned to sing under Chintubua Mhaiskar, DV Kanebua, Pandit Narendra Kanekar, and Pandit Vikas Kashalkar, and continues to study with esteemed scholar-singer Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar.

Today she sings khayal in the Agra and Gwalior gharana styles, and also expertly performs thumri, abhang, dadra, and natya sangeet (‘dramatic music’) - the musical theatre of the Maharashtra region. She draws great inspiration from the natural world, seeking to mimic the sounds of wind with her voice and intimately feeling the connection between each raga and its prahar (prescribed time of day).

"Hindustani classical music is based on nature, just like the gust of wind...we use the wind to create the notes, the music and notes later return to the wind..."

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