Lakshmi Shankar was a Hindustani classical vocalist of the _________ Gharana.

Patiala

The correct answer is Option (4) - Patiala

Lakshmi Shankar was a Hindustani classical vocalist of the Patiala Gharana. She was born into a south Indian Hindu family, but became an outstanding Hindustani vocalist of the Patiala Gharana. She married Rajendra Shankar, brother of Uday Shankar, a Bengali by birth. She was known for her performances of khyal, thumri, and bhajan. She was the sister-in-law of sitar player Ravi Shankar and the mother-in-law of violinist L. Subramaniam (her daughter Viji (Vijayashree Shankar) Subramaniam being his first wife).

The Patiala Gharana is one of the most prominent gharanas of Hindustani classical music. It is known for its emphasis on khayal gayaki, which is a style of singing that is characterized by its improvisation and use of complex melodic and rhythmic patterns. The Patiala Gharana has produced many famous singers, including Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Amir Khan, and Begum Akhtar.