Arati Ankalikar Tikekar

Arati Ankalikar Tikekar (born 27 January 1963) is an Indian classical vocalist and playback singer, in Marathi, Konkani and Hindi film industry. She known for singing in Agra, Gwalior and Jaipur-Atrauli gharana style of Hindustani classical music. She has received National Film Awards twice for Best Female Playback Singer and has been awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2020.

She is known for her albums Tejomay Nadbrahm, Raag-Rang, and playback singing for the films like Antarnaad, De Dhakka, Savlee, Shyam Benegal's film, Sardari Begum (1996), Ek Hazarachi Note.

Her early musical education came from Pt. Vasantrao Kulkarni, of the Agra-Gwalior gharana. This was followed by training under noted vocalist, Kishori Amonkar of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana. Thereafter that, she received further training from Pt. Dinkar Kaikini.

Filmography
She has been the main playback singer for several Marathi, Konkani as well as Hindi films, namely:
 * Sardari Begum, 1996
 * Savlee
 * De Dhakka, 2008
 * Dil Dosti Etc
 * Dhusar
 * Samhitha, 2013.

TV appearances
Ankalikar Tikekar has made appearances on television interviews, Reality Shows and as a guest judge on music shows. The following list consists few appearances on Marathi television networks.

Performances
Ankalikar Tikekar has performed all over the world at prestigious venues, including the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada in 2019 for the Raag-Mala Music Society of Toronto.

Accomplishments and awards
Ankalikar Tikekar received her first National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the Konkani cinema, Anternaad, based on the life of a classical singer for the year 2006.

She received Maharashtra State Film Awards, for the Marathi Film, De Dhakka. Later, in 2013, she was awarded with National Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for the second time in the Marathi movie, Samhita. In 2020, she was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Hindustani Music - Singing Category. The award is given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi - India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama, and is the highest Indian recognition given to people in the field of performing arts.

Personal life
She is married to Indian film actor, Uday Tikekar. Her daughter Swanandi Tikekar (born 1990) is a well-known Marathi television and theatre actress.