| Nationality: | Indian |
| Spouse: | Aditya Kothakota |
| Notable Works: | Yellammana and Other Stories |
| Known For: | researcher, vocalist, performer, theater artist, actor, documentary filmmaker |
| Alma Mater: | University of Technology Sydney |
| Education: | Masters in Media Arts and Production |
| Shilpa Mudbi | |
| Birth Place: | Bangalore |
| Known For: | Co-founder of Urban Folk Project |
Shilpa Mudbi is an Indian researcher, singer, performer, theater artist, actress, and documentary filmmaker. She is currently working on preserving and archiving diverse folk-art forms in Karnataka.[1] Along with her husband and Sumitra Sunder, she co-founded the Urban Folk Project. As a part of this project, they performed 70-80 shows of Yellamanata and Other Stories across the country. [2] [3] [4]
Mudbi leads the team in performing Yellammana padas with traditional instruments such as the chowdki and the Shruti, sometimes in the morning at Bangalore Cubbon Park.[5] Shilpa's efforts extend to reviewing and preserving the "Chowdki" and "shruti", essential instruments intertwined with the narratives of Yellamma, making her a key force in reviving these traditions. As a trained filmmaker, she explores the roots of this music, connecting it with North Karnataka's cultural fabric.
These Bengalureans are trying to save Chowdki, a percussion instrument which was once prevalent in the belt of north Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh. According to folklore, it has been around for at least 2,500 years. [6]
During the pandemic, Mubdi conducted Weekly Web Folk Sessions that encouraged participants to pick up an instrument and learn a folk song for a collective singing experience. Each session, lasting five to six minutes, effectively combines both information and musical elements.[7]
In 2023, she was listed in the Deccan Herald, in their fifth edition of Changemakers awards “DH Changemakers: 23 to Watch in 2023” [9]