Anant Kulkarni

Anant Laxmanrao Kulkarni, originating from a traditional family in Balakot, had developed a profound fascination for music from a young age. He drew his inspiration from the melodic performances of his mother, Smt. Padmavathi and his elder brother, Sri Gururaj Kulkarni. His affinity for singing blossomed early, making him a consistent participant in school and college performances. He also engaged in delivering light music and film songs at local events. After graduating with distinction, he earned a bachelor’s degree in Hindustani music, reflecting his deep commitment to the craft. Anant received his early training in Hindustani classical music from Pt. H. R. Badiger. Under the guidance of Pt. Mukund Gore, he continued his schooling and saw a considerable improvement in his musical ability. His hard work paid off when he received a first-class score on the Hindustani Music Vidwat Exam conducted by the Government of Karnataka. Additionally, the Prayag Sangeeth Sameeti in Allahabad gave him the title of Sangeet Marthand as a mark of honor. He established himself in the music industry as an ‘A’ Grade artist in light music for All India Radio in Dharwar.

Sri Prabhakar Joshi had a significant influence on Ananth Kulkarni's singing of ‘Dasara pada’ (devotional songs of Haridasas). Many ‘Dasara pada’ had already been set to a melody by his brother, Sri Gururaj Kulkarni, which was later popularized by Ananth. An astonishing adventure began when Ananth Kulkarni performed his first full-fledged ‘dasawani’ concert in Yadgir in 1987 and became the most in-demand devotional performer for ‘dasawani’ concerts over time. He has a reputation for his unusual style of singing Haridasa songs, which emphasizes the lyrics and pronunciation while retaining a straightforward and spiritually stirring performance. He has been awarded multiple awards like Haridasa Nidhi by Sumadhwa Sangha, Shimoga, Harikathamruthasara Bhushana by Haridasa Sampada Trust, Bangalore and Harisudha Audio, Yalburga, MeghaMalhar by Meghamalhar Samithi, Gulbarga, Parimala Prashasti by Parimala Geleyara Balaga, Bangalore and many others.