Ustad Rajkumar Rizvi Sahib
A Life in Ghazal
Manvar Ratna Ustad Rajkumar Rizvi is a highly acclaimed Ghazal singer and represents one of the few living legends of Raga-based classical Ghazal gayaki in India. As a Ghazal maestro, he shares his style and charismatic voice with his guru and relative Mehndi Hassan and was his first disciple in India. Listening to Ustad Rajkumar in live concerts is indeed a pleasurable and ecstatic experience to the connoisseurs.
Ustad Rizvi also has a very distinct style of singing Rajasthani mand and folk music. He also lent his voice for "Laila Majnu Do Badan Ek Jaan The" in the unforgettable film Laila Majnu in 1976.
Rajkumar & wife Indrani Rizvi run the Indian Music Institute as their mission to promote the importance and value of classical music and Ghazal gayaki among young talents by conducting workshops and performing all over India, USA, UK & Canada. Since the last 20 years Mr. Rizvi spends most of his time conducting workshops and performing over U.S.A., U.K. & Canada.
Mainly conducting workshops and performances at Disha Arts Academy – Canada, Raag Ras Ranjini – New York and Drishti Foundation – Chicago.
They are more famous as the Musical Ghazal duo Rajkumar & Indrani Rizvi known to Ghazal lovers the world over. They also have many albums released as a duet couple as well as solo albums of Mr. Rizvi which have been famous worldwide among ghazal lovers in India & abroad.
Now his daughters Runa Rizvi Sivamani & Neha Rizvi are taking the musical heritage of Kalawant Gayaki ahead in the field of Ghazal Gayaki as well as genres like Bhajans, Sufi, Geet, Semi Classical & Bollywood music all around the world.
Honors Received
Ghazal Samrat Award
Awarded by the Toronto Star, one of the largest selling newspapers of Canada.
Felicitated with AR Rahman
Honored alongside A.R. Rahman by the Drishti Foundation in Chicago.
Honored by University of Saskatchewan
Recognized and honored by the University of Saskatchewan, Canada.
Ghazal Sartaj
Awarded Ghazal Sartaj by the RaagRasRangini Organization in New York.
Manvar Sangeet Ratna Award 2013
For Exceptional & Outstanding Achievement in the field of Music.
Recognized by Eminent Writers
Highly appreciated and recognized by distinguished writers such as Sardar Khushwant Singh.