Kalpana Patowary Biography: Age, Husband, Net Worth, Songs, Height, Parents, Languages

Kalpana Patowary, an acclaimed Indian playback and folk singer, is celebrated as the “Bhojpuri Queen” for her significant contributions to Bhojpuri music and her versatile performances in over 32 languages.

Her work spans folk, playback singing, acting, and political activism, making her a multifaceted figure in Indian entertainment.

Profile

• Full Name: Kalpana Patowary
• Stage Name: Kalpana Patowary
• Born: October 27, 1978
• Age: 46 years old
• Birthplace: Sorbhog, Barpeta district, Assam, India
• Nationality: Indian
• Occupation: Playback Singer, Folk Singer, Actress, Politician
• Height: 5 feet 4 inches (1.65 m)
• Parents: Bipin Nath Patowary
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Parwez Khan (m. 2001)
• Children: None
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $1 million to $5 million USD

Early Life and Education

Kalpana Patowary, an acclaimed singer, was born on October 27, 1978, in Sorbhog, Barpeta district, Assam, India, into a Yogi-Nath family of the Nath sampradaya community. Her father, Bipin Nath Patowary, a renowned folk singer who performed for All India Radio, introduced her to music at age four, despite her initial lack of interest.

She grew up in a middle-class household immersed in Assam’s Kamrupiya and Goalporiya folk traditions. Kalpana graduated with a degree in English Literature from Cotton College, Guwahati, in 1998.

She pursued formal music training, earning a Sangeet Visharad in Hindustani Classical Music from Bhatkhande Music Institute University, Lucknow, in 1996, under mentors Dipen Roy, Shikha Dutta, and Ustad Gulam Mustafa Khan.

Career

Kalpana Patowary, an acclaimed singer, began performing at age four alongside her father at local events in Assam. Her professional career started with performances on All India Radio and Doordarshan, and at age 12, she sang Bhojpuri songs “Hum Na Jaibe Sasur Ghar Mein Baba” and “Raat Sapana Dikhae Diya Ham Ko,” sparking her interest in the Bhojpuri industry.

Her debut film song was “Thirupachi Aruvala” for a Tamil film in 1999, followed by her first Bhojpuri album, Ae Ganesh Ke Papa (2003), and the bestselling Gawanwa Leja Rajaji (2003). She has sung over 10,000 songs in 32+ languages, including Bhojpuri, Assamese, Hindi, Marathi, Bengali, and English, with notable Bollywood playback in Fool & Final (2007), Billu (2009) for “Lori Taar Ho Gayee,” Khatta Meetha (2010), and Begum Jaan (2017).

Kalpana pioneered the Chhaprahiya Purvi style as the first female singer, bringing the Khadi Birha tradition to international stages, including WOMAD and Folk Alliance International. She starred as Janki in the Bhojpuri film Chalat Musafir Moh Liyo Re (2006) alongside Dinesh Lal Yadav and appeared in the 2013 documentary Bidesia in Bambai.

In 2008, she participated in the reality show Junoon – Kuchh Kar Dikhaane Ka on NDTV Imagine and served as a judge on Mahua TV’s Sur Sangram and Nehle Pe Dehla. Her folk-fusion band, Dhruv Voyage, collaborated with Trilok Gurtu and Dhruv Ghanekar.

She signed with Virgin EMI Records in 2015 for a Bhojpuri album on migration, gaining global acclaim. Politically, she joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2018 and later the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), contesting the 2021 Assam Assembly election from Sarukhetri.

Awards and Nominations

• 2010: Most Popular Marathi Singer, ZEE Talkies – Maharashtra Cha Favourite Kaun, People’s Choice Award for “Sarkar Aahoo Sarkar” from Gallit Gondhal Dillit Mujra (Winner)
• 2011: Shaan-e-Awadh International Film Festival, Best Film Category for Yurembam (Nominated)
• Bhikhari Thakur Samman, Calcutta (Winner)
• Bhikhari Thakur Samman, Jamshedpur (Winner)
• Swar Samragee (Winner)
• Bhojpuri Swar Mallika (Winner)
• Bhojpuri Sewa Samman (Winner)
• Bhojpuri Sangam Samman (Winner)
• Panchamrit Samman (Winner)
• Atkrista Gayak Samman (Winner)
• Bhojpuri Samragee by Uttar Pradesh and Bihar Governments (Winner)
• Swar Kokila by Uttar Pradesh and Bihar Governments (Winner)

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @kalpanapatowary
• Facebook Handle: Kalpana Patowary
• Twitter Handle: @KalpanaPatowary
• YouTube Channel: Kalpana Patowary Official

Personal Life

Kalpana Patowary, a 46-year-old acclaimed singer, is married to Parwez Khan, her high school sweetheart, since 2001. Parwez, an event manager who owns a studio, manages her career. They have no children and reside in Mumbai, having moved there to advance her career.

Born into a Hindu family, Kalpana embraced Islam after marriage, a decision she has defended against criticism, emphasizing personal choice. She faced a ₹20 crore defamation suit in 2019 from Pratha Pratim Mahanta, who alleged she and her family posted defamatory content online, though the outcome remains unclear.

Discography (Selected Albums and Songs)

• Ae Ganesh Ke Papa (2003, Bhojpuri Album)
• Gawanwa Leja Rajaji (2003, Bhojpuri Album)
• “Thirupachi Aruvala” (1999, Tamil Film Song)
• “Neela Neela” (2002, Assamese Film Song)
• “Tere Layee” (2007, Hindi Film Song, Fool & Final)
• “Dhukupuku Buk” (2007, Bengali Film Song)
• “Lori Taar Ho Gayee” (2009, Hindi Film Song, Billu)
• “Kalana” (2016, Marathi Film Song)
• The Legacy of Bhikhari Thakur 1 & 2
• The Sacred Scriptures of Monikut
• The Anthology of Birha
• Soul of Chhath
• Champaran Satyagrah
• Gangasnan
• Sourya Urja
• Jimochhaya-The Deoris
• Pratimanjali
• Salaam (Islamic prayer album)

Net Worth

Kalpana Patowary, an acclaimed singer, has an estimated net worth of $1 million to $5 million USD. Her income is derived from recording over 10,000 songs, charging approximately ₹2 lakh per stage performance, and playback singing for over 400 Bhojpuri films and various Bollywood projects.