There are artistes who evolve from being actual people to icons and later, legends. Their absence creates a vacuum that is filled with stories by admirers — often embellished, to leave listeners mesmerised. For the writer, listening to his uncle speak of the performances of the late Kishori Amonkar was one such instance. Yet, to Tejashree Amonkar, it is amusing at times to hear people in awe of her dear ‘ajji’ (Marathi: grandmother)

To audiences of Hindustani and Indian classical music, the name of Kishori Amonkar carries with it memories of a complete vocalist whose control over technicality and power of the form was unmatched. “But I would often forget her public persona,” the 37-year-old reveals, adding that at home the great singer was a wife, mother and a doting grandmother. She also shares the amusing memory of the great doyen turning up for a grandparents’ meeting at her school to watch her sing ‘Ajeeb dastaan hai yeh’. We admit that is a side one would never expect of the late Padma Vibhushan-awardee who was known to be a disciplinarian on the stage.