Nina Burmi

Hindustani Khayal Vocal

2 minute read

Nina Burmi sings in the Kirana gharana style, tackling khayal, thumri, bhajan, and other forms. Currently living in the UK, she trained under the esteemed husband-wife pairing of Ustad Dilshad Khan and Begum Parveen Sultana, and combines the latter’s wide vocal range with a more sparsely ornamented approach. She has sung in India and performed for the Queen of England.

Despite keeping a relatively low recent profile, her performance in 2006 with Ramesh Mishra and Sanju Sahai remains one of the most watched on the Darbar YouTube channel, racking up millions of views from around the world.

[on hearing Kishori Amonkar as a teenager] “I just couldn’t believe the human voice could be so virtuosic, or that someone could have such control…”

Nina Burmi presents Raag Mishra Bhairavi at Darbar Festival 2006, with Ramesh Mishra (sarangi) and Sanju Sahai (tabla).

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Nina Burmi | Thumri in Mishra Bhairavi

Recorded for Darbar Festival 2006, on 5th March at the Phoenix Theatre, Leicester Musicians: - Nina Burmi (vocal) - Ramesh Mishra (sarangi) - Sanju Sahai (tabla) Raag Mishra Bhairavi; Thaat: Bhairavi; Samay: 06:00 - 09:00 Morning Nina Burmi uses her smooth three-octave vocal range to explore the thumri style - a semi-classical genre intimately connected with dance, poetry, and drama. Learn more about the music: Thumri is a sensuous ‘light classical’ style, originating in Uttar Pradesh. The word is derived from the Hindi ‘thumakna’, meaning ‘to walk with dancing steps so as to make the ankle-bells tinkle’, and the genre remains closely connected with dance and drama. Ragas are treated more flexibly, and songs are often devotional, romantic, or even erotic in nature. Lyrics have a central role, often being based on folk tales or classical poetry, and commonly depicting the separation of lovers, or myths of Lord Krishna. Nina Burmi sings in the Kirana gharana style, tackling khayal, thumri, bhajan, and other forms. Currently living in the UK, she trained under the esteemed husband-wife pairing of Dilshad Khan and Parveen Sultana, and combines the latter’s wide vocal range with a more sparsely ornamented approach. In this song she is joined by top accompanists, with lyrics describing the tension and sorrow of a lover who is separated from Lord Krishna. Subscribe to the Darbar Player to access the full, uncut performance.