About Us | Gandhaar Madhyam

Maestro at home.

And at music.

Introducing Garima Srivastava.

A homemaker with a passion for music.

As a young girl, Garima had an inkling towards classic filmy songs.

She would emulate the singers and try to sing at the same tempo and pitch, thereby igniting an interest.

Once, when she was in class 2 at Spring Dale School, a substitute teacher asked her to sing for the class. Back then, her peers and teachers knew her for her dancing skills, but that day she captivated everyone by singing

‘Yeh Zindagi Usi Ki Hai’. The teacher was so impressed, that she called other teachers to listen. After that, during a parent-teacher meeting, the teachers told the parents how talented Garima was and suggested she switch from dance to music lessons.

She was too young to officially start then, so she waited patiently.

And soon, as a class 6 student of Mount Carmel School, she finally enrolled at the Bhatkhande Music Institute for formal vocal training in Hindustani Classical Music.

All through school, she balanced music with her studies effortlessly and always took part in school performances. Everyone loved hearing her sing – so much so that no school event was complete without her!

However, an unfortunate accident in class 10 forced a pause, both in her studies and her fourth year at Bhatkhande, a time demanding intense theoretical focus. She couldn’t give her music exam, and after 5 years of training, quit the institute.

But her love for music never faded. For years, she kept that passion alive even when marriage and motherhood took center stage. Decades passed, and slowly, she started singing again, posting covers online and even performing at her husband's bank events. In 2020, she along with her husband Manoj, started a YouTube channel called Gandhaar Madhyam. The rest, is history!

From counting notes,

to hitting notes.

Introducing Manoj Kumar Srivastava.

A retired banker with a passion for music.

At the tender age of 5, he had his first rendezvous with music, when he captivated the people in a wedding function with his melodious voice. During another such occasion, when he was singing his heart out to the audience in another family function, he was noticed by a music professor from Bhatkhande University (then Bhatkhande College), Lucknow. The blind professor was so impressed by the little boy's voice, that he immediately asked his parents to not let him waste his talent by singing filmy songs. Soon, Manoj started his formal music training in the reputed music college, Bhatkhande Music Institute, at just 13 years old.

After that, there was no looking back. He completed his graduation in music much before his college graduation. Juggling studies and music, he completed his Graduation in Science along with Post Graduation in Music (Nipun). Since Bhatkhande College wasn't recognised as a University back then, he went to Khairagarh University to get his M.A in Music.

Throughout his college days, he immersed himself into music.

From participating in inter-college events, to forming his own music group; from organising musical programs to performing in them - he did it all, and with much brilliance. People remembered him as the melodious vocalist, without whom no college contingent was complete.

Manoj singing and playing harmonium at a music concert

Studies were on one side, but music was his first priority. Soon enough, he joined SPIC MACAY, a society dedicated to promoting art and music among youth. Through this initiative, he got the privilege to help organise and be a part of programs that involved reputed, notable artists. During his stint, Manoj became the first SPIC MACAY member to perform live on stage. He shared the stage with none other than legend PT. HARI PRASAD CHAURASIYA. A significant highlight for him though, was accompanying PT. RAVI SHANKAR on Tanpura. He was ecstatic to have gotten this one in a million lifetime opportunity.

The achievements kept adding up. Featuring in local radio and T.V. programs, accompanying on stage renowned musicians like PT. C. R. VYAS, DR. PRABHA ATRE, PT. SHIV KUMAR SHARMA etc., and winning competitions - all of these kept the zest for music alive in him.

Now was the time for him to take this passion forward. His next step in the plan was to pursue further research in music. He applied to ITC's Sangeet Research Academy (SRA), Kolkata. But life had other plans.

To make a stable career as advised by his father, he had to let go of music and choose the Banking line. He soon joined SBI. But even after joining SBI, he still devoted some time to music. He kept his association with his music groups alive, and helped organise musical programs whenever he got some extra time. This helped him stay connected to his passion.

This eventually stopped as he climbed up the ladder of success in the bank. Later, he kept up his zest for music by singing in competitions and musical events conducted by SBI. He sang with such passion and confidence, that soon enough, he began to be known for his musical talent across the bank. Everyone knew him as the banker who sang beautifully.

Decades passed, but his passion stayed alive. In 2020, he along with his wife Garima, started a YouTube channel called Gandhaar Madhyam.

The rest, is history!