Anuradha Pal — World’s First Female Tabla Maestro, Pioneer—Stree Shakti (first all female band)

Global Tabla performer Solo Jugalbandi collaborator creator: Stree-Shakti Epic-storytelling educator TEDx speaker

Anuradha Pal performing multi-percussion

“If the male synonym for the Tabla is Zakir Hussain,
then the female equivalent has to undeniably be
Anuradha Pal.” — Hindustan Times

“If the male synonym for the Tabla is Zakir Hussain, then the female equivalent has to undeniably be Anuradha Pal.” — Hindustan Times

5000+ Concerts | 40+ Countries | 120+ Accolades | 50 Mil+ Digital Reach

Meet Anuradha Pal

A child prodigy turned world-class innovator, Anuradha Pal has taken the Tabla from India’s premier classical festivals including Tansen and Doverlane to Woodstock, WOMAD, Dior’s Live fashion show and created viral hits such as Spotify’s Kautilya with over 14 million streams. Her performances fuse tradition, world fusion music, bold innovation, and immersive storytelling, creating experiences that captivate festival audiences, brand campaigns, and private celebrations alike.

Honored as ‘Bharat ki Laxmi ’ by Hon’ble PM Modi ji and a ‘First Lady ’ Awardee by the President of India, Anuradha Pal is also a composer, educator, and cultural ambassador, mentoring the next generation through APCA (Aapka Gurukul) and empowering communities with her Healing Tabla Experience

Best of Anuradha Pal.

Press montage: child prodigy, ‘Bharat ki Laxmi’ highlight, Stree Shakti — Anuradha on Doordarshan at 9 yrs, Limca Book of Records 1992, Stree-Shakti WOMAD & RhythmSticks UK-'99, CHOGM - Africa '03

PMO ‘Bharat ki Laxmi’ tweet and First Ladies Award coverage — Prime Minister’s Office tweets Anuradha Pal as ‘Bharat ki Laxmi’; First Ladies Award coverage with President Ram Nath Kovind.

Honoured by Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam; featured in Women of Wonder & Torchbearers — Performed at Woodstock ’08 for 400,000 fans; awarded by President Dr. Kalam; hailed as a torch-bearer of Indian music.

With dignitaries and top musicians; awards & performances — Performances with legendary musicians; receiving awards and accolades from dignitaries.

Features: world’s first female tabla maestro; musicianship; overcoming odds — International features and citations—her “firsts,” musicianship, denial of opportunities, and hardships surmounted.

Spotlight clippings: ‘Playing against odds’, ‘Makes Zakir proud’ — Spotlight clippings—hailed as “Rani of Rhythm,” Spotify Echo Project & Tabla Rhythms features, and “Makes Zakir Proud.”

Legends Speak…

Anuradha has learnt from great Gurus, dedicatedly performed solos and accompanied all top musicians including me, to achieve great name and fame, purely on her own merit.

— Padma Vibhushan Pt. Shivkumar Sharma

First female Tabla maestro Anuradha has superb musicality, speed, sensitivity and confidence. Our concerts across India, Japan, Australia and beyond have been memorable.

— Padma Vibhushan Pt. Hariprasad Chaurasia

Anuradha has demonstrated a great talent, dedication and discipline as Abbaji and my disciple. She is a very fine performer, overcoming considerable obstacles, bringing her gifts to audiences internationally.

— Padma Vibhushan & Grammy Awardee Ustad Zakir Hussain

A child prodigy, Anuradha first performed with me in 1989 and has also performed with sons Amaan and Ayaan many times thereafter.

— Padma Vibhushan Ustad Amjad Ali Khan

Anuradha’s acceptance in the male-dominated world speaks volumes of her talent and indomitable spirit, further establishing her as an inspirational youth icon.

— Padma Vibhushan Pt. Birju Maharaj

Talented, respected, humble, and loved by all, Anuradha undoubtedly is one of the finest Tabla maestros of our country, despite being a girl without lineage in a male-dominated field. This is an extraordinary feat and a matter of great pride!

— Padma Bhushan Pt. V. M. Bhatt

A fantastic accompanist and vibrant soloist, there is hardly a musician of repute she has not performed with. Her soft-spoken, respectful and adjusting nature makes her very special.

— Padma Bhushan Pt. Rajan & Pt. Sajan Mishra

For Anuradha, Tabla is not just her profession but her passion. Her beautiful tonal quality, relentless riyaaz and humility make her a role model for women and youth.

— Padma Shri Pt. Satish Vyas

A favourite ganda-bandhan shagird of Ustad Alla Rakha & Zakirbhai, Anuradha plays Punjab Gharana and all five gharanas beautifully. May God take her to even greater heights.

— Padma Vibhushan Ustad Iqbal Ahmed Khan

Anuradha Pal, the world’s first female Tabla maestro, plays flawlessly across genres — from classical to fusion to folk to world. With scintillating solos, global collaborations, and her pioneering all-women band Stree Shakti, she has made India proud while also serving society with compassion like her nationalistic family has.

— Padma Shri Anup Jalota

With focus, dedicated riyaaz and mind-blowing talent, Anuradha has taken her art to incredible heights in a male-dominated field. Absolutely inspirational.

— Padma Shri Malini Awasthi

Anuradha is versatile, creative, and always uplifting on stage — a true asset to Indian classical music.

— Padma Shri Pt. Ronu Majumdar

A fabulous performer, generous teacher, and force of her own, creating brilliant students, Anuradha has made Abbaji and Zakirbhai so very proud.

— Ustad Taufiq Qureshi

One of the most dynamic personalities of Indian classical music — a generous soul who gives joy through her heavenly compositions.

— SNA Awardee Vidwan Chitravina N. Ravikiran

Your consistent Guru shraddha, bhakti and samarpan towards your profession are really rare. Coupled with your parents’ unflinching support, these have made you the committed professional whom everybody admires — especially as the world’s first female professional Tabla player.

— Shri Shashi Vyas (Pancham Nishad)

It is very difficult to make a name in music and you have done it. Abbaji was always very proud of you, and we as a family feel very proud of what you have achieved, despite all odds.

— Ustad Fazal Qureshi

Anuradha has been working for the preservation of arts and social empowerment of women and marginalized folk and tribal artistes. The female ‘Zakira’, Anuradha has accompanied my Kathak dance performances beautifully with incredible commitment and creativity.

— Padma Shri Shovana Narayan

More legends’ tributes coming soon.

— Team Anuradha Pal

OFFERINGS

Classical Mastery
Tabla solos and accompaniment with India’s legendary vocalists, instrumentalists, and dancers. Timeless tradition, performed at festivals, concerts, and intimate baithaks worldwide.
Signature Innovations
- Solo Jugalbandi, One Artist, Two Tablas, Infinite Emotions
- Healing Tabla Experience — for mind, body, and soul.
Trailblazing Bands
- Stree Shakti — India’s all-women classical fusion band.
- Rhythmic Epics — Tabla Stories in Song
- Recharge — a soulful fusion of Sufi, folk, Carnatic and World music and rhythms.
Global Collaborations & Brand Partnerships
Collaborated with international ensembles across jazz, African, Latin, and flamenco styles. Partnered with Dior, Spotify, Tata, Tanishk, SBI, LIC, Axis bank and more, creating high-impact international digital campaigns reaching 50M, furthering opportunities for sponsorships, brand collaborations and institutional partnerships.
Sought after speaker
at TEDx, IIT, NMIMS & IIM, Anuradha Pal shares her journey, insights, and creative wisdom through inspirational talks and mentorship, empowering audiences with the transformative power of music, rhythm, and storytelling.

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COMPOSER

Global collaborations & reach:
- Dior (13M+ views)
- Kautilya (14M+ streams)
- 50M+ audience worldwide
Composed highly popular fusion albums:
- Get Recharged
- Recharge Plus
- 50+ percussion layers in each track
All-tabla-and-voice background score for M.F. Husain’s Gaja Gamini, lauded at Cannes
Tabla storytelling productions:
Patriotic & inspirational music videos:
- Nari Shakti Anthem (written & composed for the Ministry of WCD)
- Taal Tiranga
- Bharat Vandan
- Dancing Rain
Created instructional video training courses in tabla: Learn Tabla Well (series)

Anuradha Pal composes for films, OTT, ads, and albums (Spiritual, Fusion, EDM, Percussion) and curates immersive events, residencies, and rhythm workshops worldwide.

Commission or Collaborate →

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TEACHING

APCA – Aapka Gurukul

Your Gurukul for Healing, Rhythm & Mastery

Great opportunity to learn from Pandita Anuradha Pal
Disciple of Ustads Alla Rakha & Zakir Hussain, playing all 6 gharanas
Guru–Shishya lineage in a modern space — where rhythm becomes yours.
‘Top-graded Vidushi’ & “Outstanding” Artist of ICCR
Performed & taught at MIT, Harvard, NEC, Europe, Japan, Australia & India
Ongoing mentorship via “Aapka Gurukul” YouTube Playlist

Why learn at APCA?

Small, structured batches with focused mentorship
Teaching rooted in Guru–Shishya tradition, enriched with modern pedagogy
Learning that heals, empowers & transforms

Covers: Classical | Folk | Film | Fusion
For: Intermediate, Advanced & Professional Students only
Modes: In-person (Mumbai) & Online (worldwide)

Residencies & Collaborations

Masterclasses & lecture-demonstrations
Collaborative research in rhythm, creativity & neuroscience
Designed for universities & cultural institutions worldwide

Juhu, Mumbai | Online Worldwide

WhatsApp: +(91) 98670 21847 | Email: apcamumbai@gmail.com

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CAUSES

Music for Health, Education, Empowerment & Culture

Anuradha has always championed equal opportunity for women, classical, and folk artists, founding Stree Shakti (India’s first all-female classical band, 1996) and Kala Shakti (2003). She established the **Anuradha Pal Cultural Foundation (APCF)** to spread positivity, wellness, and improve mental health, education, empowerment, and culture through the healing power of Indian classical music.

Healing Tabla Experience for Mind, Body & Soul: Music + yoga for chakra alignment and stress relief.
Positive Weekends™: Free open-air concerts fostering joy and intergenerational bonding.
Workshops of Wellness & School Outreach: Rebuilding focus, confidence, and teamwork in children and youth.
Livelihood & Relief: Atmanirbhar Utsav supported folk and classical artists; COVID aid reached 27,000+ women, children, and families.
Empowerment: Stree Shakti URJA campaigns and the **Padma Shri M.T. Vyas Stree Shakti Award** honor women leaders in arts, environment, and social service.

👉 Get involved: Learn, partner, sponsor, or volunteer.

Call / WhatsApp: ‪+91 98670 21847‬ | Email: apcamumbai@gmail.com

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Anuradha Pal — World’s First Female Tabla Maestro, Pioneer—Stree Shakti (first all female band)

Meet Anuradha Pal

Legends Speak…

OFFERINGS

COMPOSER

TEACHING

APCA – Aapka Gurukul

🥁 Why learn at APCA?

🌍 Residencies & Collaborations

CAUSES

Music for Health, Education, Empowerment & Culture

Why learn at APCA?

Residencies & Collaborations