Malini Awasthi

Malini Awasthi (born 11 February 1967) is an Indian folk singer. She sings in Bhojpuri, Awadhi and Hindi, She also presents Thumri and Kajri. The Government of India awarded her the civilian honour of the Padma Shri in 2016. She is known for her contribution in Bhojpuri music.

Early life
Malini Awasthi was born in Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh. She is a post graduate as well as a gold medalist in Hindustani classical music from Bhatkhande University, Lucknow. Also, she achieved a gold medal in M.A.in Modern History with specialization in Medieval and modern Indian architecture, University of Lucknow. She is a Ganda bandh student of Legendary Hindustani Classical Singer, Padma Vibhushan Vidushi Girija Devi of Banaras Gharana. She is married to senior IAS officer Awanish Kumar Awasthi (UP:1987) who retired as Principal Secretary to Government of Uttar Pradesh. They have a son Adwitiya and a daughter Ananya.

Career
Malini Awasthi is a regular performer at popular classical music festival, Jahan-e-Khusrau. She has a high pitch voice and is popular for rendition of Thumari, Thaare Raho Baanke Shyam.

She judged the Bhojpuri - Musical Reality Show "Sur Sangram".

She participated on TV for NDTV Imagine's Junoon. She was appointed as the brand ambassador by Election Commission for UP Elections 2012 and 2014.

She sang the song "Sunder Susheel" in the 2015 film Dum Laga Ke Haisha which had music by Anu Malik.

Academic honors and Fellowships

 * Centenary Chair Professor for the Bharat Adhyan Kendra at the Banaras Hindu University

National

 * Thumri-Festival and Rag-rang-Festival, Taj-Mahotsav, Ganga- Mahotsav, Lucknow-Festival, Budh-Mahotsav, Ramayan-Mela, Kajri-Mela, Kabir-Utsav etc. in Uttar Pradesh.
 * Shruti-Mandal-Samaroh, Kumbhal-Gardh-Festival, Teej- Festival-Jaipur in Rajasthan.
 * Surajkund-Craft-Mela and Heritage-Festival-Pinjore in Punjab and Hayana.

International

 * Pravasi Diwas at Trinidad, 2017
 * Festival of India in Mauritius, 2015
 * ICCR 40th, Anniversary celebration in Fiji, 2011
 * Independence Day celebration Houston, USA, 2004
 * Cultural Performance in Pakistan; 2007
 * Cultural Performance in South Bank center, London, 2011
 * Indian festival celebration in Netherlands: 2002, 2003, 2015 and 2016
 * Vishwa Bhojpuri Sammelan, Mauritius; 2000, 2004, 2016
 * Cultural Concert in Philadelphia and Los Angeles; 2016

Filmography

 * Jai Ho Chhath Maiya – Shailendra Singh, Malini Awasthi
 * Bhole Shankar
 * Bumm Bumm Bole
 * Agent Vinod
 * Dum Laga Ke Haisha
 * Bhagan Ke Rekhan ki – Issaq (2013 film)
 * Chaarfutiya Chhokare (2014 film)



Awards

 * Padma Shri (2016)
 * Yash Bharti, UP Government 2006
 * Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Academy Fellowship
 * Sangeet Natak Academy (2018)