Sudhir Phadke
Encyclopedia
Sudhir Phadke was an accomplished Marathi
singer-composer from India
. He was regarded as an icon of the Marathi
film industry and Marathi Sugam Sangeet (light music) for five decades. Apart from Marathi, Phadke sang and composed songs in several Hindi
films as well.
Phadke was affectionately known as Babuji (an honorary title given to respected gentlemen in India).
as music director in 1946. During his long career, he composed music for many Marathi and Hindi films. He was also an immaculate playback singer
. Phadke married his fellow singer Lalita Deulkar. Their son Shridhar Phadke
(born 1950) is also a composer and singer.
Geet Ramayana, based on poet G D Madgulkar's verses, is one of Phadke's most popular works. The programme ran on All India Radio
for a year, 1954-55. Stage performances of the program continue to draw huge crowds even today. Phadke set to music all 56 songs, and they were sung by different singers for radio (Manik Varma
, lalita Deulkar, Lata Mangeshkar
, Phadke himself, Vasantrao Deshpande
, Ram Phatak
, et al.). All 56 songs were also recorded in Phadke's own voice.
In last days of his life, Phadke was involved in producing a Hindi film on the life of the Indian freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
. The movie Veer Savarkar was funded by public donations. Sudhir Phadke last sang and composed music for this movie.
He was also actively involved with Goa Freedom Movement and in post freedom fight of India
Phadke was connected with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
for over 60 years. He was the main inspiration and founder member of India Heritage Foundation in the United States.
. He extensively worked with famous Indian singers such as Asha Bhosle
and Lata Mangeshkar
.
', 56 songs written by Madgulkar.
Geet Ramayan, collection of songs is summary of Indian epic of Ramayana in chronological sequence. The first of Geet Ramayan by Sudhir Phadke was broadcast by All India Radio Pune on Sunday the April 1, 1955 on the auspicious day of Raam Navami (celebration of the birth of Lord Rama). From 1 April 1955 for 56 weeks, every Sunday a new song of Geet Ramayana was broadcast. It was one of the most popular programs of that time. Geet Ramayan has been translated in 9 Indian languages Assamese
, Bengali
, English
, Hindi
, Kannada, Konkani, Sindhi
, Telugu
and Oriya
.
Other major creations of Phadke include:
Ashi pakhare yeti,
Dev devharyat nahi,
Daav mandun mandun modu nako,
Vikat ghetla shyam,
Tujhe geet ganyasathi sur labhu de,
Toch chandrama nabhaat.
Phadke won numerous awards, including:
on 29 July 2002 at 10.30 AM after suffering a brain hemorrhage. His body was kept at Veer Savarkar
Memorial at Dadar
in central Mumbai, where many admirers came to pay their last tributes.
A Flyover
which goes over the railway line and Dahisar
river in the Mumbai suburb between Borivali
and Dahisar
connecting east and west was named after him.
Marathi people
The Marathi people or Maharashtrians are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, that inhabit the Maharashtra region and state of western India. Their language Marathi is part of the southern group of Indo-Aryan languages...
singer-composer from 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...
. He was regarded as an icon of the Marathi
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...
film industry and Marathi Sugam Sangeet (light music) for five decades. Apart from Marathi, Phadke sang and composed songs in several Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
films as well.
Phadke was affectionately known as Babuji (an honorary title given to respected gentlemen in India).
Brief biography
Sudhir Phadke was born in Kolhapur on 25 July 1919. His birth name was Ram Phadke, but he later changed his name to 'Sudhir' when he composed a song for HMV. Phadke acquired his primary tutelage in vocal classical music from the late Vamanrao Padhye in Kolhapur. After beginning his career with HMV in 1941, he joined the Prabhat Film CompanyPrabhat 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...
as music director in 1946. During his long career, he composed music for many Marathi and Hindi films. He was also an immaculate playback singer
Playback singer
A playback singer is a singer whose singing is prerecorded for use in movies. Playback singers record songs for soundtracks, and actors or actresses lip-sync the songs for cameras, while the actual singer does not appear on screen.-South Asia:...
. Phadke married his fellow singer Lalita Deulkar. Their son Shridhar Phadke
Shridhar Phadke
-Early life:Shridhar Phadke was born on September 9, 1950 in Mumbai. He is son of the famous Marathi singer and composer Sudhir Phadke and singer Lalitabai Phadke....
(born 1950) is also a composer and singer.
Geet Ramayana, based on poet G D Madgulkar's verses, is one of Phadke's most popular works. The programme ran on All India Radio
All India Radio
All India Radio , officially known since 1956 as Akashvani , is the radio broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati. Established in 1936, it is the sister service of Prasar Bharati's Doordarshan, the national television broadcaster. All India Radio is one of the largest radio networks...
for a year, 1954-55. Stage performances of the program continue to draw huge crowds even today. Phadke set to music all 56 songs, and they were sung by different singers for radio (Manik Varma
Manik Varma
Padmashree Manik Varma is considered the doyen of Hindustani classical Music from the Kirana Gharana, most known for her song, Amrutahuni Goad. She also excelled in semi-classical and light music like Thumri, Marathi Natya Sangeet, Bhavgeet and Bhakti geet...
, lalita Deulkar, Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional...
, Phadke himself, Vasantrao Deshpande
Vasantrao Deshpande
Vasantrao Deshpande was a renowned Hindustani classical vocalist who was also a brilliant performer of Natya Sangeet. He had a unique style of singing which is still loved by many ardent fans.-Early life and background:...
, Ram Phatak
Ramachandra Krishanji Phatak
Ramachandra Krishnaji Phatak , also known as Ram Phatak , was a Marathi music composer and singer...
, et al.). All 56 songs were also recorded in Phadke's own voice.
In last days of his life, Phadke was involved in producing a Hindi film on the life of the Indian freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Vināyak Dāmodar Sāvarkar was an Indian freedom fighter, revolutionary and politician. He was the proponent of liberty as the ultimate ideal. Savarkar was a poet, writer and playwright...
. The movie Veer Savarkar was funded by public donations. Sudhir Phadke last sang and composed music for this movie.
He was also actively involved with Goa Freedom Movement and in post freedom fight of India
Phadke was connected with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh or National Patriotic Organization), also known the Sangh, is a right-wing Hindu nationalist, paramilitary, volunteer, and allegedly militant organization for Hindu males in India...
for over 60 years. He was the main inspiration and founder member of India Heritage Foundation in the United States.
Filmography
Sudhir Phadke has 111 films to his credit as a music director, 21 of which are in HindiHindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
. He extensively worked with famous Indian singers such as Asha Bhosle
Asha Bhosle
Asha Bhosle is an Indian singer. She is one of the best-known and most highly-regarded Hindi playback singers in India, although she has a wider repertoire. Bhosle's career started in 1943 and has spanned over six decades. She has done playback singing for over a thousand Bollywood movies...
and Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar
Lata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional...
.
As a composer
(Partial filmography)- Gokul (1946)
- Aage BadhoAage BadhoAage Badho is 1947 Hindi language Movie directed by Yeshwant Pithkar and starring Dev Anand, Khurshid, Vasant Thengdi, Kusum Deshpande, Madhukar Apte....
(1947) - Sita Swayamwar (1948)
- Apraadhi (1949)
- Bheem (1949)
- Maya Baazar (1949)
- Ram Pratiggya (1949)
- Sant Janabai (1949)
- Shri Krishna Darshan (1950)
- Maalti Madhav (1951)
- Murli Wala (1951)
- Pehli Taarikh (1954)
- Ratna Ghar(1954)
- Shevgyachya Shenga (1955)
- Devghar (1956)
- Sajni (1956)
- Gaj Gauri (1958)
- Gokul Ka Chor (1959)
- Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan (1961)
- Pyar Ki Jeet (1962)
- Ekati (1968)
- Aadhar (1969)
- Daraar (1971)
- Sher Shivaji (1981)
- Sher Shivaji (1987)
- Rukmini Swayamwar
- Aamhi jaato amuchchya gaava (MarathiMarathi languageMarathi 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...
) - Pudhcha Paaul (Marathi)
- Jagaachya paathivar (Marathi)
- Suvasini (Marathi)
- Prapanch (Marathi)
- Mumbaicha jawai (Marathi original of Basu ChatterjeeBasu ChatterjeeBasu Chatterjee is an Indian film director. His films are very similar to those of Hrishikesh Mukherjee. Like Mukherjee, he built his plots on middle-class lives.He was born in Ajmer, Rajasthan, India....
Hindi language film Piya ka ghar) - Veer Savarkar (Hindi)
Geet Ramayan
Composed and renditioned 'Geet RamayanGeet Ramayan
Geet Ramayan is a collection of 56 songs in Marathi, written by noted litterateur G. D. Madgulkar , composed and sung by Sudhir Phadke...
', 56 songs written by Madgulkar.
Geet Ramayan, collection of songs is summary of Indian epic of Ramayana in chronological sequence. The first of Geet Ramayan by Sudhir Phadke was broadcast by All India Radio Pune on Sunday the April 1, 1955 on the auspicious day of Raam Navami (celebration of the birth of Lord Rama). From 1 April 1955 for 56 weeks, every Sunday a new song of Geet Ramayana was broadcast. It was one of the most popular programs of that time. Geet Ramayan has been translated in 9 Indian languages Assamese
Assamese language
Assamese is the easternmost Indo-Aryan language. It is used mainly in the state of Assam in North-East India. It is also the official language of Assam. It is also spoken in parts of Arunachal Pradesh and other northeast Indian states. Nagamese, an Assamese-based Creole language is widely used in...
, Bengali
Bengali language
Bengali or Bangla is an eastern Indo-Aryan language. It is native to the region of eastern South Asia known as Bengal, which comprises present day Bangladesh, the Indian state of West Bengal, and parts of the Indian states of Tripura and Assam. It is written with the Bengali script...
, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
, Kannada, Konkani, Sindhi
Sindhi language
Sindhi is the language of the Sindh region of Pakistan that is spoken by the Sindhi people. In India, it is among 22 constitutionally recognized languages, where Sindhis are a sizeable minority. It is spoken by 53,410,910 people in Pakistan, according to the national government's Statistics Division...
, Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
and Oriya
Oriya
Oriya or Odia may refer to:*Oriya cuisine* Oriya people in India* Oriya language* Oriya script* Oriya literature* Oriya cinema...
.
As a composer
- Jyoti kalash chalke (Bhabhi ki Chudiyan), a song based on Raga Bhupali sung by Lata MangeshkarLata MangeshkarLata Mangeshkar is a singer from India. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers in India. Mangeshkar's career started in 1942 and has spanned over six and a half decades. She has recorded songs for over a thousand Hindi films and has sung songs in over thirty-six regional...
- "Pehli Tarikh", sung by Kishor Kumar the song is till date played on All India Radio on 1st of every month.
- Maratha Sphurti Geet the regimental song of Maratha Light InfantryMaratha Light InfantryThe Maratha Light Infantry is a light infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was formed as the 103rd Maharattas in 1768, making it the most senior light infantry regiment of the Army....
, was composed and arranged for the military band by Sudhir Phadke. The lyrics were written by G. D. MadgulkarG. D. MadgulkarGajānan Digambar Mādgulkar was a prominent Marāthi poet, lyricist, writer and actor from India. He was popularly known in his home state of Maharashtra by just his initials as Ga Di Ma .It can be rightly stated that his contribution to Marathi culture was rich in its content as well as high in...
.
Other major creations of Phadke include:
Ashi pakhare yeti,
Dev devharyat nahi,
Daav mandun mandun modu nako,
Vikat ghetla shyam,
Tujhe geet ganyasathi sur labhu de,
Toch chandrama nabhaat.
Awards
- Rashtrapati AwardRashtrapati AwardRashtrapati Awards are given by the President of India, in some cases the prime Minister of India, for achievements in the field of Sports, Art, Military, Literature, Cinema, Culture, Science & Technology etc. The award-giving ceremony is conducted in the Rashtrapati Bhavan - the President's...
in 1963 for Ha Maaza Marga Ekala. - Sangeet Natak Academic Award in 1991
- Sahyadri Swara Ratna Puraskar in April 2002, an award presented by DDDoorDarshanDoordarshan is an Indian public service broadcaster, a division of Prasar Bharati. It is one of the largest broadcasting organizations in India in terms of the infrastructure of studios and transmitters. Recently, it has also started Digital Terrestrial Transmitters. On September 15, 2009,...
Sahyadri
Death
He died in MumbaiMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
on 29 July 2002 at 10.30 AM after suffering a brain hemorrhage. His body was kept at Veer Savarkar
Vinayak Damodar Savarkar
Vināyak Dāmodar Sāvarkar was an Indian freedom fighter, revolutionary and politician. He was the proponent of liberty as the ultimate ideal. Savarkar was a poet, writer and playwright...
Memorial at Dadar
Dadar
Dadar is a place in Mumbai, and is also a railway station on both the Western and Central lines of the Mumbai Suburban Railway network. Dadar is situated in the heart of Mumbai, and Dadar station is the only railway station common to both the Central and Western lines...
in central Mumbai, where many admirers came to pay their last tributes.
A Flyover
Overpass
An overpass is a bridge, road, railway or similar structure that crosses over another road or railway...
which goes over the railway line and Dahisar
Dahisar
Dahisar is a suburb of Mumbai. It is also the name of a railway station on the Mumbai suburban railway on the Western Railway railway line, situated in Dahisar suburb. Located on the city limits of Mumbai, Dahisar is the last suburb and railway station within the Mumbai Suburban District; past...
river in the Mumbai suburb between Borivali
Borivali
Borivali or Borivli a suburban area located in the north-west section of Mumbai island. Borivali is approximately from Mumbai Airport and from Churchgate Railway Station...
and Dahisar
Dahisar
Dahisar is a suburb of Mumbai. It is also the name of a railway station on the Mumbai suburban railway on the Western Railway railway line, situated in Dahisar suburb. Located on the city limits of Mumbai, Dahisar is the last suburb and railway station within the Mumbai Suburban District; past...
connecting east and west was named after him.