Vasantrao deshpande biography of christopher
Home / Celebrity Biographies / Vasantrao deshpande biography of christopher
Background
Vasantrao Deshpande was born in Sawlapur, District Amravati, which belongs to Vidarbha region of State of Maharashtra, in India. His command over Urdu ghazals and Hindi film songs, though less explored, was equally impressive. He was one of the few artists who could traverse effortlessly between pure classical music, light classical forms like bhajans and abhangs, and theatrical songs.
He also had a rich repertoire of semi-classical forms such as thumris and tappas, which he delivered with impeccable taste.
He mentored many students, imparting to them both the rigors of classical music and the nuances of performance. He started his musical training in his home town Nagpur under Shankarrao Sapre from Gwalior, who in turn was a disciple of Vishnu Digambar Paluskar. The sargam was his forte. Some of the prominent honors included the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, which recognized his excellence in the performing arts.
He learned from several gurus, refusing to tie himself down to a single school of singing.
This was followed by Sureshbabu Mane of Kirana gharana, Asad Ali Khan of Patiala gharana, Aman Ali Khan and Anjani Bai Malpekar of Bhendibazaar gharana, and Ramkrishnabuwa Vaze.
But the most important influence on him was Dinanath Mangeshkar, and Vasantrao was the sole true inheritor of Dinanath"s mercurial style of singing.
From a very young age, he exhibited a natural inclination toward music. He remains an enduring symbol of Maharashtra’s rich cultural heritage and a timeless beacon in the world of Indian classical music.
Vasantrao Deshpande
Actorcomposer
Vasantrao Deshpande was a renowned Hindustani classical vocalist who was also a great performer of Natya Sangeet.
His contributions to Indian music extended far beyond performance—he was a cultural icon who brought classical music closer to the masses through his extraordinary talent, charismatic presence, and deep understanding of both the art form and its emotional undercurrents.
Early Life and Musical Training
Vasantrao Deshpande was born on May 2, 1920, in Murtijapur, a town in the Akola district of Maharashtra.
By merging classical purity with theatrical expression, he created a genre of his own that resonated with connoisseurs and laymen alike. During the festival, two awards, the "Vasantotsav Youth Award" for Promising artists and " Vasantotsav Award" for veteran artists are given.
In 2011, a three-day music and dance festival in his memory, was organized by the South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC) of Government of India in Nagpur.
Achievements
He was also an accomplished tabla and harmonium player.
.
His performance of offbeat ragas was not too different.He gave playback to more than 80 Marathi films. The movie, which paid homage to the original stage play, reintroduced Deshpande’s music to a new generation. He was also honored by various cultural organizations for his dedication to preserving traditional Indian music.
Despite the acclaim, Deshpande remained humble and deeply committed to his art.
He had the rare ability to blend the intricacies of various gharanas like Gwalior, Kirana, Patiala, and Bhendibazaar into a seamless and powerful style of his own. His interpretations were lauded for their authenticity and innovation.
The Revival and Popularization of Natya Sangeet
Though trained in classical music, Vasantrao Deshpande became a household name primarily due to his pioneering contributions to Marathi musical theatre.
Career
In 1982, he was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India"s National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. His portrayal of classical musicians in dramatic contexts made these performances relatable to common audiences who might otherwise find pure classical concerts intimidating or inaccessible.
His role as Pandit Bhanushankar Shastri in Katyar Kaljat Ghusli became legendary.
Rahul Deshpande, playing the role originally performed by his grandfather, offered a fitting tribute to the maestro.
Awards and Recognition
Throughout his life, Vasantrao Deshpande received numerous accolades for his contribution to music and theatre. His early musical training began under the tutelage of several distinguished gurus.
At the age of eight, Bhalji Pendharkar perceived his musical talent and launched him in the role of "Krishna" in Hindi movie Kaliyamardan.
He had received the training under different gharanas (schools or styles of music): Patiala, Bhendi Bazar, Kairana. Besides pure music, he also put together the history of Marathi music plays, from origin showing their evolution up to the present stage.
Vasantrao had several commercial releases under his name.
The three-day festival is held in the month of January each year.