Natyasangeet Options

[Bertie Wooster]

I rediscovered Natyasangeet recently and wanted to share some songs that have lodged themselves in my mind.

I do not recall from where I picked this track - a kind soul had uploaded this as a part of a collection. I cannot thank him enough wherever he is.

Pu La Deshpande had entered the entertainment world in the early ’40s as an actor and singer on the Marathi stage by joining Mo Ga Rangnekar’s Natya Niketan drama troupe. Paakhara jaa, the song he rendered in the play Vahini was an instant hit.

[archimoz]

On Dhananjay-saab's request. However, I don't think Ustad Abdul Karim Khan had sung them as pure 'natyageets'. He just sought to use the bandishes to render his delectable khayals. Anyway, with that kind of a voice, whatever he did was music. Notice how his sargams are beautiful adaptations from the Carnatic style.

I do not have the Ustaad's 'nach sundari karu kopa'. There was this cassette that I had heard which had 6 songs of Ustaad and 6 by her able daughter, Hirabai Barodekar based on natyasangeet. I had heard the song there. Worth it's weight in gold.

Regards-Archie.

P.S. The raag-names are put as they appear on the labels of the 78 rpm records. I personally do not think that 'chandrika jhanu' is based on raag 'devgandhar'. It sounds more like raag 'Aarbi' to me. Devgandhar is more similar to a 'jaunpuri with a beautifully placed shuddh gandhar. An example would be K L Saigal's 'jhulana jhulaao'.

[nm007]

thanks for prem sevaa sharaN and chandrika hii jaNuu. (didnt have those)

and hirabai baDodekar is his daughter? really, or do you mean desciple?

Here are two that I have

4:25 @96 and 4:24 @96

[abhayp]

thanks for prem sevaa sharaN and chandrika hii jaNuu. (didnt have those)

and hirabai baDodekar is his daughter? really, or do you mean desciple?

Both Hirabai and Roshanara Begum are supposed to be his daughters. AFAIK, Hirabai never learnt directly from him: she learnt from Abdul Wahid Khan and from her brother, Sureshbabu Mane.

Warm regards,
Abhay

[archimoz]

thanks for prem sevaa sharaN and chandrika hii jaNuu. (didnt have those)

and hirabai baDodekar is his daughter? really, or do you mean desciple?

Both Hirabai and Roshanara Begum are supposed to be his daughters. AFAIK, Hirabai never learnt directly from him: she learnt from Abdul Wahid Khan and from her brother, Sureshbabu Mane.

Warm regards,
Abhay

Abdul Karim was the court singer of Sayajiao Gaekwad of Baroda and used to sing there with is younger brother Abdul Haq Khan. He fell in love with Tarabai, a lady who resided inside the palace and was related in some way to the Maharani. Obviously marriage and elopement had to go hand in hand and hence the couple, and Abdul Haq reached Miraj.

The couple had five children - 2 boys and 3 girls. The eldest was Abdul Rehman. Then Champutai, Gulaab, Abdul Hamid and Chotutai.

Later, when Tarabai and Abdul Karim separated, the children went with their mother and the hindu names came up - namely - Sureshbabu Mane, Hirabai Barodekar, Kamlabai, Papa and Saraswati Rane respectively. Kamlabai was an average natyasangeet singer while Papa was the manager of Sureshbabu and Hirabai's theatre troupe. He was also, supposedly, the most talented of the lot but lack of determination and 'taalim' spoilt his career.

Abhay, you are correct about Hirabai's 'taalim' bit. She was easily the most accomplished and popular amongst the five.

Abdul Haq, who died an untimely death in Miraj, was the father of Roshan-ara Begum.

All these are heresay and I'm attempting to bring these forward to the best of my knowledge. Ready to be clarified.

Regards-Archie.

[august]

when i was in school, i had a prose in marathi (dhadaa) by prabha atre.
she is disciple of hirabai and sureshbabu.
i don't remember exactly what she had to say.
but i shall find it and post it here.

[nm007]

when i was in school, i had a prose in marathi (dhadaa) by prabha atre.
she is disciple of hirabai and sureshbabu.
i don't remember exactly what she had to say.
but i shall find it and post it here.

prabha atre has written a book? her biography or something?
Her tan man dhan tope vaaru is heavenly. ( I think I just love kalaavatii if thats what it is)