Bal Gandharva

Narayan Shripad Rajhans
Bal Gandharva in his roles of female characters in Marathi plays 1924
Background information
Birth name	Narayan Shripad Rajhans
Also known as	Bal Gandharva
Born	June 26, 1888(1888-06-26) Nagthane Palus, Sangli district, Maharashtra, India
Died	1967 Mumbai
Genres	Musicals (Sangeet Natak)
Occupations	Singer and Stage actor
Years active	1905–1955

Narayan Shripad Rajhans (Marathi: नारायण श्रीपाद राजहंस), better known as Bal Gandharva (Marathi: बालगंधर्व) (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.^[1]

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".

Personal life

Narayan Shripad Rajhans was born in Nagthane village in Palus 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.

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 Tembe 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.

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 Award the highest musical honour in India from the then President of India.
• In 1964 Bal Gandharva received The Padma Bhushan 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

Also read

• Sangeet Natak
• Natya Sangeet

References

1. ^ Balgandharva is awkwardly paced, unevenly executed DNA May 6, 2011

External links

• Documenting a forgotten legend - The Hindu newspaper
• List of Bal Gandharva's songs

Persondata
Name	Rajhans Narayan Shripad
Alternative names	Bal Gandharva,
Short description	Marathi singer and stage actors
Date of birth	1888
Place of birth	Nagthane
Date of death	1967
Place of death	Pune