Aditya Modak is an Indian Hindustani classical vocalist and film actor, born in 1988. He is associated with the Gwalior gharana tradition of Hindustani khayal singing and gained wider public recognition through his lead role in Marathi cinema.
| Name | Aditya Modak |
|---|---|
| Born | 1988 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupation | Hindustani classical vocalist; film actor |
| Genre | Hindustani classical music (khayal) |
| Notable film | The Disciple (2020) |
Modak trained as a Hindustani classical vocalist from a young age, performing in concerts and music conferences in India. His training is rooted in the khayal style, and he has appeared as a performer in classical music circuits before transitioning to acting.
As a vocalist, Modak performs in the Hindustani classical tradition, presenting khayal compositions, bhajans, and allied forms in concert settings.
Modak played the central role of Sharad Nerulkar, an aspiring classical vocalist, in the Marathi-language film The Disciple, written and directed by Chaitanya Tamhane and produced with Alfonso Cuarón as executive producer. The film premiered at the 77th Venice International Film Festival in 2020, where it won the Best Screenplay award (Premio Osella) and the FIPRESCI Prize. It was subsequently released worldwide on Netflix in 2021. Modak's casting drew on his real-life background as a trained classical singer, and his performance was widely noted by critics.
Modak's work bridges two distinct cultural spheres: the concert practice of Hindustani classical music and contemporary Indian art cinema. The Disciple brought international attention to the world of Hindustani khayal performance and to the lineages and aesthetics that shape it.