Asad Ali Khan

Eminent beenkar (player of the been or rudra veena) Asad Ali Khan belongs to the Jaipur lineage of been-playing. He presents the Khandar bani, which is one of the four main banis or styles of the vocal and instrumental versions of the dhrupad-dhamar form.

His great-grandfather Rajab Ali Khan and his grandfather Musharraf Khan were court musicians in Alwar. His father Sadiq Ali Khan moved to Rampur. Asad Ali Khan was born in Rampur and studied under his father for several years.

Asad Ali Khan taught at the Department of Music, University of Delhi, and also taught students outside India.

He has received many awards: Sangeet Shiromani Award from the Lalit Kala Academy of Kanpur, Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1985, Tiruna Dhrupad Award, Kashi in 1988, Sahitya Kala Parishad Award, Delhi in 1989, Tansen Award in 1994, and the Padma Bhushan in 2008. He is a top grade artiste of All India Radio and has performed in numerous concerts in India and abroad.