Pandit Nivruttibua Sarnaik was born in Kolhapur (Maharashtra) in a music loving family. His father Tukarambua used to sing Bhajans and his elder brother ShankarRao used to run a musical theatre company called "Yashvant Sangeet Natak Mandali". Nivruttibua had initial training in music under his brother Shankar Sarnaik, who was himself a good singer & was disciple of Ustad Abdul Karim Khan Saheb of Kirana Gharana. Panditji also took lessons from Govind Vithal Bhave (disciple of Pt. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar) who was employed in the drama company. He also took training in Tabla under Balwantrao Rukdikar & Babalal Islampurkar. In childhood, he acted & sung in musical-dramas.

Later he became disciple of Ustad Rajab Ali Khan and Sawai Gandharva alias Pandit Rambhau Kundgolkar. His final grooming was under the direct tutelage of Ustad Alladiya Khan of Jaipur gharana. He blended the stylistic features of Kirana gharana & Jaipur Gharana very well. In rendition of Khayal, his Alap portion was more of Kirana style, but with hidden rhythmic accent of Jaipur gharana. He blended the elements in Taan of Ustad Rajab Ali Khan & Ustad Alladiya Khan very articulately, with his own creative intelligence.

He was a master of many rare, complex Ragas such as Malwi, Virat Bhairav, Phulshree, Rupmati Malhar, etc. He was also a fine composer and composed many attractive Bandishes in various Ragas. Nivruttibua was a very intelligent musician, who had his own, rebellious and modern views about music as an art and its grammar.

Nivruttibua was a veteran concert artiste and broadcaster and had the honor of being a 'Durbar Gayak' of Kolhapur State. In 1966, he came in Mumbai. During 1969 to 1979, he worked as a Guru at Music Centre, University of Mumbai as suggested by Dr Ashok Da Ranade, the director of this centre. From 1979 to 1991, he worked as Guru at ITC SRA. Due to his age and health issues, he moved back to Mumbai in 1991, where is passed away in 1994.

His major disciples are Sardarbai Kardagekar, Azambai, Prabhudev Sardar, Vijaya Jadhav - Gatlewar, Jyotsna Motite, Nilaxi Juvekar, Prasad Sawkar, Dinkar Panshikar, Mr Ganpule, Vinod Digrajkar, Lata Godse. Kishori Amonkar, Jitendra Abhisheki, Jayashri Patnekar, Padma talwalkar also learnt under him for some time. Ulhas Kashalkar & Arun Kashalkar has adopted his style of singing Taan.

He was honoured with Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1979), Tansen Samman (1986), Maharashtra Gauraw Puraskar (1990).