Press Reviews

Awards

Recognition for Smita Bellur's contribution to the field of music: 

• Ramanashree Sharana Award 2022, 
• Rotary Vocational Excellence Award 2010, 
• ‘Sangeeta Shri 2007’
• ‘Dr. Puttaraj Gawai Krupa Bhushana Prashasti’

Audience Appreciation

“Smita Bellur’s rendering of Sufi kalam is uplifting.It gets listeners (who pay attention with eyes closed) in touch with Divinity. Those with eyes open are struck by her stage presence but the impact of the rendering still lingers.” – Shafeeq Mahajir, Leading advocate (Human Rights)

“Smita Bellur features in my list of artistes to watch out for. Her kalaam rendition combined with her sargam and layakari is distinctive and very appealing.” – Rajiv Sethi, Chairman  and Founder of Gemini Group of Companies.

“An amazingly talented and accomplished singer who dazzles the audience with her melifluous voice. Being an exponent of Hindustani Classical music, she introduces and gets even an uninitiated to appreciate the nuances of classical music through chota khyal; it is wonderful on her part to introduce the new generation to our heritage this way.”

Her Sufi renditions, in her own inimitable style, takes her audiences to a different high.” Khalil Ahmed, Co-founder and former ED, Shanta Biotechnics and Director KSK Energy

“Undiscovered powerful voice on the Sufi scene” – Abhay Aima, Group Manager, HDFC Bank

“For me, Smita Bellur is a name synonymous with Sufi singing. Her style is unique. She is versatile. She has the built in devotion in her charismatic personality. She has tremendous vocal strength with purity and stability coupled with soothing and mesmerising voice. Her strength comes from the classical singing background which makes her different from others.” – Khaleequr Rahman, Senior Congress Leader and National Coordinator AICC.

"..her music sounds heavenly. Her precision in the of applying notes (swara-shudhate), reminds me of stalwarts like M S Subbalakshmi and Madurai Mani Iyer. She should come every year to perform here !"  

- Shri Krishnaswami, 

Chairman,  

Thyagaraja Music Festival Commitee  

Tirupati

"Adbhutha! May God take you to very great heights as an artiste!" 

- N P Bhat 

Convenor, INTACH  - Dharwad chapter 

Founder of Avani Rasikara Ranga - a forum for propagation of literature and music 

Dharwad 

"I enjoyed your Rag- Rageshri at Habitat Delhi. I must compliment you on your 'distinctly traditional and peaceful ' way of Badhath as also knowledge of Taal, Taans etc as also your pleasant smile and poise during the concert and range of voice also!" - Krishnan Natarajan, May 2009

"I've attended a couple of your concerts (including yesterday's) and I have enjoyed them. I've especially liked the gorakh kalyan and puriya dhanashri performance (mp3 recordings)." - Manju Shankar, May 2009

"I've no knowledge about classical music. But a song 'Pyare darshan...Tum bin rahyo na jaye' by Meera Bai, the way you've sung is just amazing! It's just fantastic! Again I dont know how to praise you.Neverthless my sincere thanks! eep enlightening people :-)" -Susil Behera, June 2009 

 "I've attended a couple of your concerts (including yesterday's) and I have enjoyed them. I've especially liked the gorakh kalyan and puriya dhanashri performance (mp3 recordings)." - Manju Shankar, May 2009

 "I heard your Meera Bhajan on the website and was really great. I have herard your voice mature over a a period of time and can feel the soulfull and melodious rendition.I was really enthralled by the music." - Soumyaroop Mukherjee, Oct 2008 

"Now, I am a fan of your singing! ..You are really blessed with a wonderful voice, and from your website, I could see that you are really passionate about music and spend a lot of time and energy on it." - Venkitesh Subramanian, May 2008

"Today I was going through your official web site and and am very much inspired by the excellent way in which you are doing the sangeetseva." -G K L Sastry, May 2008

"I downloaded all your Raags..I liked PuryaDhanashree raag more. One got to have loads of energies & Patience to sing for 48 mins, hats off!!" - Mohan Kumar K, Apr 2008

"..really impressed by the progress that you have made in music. Wonderful!!" - Kiran Begari, Apr 2008

 "great to know that you have such a great talent of classical singing and it was also good to know about your achievements..it is very good to know that we have such talented people around to work with." - Colleague Pavankumar Krishnamurthy, Apr 2008

 "I was one of the lucky attendees at your concert at MEWS on last Saturday. It was too good." - Radhika M G, Feb 2008

"We all have enjoyed your programe and all our audience here like to have your full programe in near future." - Pranesh Babu D, June 2007

" Nimma gayana nange tumba ishta.Nimminda tumba impress aagiddini. naanu nim sangeetavanna bahala ishtapadtini." - Ramya Roopa, Mar 2007

"I read the article (about you) in Kannada Prabha. Iam impressed." - Bellur Shekhar, Mar 2007

• “The music of the soul” – Hans, Feb 2020
• “Music of Love” – Asian Age Jan 2020
• “A language for all” Dec 2019
• “Hyderabadi poetry changed the course of my life” – New Indian Express, Dec 2019
• “सूफ़ी ..संगीत से सजी शाम", Patrika, Mar 2019
• “Message of a mystic Sufi” – The Hans, Jan 2017
• “Amazing Sufi Renditions” – Telengana Today, Dec 2016
• “Making Classical music resonate with the masses” – Sunday Guardian Nov 2016
• “शाम को यादगार बना गई स्मिता की दिलकश आवाज़” – Dainik Jagran Mar 2015
• “देर शाम तक ग़ज़लों और कलाम की दुनिया में खोये रहे श्रोता” – Prabhat Khabar, Mar 2015
• “Music is all Soul” – The Hindu, Jan 2015
• “A Khayal to be remembered” – The Metro India, Feb 2014
• “Music is for Love, Harmony” – The Hindustan Times, Jan 2014
• “The Audience was charged up with the beautiful ghazal ‘Aye Muhabbat tere anjaam pe’ – Hyderabad Hans, Feb 2014
• “दमादम मस्त क़लन्दर से गूंजा मंदार महोत्सव झूमे दर्शक “ – Hindustan, Jan 2015
• “… Jo dooba so paar - Sufi Sangeet ko samarpit Smita Bellur” – Hindi Milap, Aug 2014
• “Immersing herself in music” – The New Indian Express, Feb 2014
• “जश्न-ए-उर्दू को सुरीली गुफ्तगू के साथ विराम”- Hindustan, Mar 2015
• “पहाड़ी वादियों में गूंजे स्मिता के मधुर स्वर “ – Prabhath Khabar, Jan 2015
• “Get Inspired – An Ode to Music” - Femina , Dec 2013
• “दमदम मस्त क़लंदर - पर कुर्सियां छोड थिर्के युवा” - Hindustan Times Hindi , Dec 2013
• “Music, Milap and a Message” – Times of India, (Hyderabad), Aug 2013
• “सरहदों मे नहीं बन्धा सुफ़ी संगीत” - Dainik Jagran, Dec 2013
• “Aman aur Rawadari ko aam karne ki zaroorat” – Siasat, Aug 2013
• “A new breed of Sufi singer plays for soul” – Siasat English, Jun 2013
• “Timeless tunes wins hearts” – Deccan Herald, May 2013
• “She plays music for the soul” – The New Indian Express, Oct 2012
• “Exploring common threads of pholisophy” – Indian Express, Sep 2011
• “Music for the Soul” – DNA, Apr 2011
• “Sufi Strains: Striking a chord with the masses..Presenting carefully selected verses in her melodious voice, Smita stole the show with her scintillating performance” – Deccan Herald, April 2011
• “Graceful Alliance”…”Her voice traversed the three octaves with ease, dazzling the audience. The synchronisation was perfect, thereby enhancing the euphonious appeal.” – The Hindu, Feb 2008
• “Carving a niche in the realm of Classical music” – Indian Express, Mar 2007
• “Honesty in art and spirit” – The Hindu, Oct 2005
• “Melodious monsoon recital” - The Hindu, Aug 2005 

Past Recitals/Concerts and recordings

A regular B 'High' artiste of All India Radio, Dharwad, I gave my first classical performance at the age of fourteen, at Rastrothana Parishat and since then has been performing at more than 500 music festivals, including:  

• ‘Colours of Love’ , 2020
• ‘Kun Faya Koon’ – Sufi Verses of Love 2020
• ‘Faiz Unplugged’ 2020
• Classic Bagh Festival 2020
• GuruBani festival by Punjabi Academy, 2018
• Rajasthan Kabir Yatra 2019, 2018
• Navras 2019, Jaipur
• ‘Koi Sunta Hai’ Nityagram festival, 2019
• Artiste residency for Yoyoma’s Mumbai project
• Beyond the Border Festival 2018, Wales
• Festival of Voice 2018, Wales
• Wajid Ali Festival, Lucknow, 2018
• Spree Paisley festival 2017, Scotland
• NCPA Mumbai
• Bangalore Poetry festival 2017
• Muzaffar Ali’s 12th Jahan-e-Khusrau 2017 & 2020
• Jodhpur RIFF 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023
• 7th Khusro Kabir Festival (Banyan Tree), Mumbai
• Kala Ghoda Arts Festival 2016, Mumbai
• Maulana Azad National Urdu University Conference, Hyderabad
• ‘Jashn-e-Urdu’, Directorate of Urdu, Patna
• INTACH and India Habitat Centre - New Delhi
• Govt. of Bihar: Rajgir Mahotsav, Sonepur Mela and Mandar Utsav
• Hyderabad Heritage Festival - Chowmohalla Palace, Hyd
• Raj Bhavan - Bangalore 
• Saptak – Ahmedabad
• Hamara Hindustan’s Eid – e- Milap Harmony programme
• Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (Centenary Year Special)
• Ustad Imammuddin Dagar Music festival , Pt. Manmohan memorial festival - Jaipur
• Pt. Sawai Gandharv Punyatithi – Kundgol, 
• Bharat Sangeet Utsav – Bangalore
• Sangeet Sankalp Pune – Sudarshan Rang Manch, Pune
• Saptak – Ahmedabad
• Swar Sadhana Samiti – Mumbai
• Parthasarathy Sangeet Sabha – Chennai
• Pt. Manmohan memorial festival – Jaipur
• Bangalore Habba 2006
• Nizar Kala Sansthan – Nagpur
• Pt. ShankarRao Gaikwad Punyatithi, Pune
• ‘Yuva Vandana ’, Sree Satya Sai Baba Ashram, Whitefield Bangalore
• Sursagar – Bangalore
• Pt. Sawai Gandharv Punyatithi– Kundgol
• Asthavinayak Pratishtaan – Lathur(Maharastra)
• Delhi Karnatak Sangha
• 4th National Level “Bharat Ratna M S Subbulakshmi” Memorial Music Festival - Gitanjali 2009 for Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana University
• Pt. Omkarnath Thakur Smriti
• Ustad Imammuddin Dagar Music festival – Jaipur
• Sree Rama Seva Mandali - Fort High School – Bangalore
• Avani Rasika Ranga – Dharwad
• Indian Institute of World Culture – Bangalore
• Shree Gururaghavendra Temple at Mantralayam – Andhra Pradesh
• Dutta Gaana Sabha – Barshi (Maharastra)
• ‘Samskrutika Sourabha’ at Ananya, Bangalore
• Nadashri Sangeet Sabha – Hubli
• Sangeet Pratishtana – Belgaum
• SAP CIO Council – Gurgaon, Mumbai and Bangalore
• Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
• All India Saraswat Cultural programme – Goa
• ‘Yuva Gana Mela’, Karnataka Ganakala Parishat, Mysore
• Pt. Panchakshari Gawai Punyatithi at Shree Veereshwar Punyashram- Gadag
• Rudrapatna Music festival – Hassan

Govt. of Karnataka, Department of Culture and Kannada music festivals:

• ‘Chalukyotsav 2006’ – Aihole- Badami- Pattadkal
• ‘Karavalli Utsav’, 2003 – Karwar, 2006 Mangalore
• ‘Lakkundi Utsav’ 2006, Gadag
• ‘Thingala Sobagu’, ‘Samskrutika Saurabha’ and ‘Yuva Saurabha’ at Gadag, Haveri, Bellary, Bidar and Raichur
• Various mutts such as Hukkeri mutt, Sindhagi mutt, Irkal Mahantesh Mutt etc
• Gokhale Institute of Public affairs

Some other past performances

• Shankara Jayanti Jugalbandi, Vani School Rajajinagar, Bangalore, 15-05-2010
• Ramanavami Jugalbandi, Seshadripuram Apr 2010
• Dasa-Sufi-Anubhaava Lahari, Palace garden 2-02-2010
• Hindustani Classical recital, Sewa Sadan, 7-01-2010
• 'Sangeeta Sankaranti', Bagalkot,14-01-2010
• 'Uttar-Dakshin', Parthasarathy Sabha Chennai, 09-01-2010
• 'Dasa-Sufi-Sharanara Anubhaava Lahari', Gokhale Institute of Public affairs, Bangalore , 02-01-2010
• MES Kalaavedi, MES College,Bangalore, 26-12-2009
• 'Smt. Krishnaa Murthy Endowment concert', Athashri, Pune 17-12-2009
• Jashn-e-Sufi'- Sufi music show on TV9 Kannada News channel, 28-11-2009
• 'Naman' - music show on Suvarna News Channel
• 'Colours of Diversity' - Naman Mix, SAP Labs Whitefield, Bangalore,30-10-2009
• 67th Annual Thyagaraja Music Festival, Tirupati, 4-08-2009 
• SAP World Tour, Le Meridien, New Delhi, 23-07-2009
• KPCL event, Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Bangalore, 20-07-2009
• 'Ashadalondhu Hamsageethe', Rajendra People's Education Society, Bangalore, 12-07-2009
• 'Jugalbandhi' - Hindustani Classical music show on TV 9 News channel  28-06-2009