When I first chanced upon one of her song videos online, I felt immediately drawn towards her humble yet magnetic charm, her smile, and her voice. Onstage, she’s vibrant as a butterfly. I like how she pleasantly conveys the essence of each song and explains the scenario and the meaning of every line. There is an innate elegance in her every movement and a sweet, energetic vibe about her that reverberates. When she sings, she often reaches out to her audience with her gestures.

If I were to talk of one of my core childhood memories it should certainly be my encounter with music. The front-mounted seat of my dad’s scooter will always make me nostalgic. I remember when my dad and I used to go around the city on it and me innocently getting excited about the cold breeze rushing upon my face. Bhajans during these rides formed the backdrop of my relationship with music. Listening to my dad sing Bhajans at every family gathering, at temples, and casually in the house got me into too into the habit of singing Bhajans, well before I started any formal training. Later, I would go with him to temples and practice singing bhajans, holding a Manjira.

It excited me tremendously, therefore, when I learnt that Maithili too had a similar beginning. Hailing from a family of music teachers, her first academic encounter with music was through her grandfather and father who both taught her to talk and sing in the “Maithili” language, from which she received her name. Growing up in a household filled with music, she was immersed in a world where melodies and harmonies became an integral part of her life. The encouragement and passion displayed by her musically gifted family members fueled her own love for the art form. [1]

Triple National Film Award winning film producer-lyricist, Amit Khanna says, “Some years ago, I chanced upon a very young Maithili Thakur along her two brothers Rishab and Ayachi singing a cover version of an old Hindi hit. I was captivated. During the lockdown, I followed this talented singer. She has since matured into a widely known Bhajan singer and a Maithili singer. Her meteoric rise is to be complimented. Though still simple, they are moving up in life fast. She has wisely kept away from film music and has concentrated on Bhajans and Folk songs, especially those from her home state, Bihar. Her ability to grasp the finer nuances of classical music and integrating it in her Bhajans is remarkable.”

Following her initial training at home, Maithili’s talent flourished under the guidance of renowned singers such as Shankar Mahadevan, Salim Merchant, Diljit Dosanjh, and Shalmali Kholgade. This led her to participate in TV reality shows, where she shone brightly, making it to the Top 20 on both Lil Champs in 2011 and Indian Idol Junior in 2015. On Rising Star, she finished as the runner-up, garnering just one per cent less than the winner. Remembering that time with fondness, Maithili says, “I got to meet many celebrities, such as the actors Anil Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha. It was exciting to meet the movie stars I’d seen while growing up.”[2]

Maithili has a persona, which, even before she begins to convey her art, radiates a genuine warmth that caresses her audience.

Today, all of 23 years, Maithili has millions of social media followers, does concerts in Europe, and is the Election Commission of India appointed “Icon of Bihar”. Akashvani has made a contract with Maithili to broadcast her classical music for 99 years.[3] Maithili has recorded “Chhath songs, semi classical Kajris, Horis and Chaitis. Among her notable pieces is a tender Chaiti, sung in Raag Mishra Pahadi. Maithili has sung the semi-classical Chaiti with all of its difficult demands — the alaaps, khatkas, murkis and diction.”[4] And in a recent Coke Studio Bharat episode, she performs a track along with Seedhe Maut and Ravi Kishan that has Sarod arrangements by Ayaan and Amaan Ali Bangash.[5]