Pelva Naik (b. 5 February 1986, Ahmedabad- India) is an eminent young voice in Dhrupad, the most ancient and contemplative tradition of Indian classical music. Her artistry is grounded in clarity, depth and an intuitive sense of emotional proportion, allowing her to shape the architecture of a Raga with both precision and poetic sensitivity.

Trained in the esteemed Dagar School of Dhrupad. Pelva began her journey at the age of seventeen under the tutelage of Late Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar, one of the most influential figures in the modern revival of the form. She trained with her Ustad within a gurukul system for over a decade. She has also received technical guidance in certain modalities of the Gayaki from the Rudraveena Exponent Shri Bahauddin Dagar. She started her professional Dhrupad vocalist career in 2010 and since has been performing all over the world.

Pelva’s practice centers on the Alap, the slow and contemplative unfolding of a Raga. Her performances reflect a deep commitment to the purity of tonal expression, carefully nuanced intonation and the ancient technique of syllabic articulation characteristic of her lineage. At the same time, her work is shaped by thoughtful inquiry, contemporary sensibility and a personal search for meaning within sound.

Raised in a family of artists and educationists, Pelva grew up immersed in Gujarati literature, folk singing, dance and fine arts. She first trained in Hindustani Khayal from the age of 7 under Smt. Pratima Trivedi  in Ahmedabad and later studied at the Krishnamurti Foundation School, Bangalore, where she encountered her guru and the philosophical questions that continue to inform her artistic worldview. She holds a Master’s degree in Philosophy with distinction. Pelva lives in India (Ahmedabad and Delhi), is married to Anirban Ghosh- A writer, professor and scholar of culture and performance studies.

 

Pelva's music seeks to preserve the contemplative core of Dhrupad while revealing its universal and contemporary resonance, inviting listeners into a space where sound becomes a form of inquiry, presence and renewed perception.