Legendary vocalist Pandit Jasraj passes away at 90

Indian classical maestro Pandit Jasraj has passed away in New Jersey. He was 90.

Pandit Jasraj was among the world’s leading vocalists belonging to the Mewati gharana. He performed, recorded and taught Hindustani classical music in a career spanning over 70 years.

Some of his biggest honours include the Padma Shri, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Vibhushan. He was renowned internationally and had worked in semi-classical and popular music.

His renditions of the Ahir Bhairav were used in such films as Ladki Sahyadri Ki (1966) and Life of Pi (2012). In 2006, the International Astronomical Union named minor planet 2006 VP32 as ‘Panditjasraj’.