Born on December 27, 1930, Smt. Malabika Kanan is one of the foremost singers in the field of Hindustani classical music. A recipient of the highly coveted Sangeet Natak Akademy Award in 2000, she ranks high among exponents of khayal. She also received the ITC Award in 1995, for her contribution in the field of Hindustani classical music. She is considered unique in that she maintains both the traditional purity of the khayal form and the aesthetic beauty of a raga. She has a rich repertoire of current as well as rare ragas and "bandishes". Malabika sings bhajans with equal elan.

She started her musical training when she was just four, under her father, the late Rabindralal Roy - a well-known musicologist and disciple of Pt. Vishnu Narayan Bhatkhande. She received systematic training from him in dhrupad, dhamar and khayal for a number of years. Travelling to many parts of the country in her father's company, Malabika had the advantage of his practical and theoretical training. At 16, she became a regular broadcaster on AIR. From then on she has participated in several prestigious national conferences and Radio Sangeet Sammelans. She married the noted singer, Pt A. Kanan, from whom her music gained new dimension, assimilating many features from his Kirana style. She was also initiated into Thumri under his able guidance.

An extremely tuneful voice, a rich, systematic and dignified style in the slow Khayals and alaaps and ease and variety in taans are some of the qualities that has made Malabika an outstanding musician. Her voice has sweetness, timbre, accuracy, pliability, a wide range and 'taiyari'.

An affable and pleasing personality, Malabika has always cherished a soft corner for Lucknow where she was born. She was on the Expert Committee of ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata , till a few years back.

She leave us on February 17, 2009.

Archives :
March, 2008 - L K Pandit
February, 2008 - Vishwa Mohan Bhatt
January, 2008 - Lalith J Rao
December, 2007 - Debu Chaudhuri
November, 2007 - Vidyadhar Vyas
October, 2007 - Prattyush Banerjee
September, 2007 - Malini Rajurkar
August, 2007 - Satish Vyas
July, 2007 - Iqbal Ahmed Khan
June, 2007 - D K Datar
May, 2007 - Madhup Mudgal
April, 2007 - Alam Khan

She wrote some lines for us on 25th December, 1989: