Govindrao Tembe

Govind Sadashiv Tembe (1881-1955) was a famous harmonium player, stage actor, and music composer. He grew up in Kolhapur and became attached to music early in life. He was largely self-taught as harmonium player. He used to accompany the legendary singer Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale, and would often perform solo, but later gave up harmonium for the most part.

He composed music for the drama Manapman in 1910, and also for the first Marathi talkie Ayodhyecha Raja (1932). He also acted in both these productions. He was part-owner of Gandharva Natak Mandali when it was formed in 1913. Two years later, he started his own company named Shivraj Natak Mandali. He wrote dramas and also the padas (songs) in them. He has left behind 30+ 78 rpm records of his harmonium playing, some songs sung by him, many more composed by him, and a few books of reminiscences which are hard to find today. Though Govindrao Tembe never received direct tuition from Alladiya Khan of Jaipur Gharana, he was heavily influenced by him and used to consider Khansaheb as his guru.

References

* http://www.chembur.com/anecdotes/govind.htm
* http://www.prabhatfilm.com/films.htm