स्वरानंद भाग 3 वसंत देसाई

 

Born in 1912 into a wealthy family in Sonwad village, Savantwadi. He was fascinated and inspired by movies, and at the age of 17, Vasant Desai joined the Prabhat Film company, to become an actor. He got a break as an actor in silent movies in early 30s, and also has the distinction of singing for the very first Marathi Film song, that was recorded. He acted in 10s of movies in the 30s, and as a playback singer lent his voice to 14 hindi and 21 marathi songs. He was to have played the first lead in Manoos (Marathi) and Aadmi(Hindi), but he lost the role to Shahu Modak. That disappointed him so much, that he gave up acting and started composing music.

 

Starting his career as a full- fledged music director with SHOBHA (1942), he entered mainstream with SHAKUNTALA (1943). And reached the peak of glory in Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje (1955), a super hit and landmark film, having all its songs based on Classical music.

 

When V. Shantaram broke away from Prabhat Films, Vasant Desai went along with him, and their partnership produced quite a number of memorable hits.

 Vasant Desai has many firsts to his credit. He was the first to use background music as a powerful cinematic tool, (do recollect the background music of ‘Do Ankhen Bara Hath’) the first to introduce classical maestros like Amir Khan Sahab, Ustad Bismillah Khan and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi to Indian cinema, and also the first to unveil Lata, who was in her teens. He discovered Vani Jayaram in the 70s.

A very talented composer, a visionary, a pioneer, he demonstrated the supremacy of classical Hindustani music in the Hindi film world. During his four decades long career he composed music for 54 Hindi, 15 Marathi and also for a few Kannada and Bangla projects. One common thread though has been his passion for compositions deeply entrenched in Indian Classical music.

Maithreem Bhajata a benediction composed in Sanskrit by sant Jagadguru Shri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati of the Kanchi Mutt was set to tune by Vasant Desai to a Ragamalikaand that was rendered at the United Nations on Oct. 23, 1966 by M. S. Subbulakshmi.

 

His most enduring compositions are - Nain So Nain Rahi Milao, Tere Sur Aur Mere Geet, Ai Malik Tere Bande Hum… , and also from 'Guddi', both Bola Re Papeehara, and Humko Man Ki Shakti Dena and देव जरी मज कधी भेटला, दैव जाणिले कुणी from Marathi movie 'मोलकरीण' many many more ....

The song played by Shirish Purohit-  हमको मनकी शक्ती दे ना 

 

Shirish Purohit