Bal Gandharva
Encyclopedia
Narayan Shripad Rajhans better known as Bal Gandharva (1888–1967) was one of the greatest Marathi
singers and stage actors. He was famous for his roles of female characters in Marathi plays, since women were not allowed to act on stage during his time.
Bal Gandharva got his name after a performance in Pune as an aspiring singer. Lokmanya Tilak, the great freedom fighter and the grand old man of the Indian independence movement
was in the audience, and after the performance, reportedly patted Rajhans on the back and said that Narayan was a "Bal Gandharva" which means "Young Gandharva
".
taluk of Sangli district
in Maharashtra
, India
. Bal Gandharva's first wife died in 1940. Bal Gandharva married Gohar Karnataki in 1951. Gohar was an actress in his drama company. Gohar died in 1964.
left the company in 1913 to form Gandharva Sangeet Mandali. Bal Gandharva became the sole owner of the debt ridden company in 1921. The debt was paid off in 7 years' time. But the company accumulated debt again over next 6–7 years. Bal Gandharva dissolved the company to make 6 films with Prabhat Film Company
but the partnership was dissolved after just one film in which he was portrayed in a male role, that of Sant Eknath
.
Bal Gandharva revived his drama company in 1937, and soon formed an infamous association with Gohar Karnataki known as Gauhar Bai who joined the company in April 1938. With Narayanrao increasingly ill at ease in female roles owing to his advancing years, the company was looking for an actress to play female roles. His brother Bapurao Rajhans left the company to protest against Gohar's entry in Gandharva Sangeet Mandali and Bal Gandharva's life when it became clear that Gohar would have a major say in the company's stewardship.
Bal Gandharva acted in 25 classic Marathi plays and was one of those who were responsible for making Sangeet Natak
(musicals) and Natya Sangeet
(the music in those musicals) popular among common masses. He was a disciple of Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale
. Bakhale scored music for his drama Swayamwar. Govindrao Tembe
scored music for Manapman. Among the younger lot, Bal Gandharva's composer of choice was Master Krishnarao (Krishna Phulambrikar).
The songs rendered by him are, to date, considered as classics and his singing style is greatly appreciated by Marathi critics and audiences. Marathi stage was facing difficult times after the death of Bhaurao Kolhatkar in 1901. Bal Gandharva revived it. His famous contemporaries include Keshavrao Bhosale (known as "Sangeet-Surya") and Deenanath Mangeshkar
.
He acted in plays written by Annasaheb Kirloskar
, Govind Ballal Deval
, Shripad Krushna Kolhatkar
, Krushnaji Prabhakar Khadilkar
, Ram Ganesh Gadkari
, Vasant Shantaram Desai.
Bal Gandharva died in 1967. The Bal Gandharva Rangamandir (Theatre) in the city of Pune
is named in his honor.
A movie named 'Balgandharva' has been released by Iconic Chandrant Productions in May 2011. This movie portrays the life-journey of Balgandharva. The movie has been widely appreciated.
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
singers and stage actors. He was famous for his roles of female characters in Marathi plays, since women were not allowed to act on stage during his time.
Bal Gandharva got his name after a performance in Pune as an aspiring singer. Lokmanya Tilak, the great freedom fighter and the grand old man of the Indian independence movement
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
was in the audience, and after the performance, reportedly patted Rajhans on the back and said that Narayan was a "Bal Gandharva" which means "Young Gandharva
Gandharva
Gandharva is a name used for distinct mythological beings in Hinduism and Buddhism; it is also a term for skilled singers in Indian classical music.-In Hinduism:...
".
Personal life
Narayan Shripad Rajhans was born in Nagthane village in PalusPalus
Palus is a tehsil Sangli district in the Indian state of Maharashtra.PALUS is a nice village. Palus has an industrial area & a wine park. Palus MIDC is the biggest asset for Palus, which holds major component manufacturing. Kirloskar brothers ltd.is near to Palus. Palus tahashil have more famous...
taluk of Sangli district
Sangli district
Sangli district is a district of Maharashtra state in west-central India. Sangli city is the district headquarters. The district is 24.51% urban. Sangli and Miraj are the largest cities. The industrial town of Kirloskarwadi is also located in the Sangli District...
in Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Bal Gandharva's first wife died in 1940. Bal Gandharva married Gohar Karnataki in 1951. Gohar was an actress in his drama company. Gohar died in 1964.
Theatre career
Bal Gandharva began his career with Kirloskar Natak Mandali in 1905. The company was run by Mujumdar and Nanasaheb Joglekar. After Joglekar's death in 1911, there was discontent about Mujumdar's dictatorial and manipulative style. Bal Gandharva, Ganesh Govind ('Ganpatrao') Bodas and Govindrao TembeGovindrao Tembe
Govind Sadashiv Tembe, popularly known as Govindrao Tembe was a harmonium player, stage actor, and music composer....
left the company in 1913 to form Gandharva Sangeet Mandali. Bal Gandharva became the sole owner of the debt ridden company in 1921. The debt was paid off in 7 years' time. But the company accumulated debt again over next 6–7 years. Bal Gandharva dissolved the company to make 6 films with Prabhat Film Company
Prabhat Film Company
Prabhat Film Company popularly known as Prabhat Films was an Indian film production company and film studios, formed in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India in 1929, towards the end of silent films' era, by the noted film director V. Shantaram, along with V.G. Damle, K.R. Dhaiber, S. Fatelal and S.B...
but the partnership was dissolved after just one film in which he was portrayed in a male role, that of Sant Eknath
Eknath
Eknath was a prominent Marathi scholar and religious poet. He is called a "sant" in the Marathi tradition as are most other religious poets...
.
Bal Gandharva revived his drama company in 1937, and soon formed an infamous association with Gohar Karnataki known as Gauhar Bai who joined the company in April 1938. With Narayanrao increasingly ill at ease in female roles owing to his advancing years, the company was looking for an actress to play female roles. His brother Bapurao Rajhans left the company to protest against Gohar's entry in Gandharva Sangeet Mandali and Bal Gandharva's life when it became clear that Gohar would have a major say in the company's stewardship.
Bal Gandharva acted in 25 classic Marathi plays and was one of those who were responsible for making Sangeet Natak
Sangeet Natak
Sangeet Natak in Marathi language literally means Musical Drama. As the name suggests, this form of drama combines prose as well as poetry in form of songs to convey the story. In a manner, they are much similar to Operas. Sangeet Natakas played a vital role in the development of Marathi theater...
(musicals) and Natya Sangeet
Natya Sangeet
Natya Sangeet is a form of Indian classical and semi-classical music. The name literally means Dramatic Music and the musical dramas are then called as Sangeet Natak. It is also one of the two popular forms of vocal arts in Maharashtra and surrounding states...
(the music in those musicals) popular among common masses. He was a disciple of Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale
Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale
Bhaskar Raghunath Bakhale was a Hindustani classical vocalist, a composer, and a teacher.-Education:...
. Bakhale scored music for his drama Swayamwar. Govindrao Tembe
Govindrao Tembe
Govind Sadashiv Tembe, popularly known as Govindrao Tembe was a harmonium player, stage actor, and music composer....
scored music for Manapman. Among the younger lot, Bal Gandharva's composer of choice was Master Krishnarao (Krishna Phulambrikar).
The songs rendered by him are, to date, considered as classics and his singing style is greatly appreciated by Marathi critics and audiences. Marathi stage was facing difficult times after the death of Bhaurao Kolhatkar in 1901. Bal Gandharva revived it. His famous contemporaries include Keshavrao Bhosale (known as "Sangeet-Surya") and Deenanath Mangeshkar
Deenanath Mangeshkar
Dinanath Mangeshkar was a well-known Marathi theatre actor, a renowned Natya Sangeet musician and an exceptional Hindustani classical vocalist....
.
He acted in plays written by Annasaheb Kirloskar
Annasaheb Kirloskar
Balwant Pandurang Kirloskar , popularly known as Annasaheb Kirloskar, was a Marathi playwright from Maharashtra, India.Kirloskar was born on March 31, 1843 in Gurlhosur in Belgaum district....
, Govind Ballal Deval
Govind Ballal Deval
Govind Ballal Deval was a Marathi playwright from Maharashtra, India.Deval was born in 1855 in a village in the Kokan region of Maharashtra, but he spent his childhood in Haripur near Sangli...
, Shripad Krushna Kolhatkar
Shripad Krushna Kolhatkar
Shripad Krushna Kolhatkar was a Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India.He was born on June 29, 1871 in Nagpur. While in high school, he wrote a play named Sukha Malika...
, Krushnaji Prabhakar Khadilkar
Krushnaji Prabhakar Khadilkar
Krushnaji Prabhakar Khadilkar Krushnaji Prabhakar Khadilkar Krushnaji Prabhakar Khadilkar ((Devanagari: कृष्णाजी प्रभाकर खाडिलकर) (1872 - 1948) was a Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India.Khadilkar was born on November 25, 1872 in Sangli. At age 15, he wrote a novel, and the next year he wrote a...
, Ram Ganesh Gadkari
Ram Ganesh Gadkari
Ram Ganesh Gadkari was a Marathi poet, playwright, and humorist from Maharashtra, India.Ram Ganesh Gadkari was one of the writers in new age transformation in Marathi Literature. He wrote poetry under the pen name Govindagraj and humorous articles under the pen name Balakram...
, Vasant Shantaram Desai.
Bal Gandharva died in 1967. The Bal Gandharva Rangamandir (Theatre) in the city of Pune
Pune
Pune , is the eighth largest metropolis in India, the second largest in the state of Maharashtra after Mumbai, and the largest city in the Western Ghats. Once the centre of power of the Maratha Empire, it is situated 560 metres above sea level on the Deccan plateau at the confluence of the Mula ...
is named in his honor.
A movie named 'Balgandharva' has been released by Iconic Chandrant Productions in May 2011. This movie portrays the life-journey of Balgandharva. The movie has been widely appreciated.
Roles
His famous roles include :- Bhamini in Manapman(1911)
- Rukmini in Swayamwar(1916)
- Sindhu in Ekach Pyala(1919)
Awards
- In 1955 Bal Gandharva received the coveted "President's Award" (now known as the Sangeet Natak Akademi AwardSangeet Natak Akademi AwardSangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recognition given to practicing artists. The award consists since 2003 of Rs. 50,000, a citation, an angavastram , and a tamrapatra...
the highest musical honour in India from the then President of IndiaPresident of IndiaThe President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary...
. - In 1964 Bal Gandharva received The Padma BhushanPadma BhushanThe Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, but comes before the Padma Shri. It is awarded by the Government of India.-History:...
Award,the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India.
Biography
- Bal Gandharva: the nonpareil thespian Author- Mohan Nadkarni, Publisher-National Book Trust, 2002, Length - 77 pages
- Balgandharva and the Marathi theatre Author- Dnyaneshwar Nadkarni, Publisher- Roopak Books, 1988, Length- 159 pages