For Mahesh music started at home. He was fortunate to have his mother as his first Guru. He started learning music at the tender age of three. His basic liking for music is attributed to her. His mother, Meenal Kalewas a noted singer of her time in her own right. She initiated Mahesh into taking part in competitions and thus introduced him to the world of Indian music.
Mahesh also took lessons in Indian classical music from Purushottam Gangurde, a disciple of famous Guru Pt. Yeshwantbua Joshi.
A milestone in Mahesh’s life was his close association with Padmashree Pandit Jitendra Abhishekiji, one of the greatest Maestros of Indian classical Music. Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki had a revolutionary influence on the evolution of modern Indian classical, semi-classical and devotional music. Abhisheki was influenced by both the traditions of Indian Classical music and modern innovations. In addition to fusing traditional ragas with new compositions, Abhisheki introduced the western operatic style to the Marathi theater. His musical productions, including ‘Matsyagandha’, ‘Katyar Kaljat Ghusli’, ‘Yayati ana Devayani’ and ‘Lekure Udanda Jahali’, provided the elixir of youth to the dying art of Natya-Sangeet and inspired its revival in the late 1960s.
Panditji was not merely a classical singer. The critics always searched for the thinker that was hidden in Abhishekiji. He was a prominent singer of the Agra gharana. However he never believed in rigid compartments of sangeet gharanas. He was also influenced by the style of Jaipur gharana. There was an unusual conjunction of various gharanas of Indian classical music in Abhishekiji as it was evolved after deep thinking. Thus Mahesh has been groomed in the rich tradition of Indian classical music which has also been tempered to the liking of newer generation. Learning under his tutelage was an invaluable experience for Mahesh. It changed his perspective about the philosophy of music and transformed him into a more matured musician with a deep insight into Indian classical music.
After the sad demise of Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, Mahesh has continued getting able guidance from Shounak Abhisheki, the son and disciple of the late Jitendra Abhisheki. Shounak is one of the foremost vocalists in India today, with a spectacular repertoire ranging from classical ‘khayal’ gayaki (a unique mixture of Agra and Jaipur schools), to bhajans, bhavgeets, and folk songs, to name a few. He has performed extensively at exclusive music conferences such as Sawai Gandharva Music Festival (equal in stature to the Mozart festival in Vienna), Vishnu Digambar Festival, and India International Center, as well as performing in USA, Middle East, and Russia.
Shounak, like his father, has the uncanny ability to captivate his audience. Also, like his father, he is a restless personality, always searching for new mediums, and never compromising on the perfect pitch and tempo in his musical renditions. Equipped with vast knowledge in all the faculties of Indian music, he is also a deep thinker and a great teacher too. Mahesh is indeed very fortunate to have him as his Guru.