Siddheshwari Devi

Siddheswari Devi (8 August 1908[1] – 18 March 1977)[2] was a legendary Hindustani singer from Varanasi, India, known as Maa (mother).

A stalwart figure in thumri, Siddheshwari's repertoire also encompassed khayals, dhrupads, dadras, tappas, kajris, chaitis, horis, and bhajans.

Once, while the noted sarangi player Siyaji Mishra was teaching Kamleshwari, she was unable to repeat the tappa that she was being taught.

This moving incident was very vivid in Siddheswari's mind, and is detailed in the biography Maa co-authored by her daughter Savita Devi.

In 1989, noted director Mani Kaul made an award-winning documentary, Siddheshwari, on her life[8] Devi's popular "Dadra Tarpe Bin Balam Mora Jiya" is considered her most evocative song, which continues to haunt music lovers many years after her death.