Aarya Ambekar

Aarya Ambekar's musical journey began early, as her grandmother, a classical vocalist, recognized her talent when she was just two years old. Aarya began formal music training at the age of five and a half under the guidance of her mother, Shruti Ambekar, and gave her first public performance at six.^[7]

She rose to fame as a finalist in Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Marathi Li'l Champs in 2008, which served as a launchpad for her professional career.^[8]

Aarya made her playback singing debut with the Marathi film Balgandharva (2011),^[9] performing classical compositions, and has since sung for films like Rama Madhav and Ti Saddhya Kay Karte,^[10] receiving numerous awards. In addition to playback singing, she has released independent singles in Marathi and Hindi and performs live music shows across Maharashtra. Ambekar made her acting debut in the 2017 film Ti Saddhya Kay Karte,^[11] further establishing herself in the Marathi entertainment industry.

Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Marathi Li'l Champs

In 2008, Aarya was auditioned for the debut season of Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Marathi Li'l Champs, a competitive music reality show organized by the Zee Marathi television channel. She was one of the final 50 who were selected from amongst several thousand children aged between 8 and 14 across Maharashtra. She made her way to the top 10 finalists and then to the Final 5 Mega-Finalists. Aarya was popularly referred to as the "Pretty Young Girl", during the show.

Aarya sang a wide variety of songs in the competition. She created the record of receiving full marks from the judges many times. Aarya created an unbeatable record when she got Upper Ni(equivalent to 200%), for her beautifully sung "Paan Khae Saiyyan Hamaro", which remains unbroken in all the nine Schedules of SA RE GA MA PA and even after two schedules of SA RE GA MA PA for professional singers. Singer Hariharan was the celebrity judge for that episode.

Aarya was also awarded performer of the week in numerous episodes by eminent singing personalities like Mahalaxmi Iyer, Shreya Ghoshal, Hariharan etc. Aarya sings a wide variety of songs ranging from pure classical songs, Natyageet, Bhavgeet, Bhaktigeet to Marathi Chitrapat Sangeet, Hindi songs, folk songs, Lavanis as well.^[8]

She sang "Aye Mere Watan Ke Logo" to pay tribute to those who died in the 2008 Mumbai attacks on 26 November 2008. She also performed the same song at Shivaji Park, Dadar in a program organised by Mumbai Police to pay tribute to the martyrs who laid down their lives fighting the terrorists in that attack. The song was originally sung by Lata Mangeshkar after the 1962 India-China War. During the course of the program, Aarya was also awarded the Manik Varma Scholarship. She is the youngest singer to win the scholarship.

Aarya is the daughter of Samir Ambekar and Shruti Ambekar. Shruti Ambekar is a classical vocalist of Jaipur Gharana whereas Samir is a doctor by profession. Aarya holds a Bachelor of Arts, BA, degree with a major in economics. She studied in the prestigious Fergusson College for her bachelor's degree. She holds a Master of Arts, MA, degree in music. She ranked first in the university for her MA examination and earned a gold medal. She has completed a certificate course in Sound Engineering.^[14]

A few events where Aarya has performed –

• Vasantotsav 2008 – Musical concert arranged in Pune every year by Rahul Deshpande in memory of his legendary grandfather Vasantrao Deshpande^[103]
• Shrimant Dagadusheth Halwai Ganapati Music Festival 2009, 2010.^[104]
• Little Champs live shows in many cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nashik Sangli, Aurangabad, Goa, Ratnagiri, Thane, Nagpur, Wardha, Bhopal etc. and at international venues like Dubai, Abu Dhabi. These are runaway popular shows where Aarya performs with four other Little Champs Mugdha Vaishampayan, Prathamesh Laghate, Rohit Raut and Kartiki Gaikwad in perfect sync. This group is known as 'Panch-Ratna'.^[105]
• Live performance in the devotional program arranged in the presence of Sathya Sai Baba in Sai Ashram at village Hadshi, near Pune in October 2009^[106][107]
• Live performance in the special program arranged on the occasion of the birthday of Sathya Sai Baba in Sai Ashram at Puttaparthi. November 2009^[108]
• Live performance in Swar Asha program arranged to felicitate Asha Bhosale in Pune in March 2010. Aarya sang duets with Sudesh Bhonsle in this program. The program was aired on Mi Marathi Channel.
• Live performance at a function organised by Deccan Education Society to mark its 125th year of existence. Aarya performed in front of The Honourable President of India, Her Excellency Pratibha Patil.
• Live performance along with Lata Mangeshkar in special function organised by Shiv Sena on occasion of the Golden Jubilee Year of Maharashtra State on Maharashtra Day.
• Antarnaad – a program consisting of compositions by Shrinivas Khale. The program was aired on Mi Marathi Channel on 29 August 2010.
• As a celebrity guest in Ashtavinayak Darshan along with Prathamesh Laghate. Ashtavinayak Darshan program consists of visits to the eight holy temples of Lord Ganesha (Ashtavinayaka) situated around Pune district. This program was telecast on Star Majha news channel during the Ganpati Festival 2010 from 11 to 18 September 2010.^[109]
• Live performance in Nashik Festival 2011^[110][111]
• Bheeti Laagi Jeeva 2010, 2011 – a special show on the yearly pilgrimage from Alandi to Pandharpur telecast on IBN Lokmat.^[112]
• Maharashtra Mandal Dubai (MPFS) 2017 – As a part of Waarsa Suraancha
• TEDxVIT 2021^[113]

• 2008 – Youngest to be awarded the "Manik Varma Scholarship" towards her future music studies^[114]
• 2009 – Runner-up of the Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Marathi Li'l Champs reality-based music competition organised by Zee Marathi
• 2009 – Maharashtra Shasan Puraskar
• 2010 – Haribhau Sane Award^[115]
• 2010 – Punyaratna – YuvaGaurav Award^{[116][117][118][119]}
• 2011 – Big Marathi Rising Star Award (Music)
• 2012 – Young Achievers Award – awarded by Whistling Woods International^[120]
• 2012 – Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande Puraskar
• 2014 – Aarya Puraskar
• 2015 – Dr. Usha Atre Award by Swaranand Pratisthan^[121]
• 2016 – Vidya Pradnya Puraskar by Ga.Di.Ma. Pratisthan^[122]
• 2017 – Godrej Fresh Face of the Year – Sahyadri Navaratna Awards ^[123]
• 2018 – Best Female Singer and Best Acting Debut – Female for Ti Saddhya Kay Karte - Maharashtracha Favourite Kon by Zee Talkies^[124][125]
• 2018 – Most Natural Performance of the Year for Ti Sadhya Kay Karate – Zee Chitra Gaurav ^[126]
• Nominated - Zee Chitra Gaurav Puraskar for Best Playback Singer – Female For Song Hridayat waje something From the Movie Ti Sadhya Kay Karte.
• 2018 – Best Female Singer and Best Acting Debut – Female for Ti Sadhya Kay Karate – City Cine Awards Marathi by Radio City
• 2019 – Lokmat Sur Jytosna National Music Award by the hands of Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari ^[127][128]
• 2021 - Best Female Singer of the Decade for the song, 'Hrudayat Vaje Something' from the 2017 movie 'Ti Sadhya Kay Karate' - Maharashtracha Favourite Kon?^[129]
• 2022 – Fakt Marathi Cine Sanman for Best Playback Singer Female for "Bai Ga" from Chandramukhi^[130]
• 2023 – Best Playback Singer Female for "Bai Ga" from Chandramukhi (Shared with Shreya Ghoshal) – Zee Chitra Gaurav^[131]
• 2023 – Best Playback Singer Female for "Bai Ga" from Chandramukhi – Filmfare Awards ^[1]
• 2023 - Best Playback Singer Female for "Bai Ga" from Chandramukhi – Sakaal Premier Awards.
• 2023 6TH MAJJA DIGITAL AWARD - Best Singer Female for "Bai Ga" from Chandramukhi.
• 2024 - Fergusson College Alumni Association felicitated her as a Distinguished Alumnus and awarded her with 'Fergusson Gaurav Puraskar' at the hands of Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj (Shahu II of Kolhapur), the Chairperson of Deccan Education Society which runs the Fergusson College
• 2024 - Best Singer (Female) for "Kevadyache Paan Tu" from Sarla Ek Koti - Radio City Cine Awards^[132]
• 2025 - 60th Maharashtra State Flim Awards Best Playback Singer Female for "Bai Ga" from Chandramukhi^[2][3]