Niranjan Lele

Bio

Niranjan Lele is a distinguished disciple of the renowned harmonium maestro Padmashree Pandit Tulsidas Borkar, with initial training from Mrs. Joshi and Mr. Shashikant Shembekar who is a disciple of Pt. Manohar Chimote. He is the only ‘A’ grade artist of All India Radio from Maharashtra in the Hindustani Instrumental (Harmonium) category, one of just three artists nationwide to achieve this honor. Niranjan holds a Sangeet Visharad with Distinction from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharv Mahavidyalay. He has composed music for various films and albums, including the award-winning short film *Kulsoom*, recognized with the Babasaheb Phalke Award and a Special Jury recognition for unique background music composed solely on the harmonium. Niranjan has performed at prestigious events such as the World Music Festival in Paris (2002) and Stuttgart (2008) and has extensively toured abroad for musical performances and workshops. He has also performed in the Central Hall of Parliament to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the 1857 War of Independence, alongside renowned musicians like Dr. Aneesh Pradhan and Padmashree Shubha Mudgal. He has collaborated with eminent musicians including Lata Mangeshkar, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Girija Devi, Birju Maharaj, Zakir Hussain, Shankar Mahadevan, Kishori Amonkar, and Pandit Jasraj. Niranjan is also proficient in playing the rare Acoustic Reed Organ. Despite his academic background in Science (Statistics) and Computer Programming, Niranjan has pursued a career in music. He has completed Sound Engineering and Reproduction from the University of Mumbai. Niranjan is a PYP and MYP certified educator in the International Baccalaureate curriculum, a Microsoft Certified Educator, Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, and an Adobe Creator. He has earned over 150 badges from online courses conducted by Microsoft Education. Awards for his musical talent include the Prabodhak Yuva Sanman Puraskar, Manohar Waman Rege Puraskar from Swar Mauli, Mumbai, and the Pt. Vishwanath Pendharkar Smruti Puraskar from Swar – Sanskar Mumbai. He has been a Music Faculty member at Dhirubhai Ambani International School for the past 20 years.