Gangubai Hangal (1913–2009) was a legendary Hindustani classical vocalist of the Kirana gharana, renowned for her deep, resonant voice and mastery of the khayal genre.Birth: Born on 13 March 1913 (or 5 March, per some sources) in Dharwad, Karnataka, to a devadasi family. Her mother, Ambabai, was a Carnatic musician. Training: Initially learned Carnatic music from her mother but shifted to Hindustani music under Krishnacharya Hulgur and Dattopant Desai. Later became a disciple of Sawai Gandharva, a stalwart of the Kirana gharana. Breakthrough: Gained recognition in the 1930s through All India Radio broadcasts and recordings with HMV. Artistic Shift: Transitioned from singing bhajans and thumris to focusing exclusively on khayal by the mid-1940s. Style: Known for her bold, masculine timbre, meticulous raga elaboration, and spiritually charged improvisations rooted in Kirana traditions. Padma Bhushan (1971) and Padma Vibhushan (2002). Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1973) for contributions to Hindustani music.