Maithili Thakur (born 25 July 2000) is an Indian playback singer trained in Indian classical music[1] and Folk Music. She has sung original songs, covers, and traditional folk music prominently in Hindi, Bengali, Maithili, Urdu, Marathi, Bhojpuri, Punjabi, Tamil, English and more Indic languages.[2]
Maithili Thakur | |
|---|---|
 Maithili Thakur performing at Sanskruti Arts Festival in 2023 | |
| Born | Tannu 25 July 2000 Madhubani, Bihar, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | Jan 2012–present |
| Awards | National Creators Award (2024) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | |
Early life
editThakur was born in Benipatti, Madhubani district, Bihar to a Maithil musician and music teacher working in Delhi Ramesh Thakur and Bharti Thakur.[3] She is named after goddess Sita as well as her mothertongue. Maithili, along with her two brothers, Rishav and Ayachi were trained by their grandfather and father in Maithili Folk, Hindustani classical music, Harmonium and Tabla. Realising his daughter's potential around the age of 6, her father relocated themselves to Dwarka in New Delhi for better opportunities.[4] Maithili and her brothers studied at Bal Bhavan International School where they won for the school at various State and National Level Competitions.
She has been interested in learning singing since childhood. She began learning music from her grandfather when she was only 4 years old. Maithili's first music master is her grandfather.[5] At the age of 10, she started singing at jagrans and other musical functions.[6]
Music career
editIn 2011, Thakur appeared in Little Champs, a singing competition television series telecast in Zee TV.[citation needed] Four years later, she contested in Indian Idol Junior, telecast in Sony TV.[4] She won the "I Genius Young Singing Star" competition in 2016, following which she launched her album, Ya Rabba (Universal Music).[7]
Rising stars
editIn 2017, Thakur was a contestant in the season 1 of Rising Star, a television singing competition. Maithili was the first finalist of the show, singing Om Namah Shivaya which gained her direct entry into the final.[8] She was runner up, losing out by just two votes.[9] Following the show, her internet popularity rose significantly.[4]
2019 onwards
editAfter a huge success from videos on Facebook and YouTube the trio has been performing at various National and International Events, Literature Fests. Maithili has been awarded Atal Mithila Samman by the Government of India.
In 2019 Maithili and her two brothers, Rishav and Ayachi, were made the brand ambassadors of Madhubani by the Election Commission.[2][10] Rishav is on the tabla and Ayachi is a singer and performs often on percussion as well.[2]
Manaspath
Maithili Thakur on her YouTube channel along with her two younger brother Rishav and Ayachi sings famous Ramcharitmanas by Tulsidas. This Manaspath gives a huge success to Maithali as well as to her brothers. Currently they are on 310th episode and couplet (doha) no. 236 of Ayodhya kanda as of 07 April 2024.[11]
Awards and recognition
edit
- Maithili Thakur was awarded the Cultural Ambassador of the Year Award by the Prime Minister of India at the inaugural National Creators Award on 8 March 2024.[12]
References
edit- ^ Whitehead, Kate (9 March 2020). "Meet Maithili Thakur, India's teenage folk-singing internet sensation". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- ^ a b c Khurana, Suanshu (29 April 2019). "Vocalist Maithili Thakur and her three brothers on being Election Commission's brand ambassadors in Madhubani". The Indian Express. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ "बिहार की ये बेटी रातों रात बन गई सिंगिंग सेंसेशन, मात्र 18 वर्ष की उम्र में फेसबुक ने बनाया सुपरस्टार". Amar Ujala. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ a b c Bhatt, Shephali (4 November 2019). "How life changes for internet celebrities – good, better, and sometimes worse". The Economic Times. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ "Maithili Thakur - Rising Star". Biographya. 11 March 2022.
- ^ "The hard road to success for YouTube star Maithili Thakur". IndianSpice. 4 April 2021. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
- ^ "Max Life Insurance launches 3 albums for the Winners and Runner's Up of i-genius Young Singing Stars Season 2". The Hans India. 14 September 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ "Rising Star: Maithili Thakur is the first finalist; who'll ultimately win the show?". India Today. 17 April 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ PTI (24 April 2017). "Bannet Dosanjh wins Rising Star, defeats Maithili Thakur by just two votes". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ "गायिका मैथिली ठाकुर बनीं मधुबनी की ब्रांड एंबेस्डर, निर्वाचन आयोग ने लिया फैसला". Zee News Hindi. 3 December 2018. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ Live श्रीरामचरितमानस EP 302| अयोध्याकाण्ड l दोहा सं॰ 236 l अर्थ सहित l Maithili Thakur. Retrieved 7 April 2024 – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ "'People are tired of listening to me': PM Modi's light-hearted exchange with singer". The Times of India. 7 March 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 9 March 2024.