Shrivastav, Baluji

Baluji Shrivastav is an Indian classical musician and composer who specialises in a number of instruments, including the sitar and tabla. He is known as a solo performer, but also as an accompanist to many popular dancers and performers. Shrivastav was born on 23rd June 1951 in Usmanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. As a baby he lost his sight, but was still able to develop an early gift for music, which was recognised by his teachers and cultivated. He went on to achieve a BA in Sitar and Vocal Studies from Lucknow University at the young age of 14, and then an MA at Allahabad University.

Baluji came to London via Paris in 1982 where he quickly became part of the South Asian arts scene, becoming Musical Director of Tara Arts in 1984-85. He is notable for several compositions, especially ‘Portraits of the Dark’, a semi -autobiographical piece which explores the life of a blind sitar player and is one of his most personal works. As a composer he created scores for several touring productions as well as soundtracks for film and television. Shrivastav became more visible nationally in collaborations with pop stars like Annie Lennox and Kylie Minogue. In addition, he developed his own style of music, a blend of jazz and traditional music and formed a group, Jazz Orient with his wife Linda Shanovitch and Chris Conway. In 1992 he was also invited to join the collective orchestra Grand Union Orchestra, with which he has taken part in several national tours. Baluji continues to take his work to a world-wide audience as well as taking part in educational projects in the UK.

From the guide to the Baluji Shrivastav, 1983-2003, (Special Collections, Brunel University Library)