Born in 1959 in Allahabad, Uttar Paradesh, Shubha Mudgal is a renowned vocalist of Hindustani classical music and Indian Pop music. As a young girl she was initiated into the classical arts through the dance form Kathak. She later switched to Hindustani classical music as her vocation of choice and came under the tutelage of Ramashreya Jha in Allahabad. 

Later she moved to Delhi and continued her training under Vinaya Chandra Mudgalya and also received the guidance of Vasant Thakar, Jitendra Abhisheki, Naina Devi and Kumar Gandharva. 

Her performing career as a Hindustani vocalist began in the 1980s and in the next decade she started experimenting with other genres like pop and fusion. She has been awarded the 1996 National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film Music Direction for 'Amrit Beej', the 1998 Gold Plaque Award for Special Achievement in Music, at the 34th Chicago International Film Festival, for her music in the film Dance of the Wind (1997), and the Padma Shri in 2000. She is also close to movements like ANHAD and SAHMAT. She, along with her husband-tabla maestro Aneesh Pradhan, runs a music label and website, Underscore Records.