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{{short description|Indian composer (1912-1975)}}
{{short description|Indian composer (1912-1975)}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
|name       = Vasant Desai
| name               = Vasant Desai
|image       =  
| image             =  
|alt         =
| alt               =  
|caption     =
| caption           =  
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1912|06|09}}
| birth_date         = {{Birth date|1912|06|09|df=y}}
|birth_place = Sonawade village, [[Sindhudurg, Maharashtra]], India
| birth_place       = Sonawade village, [[Sindhudurg]], [[Maharashtra]], India
|death_date = {{Death date and age|1975|12|22|1912|06|09}}
| death_date         = {{Death date and age|1975|12|22|1912|06|09|df=y}}
|website     = {{url|www.soundsofsonawade.com}}
| website           = {{url|www.soundsofsonawade.com}}
|death_place = Bombay
| death_place       = Bombay
|known_for   =
| known_for         =  
|occupation = [[film score composer]]
| occupation         = [[film song composer]]
}}
}}
'''Vasant Desai''' (1912–1975) was an Indian film music composer, most remembered for his score in [[V. Shantaram]] films like '' [[Do Aankhen Barah Haath]]'' (1953), ''[[Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje]]'' (1955), [[Vijay Bhatt]]'s ''[[Goonj Uthi Shehnai]]'' (1959), ''Sampoorna Ramayan'' (1961), [[Hrishikesh Mukherjee]]'s ''[[Guddi (1971 film)|Guddi]]'' (1971) and ''Aashirwaad''.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC&pg=PT562&dq=Vasant+Desai+-inauthor:%22Vasant+Desai%22&lr=#v=onepage&q=Vasant%20Desai%20-inauthor%3A%22Vasant%20Desai%22&f=false Vasant Desai] ''Encyclopaedia of Hindi cinema'', by [[Gulzar]], [[Govind Nihalani]], Saibal Chatterjee. (Encyclopædia Britannica (India) Pvt. Ltd,) Publisher: Popular Prakashan, 2003. {{ISBN|81-7991-066-0}}. ''p. 544''.</ref>
'''Vasant Desai''' (1912–1975) was an Indian film music composer, most remembered for his score in [[V. Shantaram]] films like ''[[Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje]]'' (1955), ''[[Do Aankhen Barah Haath]]'' (1957), [[Vijay Bhatt]]'s ''[[Goonj Uthi Shehnai]]'' (1959), ''Sampoorna Ramayan'' (1961), ''Ashirwad'' (1968) and [[Hrishikesh Mukherjee]]'s ''[[Guddi (1971 film)|Guddi]]'' (1971).<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC&dq=Vasant+Desai+-inauthor%3A%22Vasant+Desai%22&pg=PT562 Vasant Desai] ''Encyclopaedia of Hindi cinema'', by [[Gulzar]], [[Govind Nihalani]], Saibal Chatterjee. (Encyclopædia Britannica (India) Pvt. Ltd,) Publisher: Popular Prakashan, 2003. {{ISBN|81-7991-066-0}}. ''p. 544''.</ref>


==Early life==
==Early life==
He was born in 1912 into a wealthy family in Sonawade village, [[Savantwadi]] state, ruled by the [[Bhonsale]] clan, and grew up in [[Kudal]] area, also in [[Konkan]] belt, [[Sindhudurg district]], [[Maharashtra]] in western India.<ref>http://village.kokansearch.com/show-village-details.php/sonawade+tarf+kalsuli/kudal/sindhudurg
Desai was born in 1912 into a wealthy family in Sonawade village, [[Maharashtra]] state, ruled by the [[Bhonsle (clan)|Bhonsale]] clan, and grew up in [[Kudal]] area, also in [[Konkan]] belt, [[Sindhudurg district]], [[Maharashtra]] in western India.<ref>http://village.kokansearch.com/show-village-details.php/sonawade+tarf+kalsuli/kudal/sindhudurg {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160918190633/http://village.kokansearch.com/show-village-details.php/sonawade+tarf+kalsuli/kudal/sindhudurg |date=18 September 2016 }}
[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZI1wqkWsIjYC&pg=PA229&dq=Vasant+Desai+-inauthor:%22Vasant+Desai%22&lr=#v=onepage&q=Vasant%20Desai%20-inauthor%3A%22Vasant%20Desai%22&f=false Vasant Desai] ''Hindi Film Song: Music Beyond Boundaries'', by Ashok Da. Ranade. Bibliophile South Asia, 2006. {{ISBN|81-85002-64-9}}. ''p. 229''.</ref>
[https://books.google.com/books?id=ZI1wqkWsIjYC&dq=Vasant+Desai+-inauthor%3A%22Vasant+Desai%22&pg=PA229 Vasant Desai] ''Hindi Film Song: Music Beyond Boundaries'', by Ashok Da. Ranade. Bibliophile South Asia, 2006. {{ISBN|81-85002-64-9}}. ''p. 229''.</ref>


==Career==
==Career==
He was with the famous [[Prabhat Film Company]] since it started making talkies. He acted, sang, and sometimes composed songs in Prabhat's films like ''Dharmatma'' and ''Sant Dnyaneshwar''. After learning the craft of music composition, he stuck solely to it since the 1940s.
Desai was with the famous [[Prabhat Film Company]] since it started making talkies. He acted, sang, and sometimes composed songs in Prabhat's films like ''Dharmatma'' and ''Sant Dnyaneshwar''. After learning the craft of music composition, he stuck solely to it since the 1940s.


He scored music for a majority of [[V. Shantaram]]'s films when the latter broke away from Prabhat to form his own film studio. Their relations soured in late 1950s after which Vasantrao Desai never worked for his former mentor again.
Desai scored music for a majority of [[V. Shantaram]]'s films when the latter broke away from Prabhat to form his own film studio. Their relations soured in late 1950s after which Vasant(rao) Desai never worked for his former mentor again.


His memorable songs are, [[Filmi Devotional songs|Hindi Filmi Devotional song]], ''[[Filmi Devotional songs#Ae Malik Tere Bande Ham .28film Do Aankhen Barah Haath.2C 1957.29 by Vasant Desai and Bharat Vyas|Ae Malik Tere Bande Ham]]'' ''[[Do Aankhen Barah Haath]]'', 1957. and launched play back singer, [[Vani Jairam]] with the song, ''Bole re papihara'' in ''[[Guddi (1971 film)|Guddi]]'' (1971).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080420071424/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/12/02/stories/2005120200770300.htm Nostalgia unlimited: Vani Jairam's songs in Malayalam continue to enchant a new generation of music lovers] [[The Hindu]],  2 December 2005.</ref>
Desai's memorable songs are, [[Filmi Devotional songs|Hindi Filmi Devotional song]], ''[[Filmi Devotional songs#Ae Malik Tere Bande Ham .28film Do Aankhen Barah Haath.2C 1957.29 by Vasant Desai and Bharat Vyas|Ae malik tere bande hum]]'' from [[Do Aankhen Barah Haath]], 1957, and play back singer, [[Vani Jairam|Vani Jairam's]] debut song, ''Bol re papihara'' from [[Guddi (1971 film)|Guddi]] (1971).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080420071424/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/12/02/stories/2005120200770300.htm Nostalgia unlimited: Vani Jairam's songs in Malayalam continue to enchant a new generation of music lovers] [[The Hindu]],  2 December 2005.</ref>


[[Maithreem Bhajata]] is a benediction composed in Sanskrit by sant Jagadguru Shri [[Chandrasekharendra Saraswati]] of the Kanchi Mutt.
''[[Maithreem Bhajata]]'' is a benediction composed in Sanskrit by Sant Jagadguru Shri [[Chandrasekharendra Saraswati]] of the Kanchi Mutt. The song was set to a Ragamalika by composer Shri Vasant Desai. It was rendered at the United Nations on 23 October 1966, UN day, by Bharat Ratna Smt. [[M. S. Subbulakshmi]].


The song was set to a Ragamalika by composer Shri Vasant Desai. It was rendered at the United Nations on Oct. 23, 1966 on the occasion of the UN day, by Bharat Ratna Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi.
In Marathi, some of Desai's memorable songs are ''Sanga mukund kuni ha pahila'', ''Uthi uthi Gopala'' from [[Amar Bhoopali]] (1951), ''Manuskichya shatrusange yuddha amuche suru'' from Chota Jawan (1963), ''Deh devache mandir'' from Preeti Sangam (1972), ''Ramya hi swargahuni Lanka'' from Swayamwar Zale Siteche (1974).<ref name=":0" />
 
In Marathi, some of his memorable songs are Sanga Mukund kuni ha pahila, Uthi Uthi Gopala from [[Amar Bhoopali]], Ramya hi swargahuni Lanka from Swayamwar zale Seeteche, Deh devache mandir from Preetisangam, Manuskichya shatrusange yuddha amuche suru from Chota jawan.<ref>http://www.aathavanitli-gani.com/Lists/Composer%20Details/Vasant%20Desai.asp List of songs by Vasant Desai</ref>


==Last recording==
==Last recording==
Vasant Desai went back home on 22 December 1975 after a full day
Vasant Desai went back home on 22 December 1975 after a full-day recording of a special musical programme at the studios of [[Saregama|His Master's Voice]], attended by high-profile musicians as it was in praise of [[Indira Gandhi]]{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}. He stepped into the elevator of his apartment building and due to a technical glitch, the lift began to move, crushing him to death.<ref name=":0">http://www.bookganga.com/Preview/Preview.aspx?BookId=170912115720&PreviewType=ebooks (p. 23)</ref>
recording of a special musical programme at HMV Studios attended by
high-profile musicians as it was in praise of Indira Gandhi. He
stepped into the elevator of his apartment building and due to some
technical glitch, the lift began to move, crushing him to death.<ref>http://www.bookganga.com/Preview/Preview.aspx?BookId=170912115720&PreviewType=ebooks (p. 23)</ref>


==Partial filmography==
==Partial filmography==
*''[[Shakuntala (1943 film)|Shakuntala]]'' (1943)
 
* [[Amar Bhoopali]] (Marathi)
=== Hindi Films ===
 
* Shobha (1942)
* [[Shakuntala (1943 film)|Shakuntala]] (1943)
* Aankh Ki Sharm (1943)
* Mouj (1943)
* Subhadra (1946)
* Jeevan Yatra (1946)
* [[Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani]] (1946)
* Parbat Pe Apna Dera (1946)
* Matwala Shair Ram Joshi (1947)
* Andhon Ki Duniya (1947)
* Sona (1948)
* Mandir (1948)
* Uddhaar (1949)
* [[Narasinha Avatar]] (1949)
* Nai Taleem (1949)
* [[Dahej (film)|Dahej]] (1950)
* [[Sheesh Mahal (1950 film)|Sheesh Mahal]] (1950)
* Hindustan Hamara (1950)
* Jeevan Taara (1951)
* Hyderabad Ki Nazneen (1952)
* Jhansi Ki Rani (1953)
* Dhuaan (1953)
* Anand Bhavan (1953)
* Savdhan (1954)
* [[Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje]] (1955)
* [[Toofan Aur Deeya]] (1956)
* [[Do Aankhen Barah Haath]] (1957)
* Mausi (1958)
* Do Phool (1958)
* Do Behnen (1959)
* Ardhangini (1959)
* [[Goonj Uthi Shehnai|Goonj Utthi Shehnai]] (1959)
* School Master (1959)
* Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan (1959)
* Amar Shaheed (1959)
* [[Sampoorna Ramayana]] (1961)
* Pyar Ki Pyas (1961)
* [[Yaadein (1964 film)|Yaadein]] (1964)
* Rahul (1964)
* Bharat Milap (1965)
* Ladki Sahyadri Ki (1966)
* Amar Jyoti (1967)
* Ram Rajya (1967)
* Ashirwad (1968)
* [[Guddi (1971 film)|Guddi]] (1971)
* [[Achanak (1973 film)|Achanak]] (1973)
* Jai Radhakrishna (1974)
* Rani Aur Laal Pari (1975)
* Grahan (1976)
* Shaque (1977)
 
=== Marathi Films and Plays ===
 
*[[Amar Bhoopali]] (Marathi)
* ''[[Shyamchi Aai (film)|Shyamchi Aai]]'' (1953) (Marathi)
* ''[[Shyamchi Aai (film)|Shyamchi Aai]]'' (1953) (Marathi)
* Molkarin (Marathi)
* Molkarin (Marathi)
* Swayamwar zale Seeteche (Marathi)
* Swayamwar Zale Siteche (Marathi)
* Laxmanrekha (Marathi)
* Laxmanrekha (Marathi)
* Tooch mazi rani (Marathi)
* Tooch Mazi Rani (Marathi)
* Kanchanganga (Marathi)
* Kanchanganga (Marathi)
* Chota jawan (Marathi)
* Chota Jawan (Marathi)
* Dev Deenaghari Dhavala (Marathi Drama)
* Dev Deenaghari Dhavala (Marathi Drama)
*'' [[Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani]]'' (1946) <ref>[http://www.movietalkies.com/artists/index.asp?ArtistId=55420 Filmography]</ref>
* Panditraj Jagganath (Marathi musical drama)
* ''[[Narasinha Avatar]]'' (1949)
* Jai Jai GauriShankar (Marathi musical drama)
* ''[[Dahej (film)|Dahej]]'' (1950)
* Sangeet Mandarmala (Marathi musical drama)
* ''[[Sheesh Mahal (1950 film)|Sheesh Mahal]]'' (1950)
* ''[[Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje]]'' (1955)
*'' [[Do Aankhen Barah Haath]]'' (1953)
* ''[[Toofan Aur Deeya]]'' (1956)
* ''Do Phool'' (1958)
* ''[[Gunj Uthi Shehnai]]'' (1959)
*''Pyar ki Pyas'' (1961)
* ''[[Sampoorna Ramayana]]'' (1961)
* ''[[Yaadein (1964 film)|Yaadein]]'' (1964)
* ''[[Guddi (1971 film)|Guddi]]'' (1971)
* ''[[Achanak (1973 film)|Achanak]]'' (1973)


==References==
==References==
Line 70: Line 108:
==External links==
==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0220848}}
* {{IMDb name|0220848}}
* [http://www.vasantdesai.com  Vasant Desai]
* [http://www.vasantdesai.com  Vasant Desai] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921191705/http://vasantdesai.com/ |date=21 September 2017 }}


{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}
Line 81: Line 119:
[[Category:1912 births]]
[[Category:1912 births]]
[[Category:1975 deaths]]
[[Category:1975 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Musicians from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Indian film score composers]]
[[Category:Hindi film score composers]]
[[Category:Hindi film score composers]]
[[Category:20th-century composers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian composers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian musicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian musicians]]

Latest revision as of 17:48, 29 October 2025


Vasant Desai
Born(1912-06-09)9 June 1912
Sonawade village, Sindhudurg, Maharashtra, India
Died22 December 1975(1975-12-22) (aged 63)
Bombay
Occupationfilm song composer
Websitewww.soundsofsonawade.com

Vasant Desai (1912–1975) was an Indian film music composer, most remembered for his score in V. Shantaram films like Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955), Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1957), Vijay Bhatt's Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959), Sampoorna Ramayan (1961), Ashirwad (1968) and Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Guddi (1971).[1]

Early life[edit | edit source]

Desai was born in 1912 into a wealthy family in Sonawade village, Maharashtra state, ruled by the Bhonsale clan, and grew up in Kudal area, also in Konkan belt, Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra in western India.[2]

Career[edit | edit source]

Desai was with the famous Prabhat Film Company since it started making talkies. He acted, sang, and sometimes composed songs in Prabhat's films like Dharmatma and Sant Dnyaneshwar. After learning the craft of music composition, he stuck solely to it since the 1940s.

Desai scored music for a majority of V. Shantaram's films when the latter broke away from Prabhat to form his own film studio. Their relations soured in late 1950s after which Vasant(rao) Desai never worked for his former mentor again.

Desai's memorable songs are, Hindi Filmi Devotional song, Ae malik tere bande hum from Do Aankhen Barah Haath, 1957, and play back singer, Vani Jairam's debut song, Bol re papihara from Guddi (1971).[3]

Maithreem Bhajata is a benediction composed in Sanskrit by Sant Jagadguru Shri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati of the Kanchi Mutt. The song was set to a Ragamalika by composer Shri Vasant Desai. It was rendered at the United Nations on 23 October 1966, UN day, by Bharat Ratna Smt. M. S. Subbulakshmi.

In Marathi, some of Desai's memorable songs are Sanga mukund kuni ha pahila, Uthi uthi Gopala from Amar Bhoopali (1951), Manuskichya shatrusange yuddha amuche suru from Chota Jawan (1963), Deh devache mandir from Preeti Sangam (1972), Ramya hi swargahuni Lanka from Swayamwar Zale Siteche (1974).[4]

Last recording[edit | edit source]

Vasant Desai went back home on 22 December 1975 after a full-day recording of a special musical programme at the studios of His Master's Voice, attended by high-profile musicians as it was in praise of Indira Gandhi[citation needed]. He stepped into the elevator of his apartment building and due to a technical glitch, the lift began to move, crushing him to death.[4]

Partial filmography[edit | edit source]

Hindi Films[edit | edit source]

  • Shobha (1942)
  • Shakuntala (1943)
  • Aankh Ki Sharm (1943)
  • Mouj (1943)
  • Subhadra (1946)
  • Jeevan Yatra (1946)
  • Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani (1946)
  • Parbat Pe Apna Dera (1946)
  • Matwala Shair Ram Joshi (1947)
  • Andhon Ki Duniya (1947)
  • Sona (1948)
  • Mandir (1948)
  • Uddhaar (1949)
  • Narasinha Avatar (1949)
  • Nai Taleem (1949)
  • Dahej (1950)
  • Sheesh Mahal (1950)
  • Hindustan Hamara (1950)
  • Jeevan Taara (1951)
  • Hyderabad Ki Nazneen (1952)
  • Jhansi Ki Rani (1953)
  • Dhuaan (1953)
  • Anand Bhavan (1953)
  • Savdhan (1954)
  • Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955)
  • Toofan Aur Deeya (1956)
  • Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1957)
  • Mausi (1958)
  • Do Phool (1958)
  • Do Behnen (1959)
  • Ardhangini (1959)
  • Goonj Utthi Shehnai (1959)
  • School Master (1959)
  • Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan (1959)
  • Amar Shaheed (1959)
  • Sampoorna Ramayana (1961)
  • Pyar Ki Pyas (1961)
  • Yaadein (1964)
  • Rahul (1964)
  • Bharat Milap (1965)
  • Ladki Sahyadri Ki (1966)
  • Amar Jyoti (1967)
  • Ram Rajya (1967)
  • Ashirwad (1968)
  • Guddi (1971)
  • Achanak (1973)
  • Jai Radhakrishna (1974)
  • Rani Aur Laal Pari (1975)
  • Grahan (1976)
  • Shaque (1977)

Marathi Films and Plays[edit | edit source]

  • Amar Bhoopali (Marathi)
  • Shyamchi Aai (1953) (Marathi)
  • Molkarin (Marathi)
  • Swayamwar Zale Siteche (Marathi)
  • Laxmanrekha (Marathi)
  • Tooch Mazi Rani (Marathi)
  • Kanchanganga (Marathi)
  • Chota Jawan (Marathi)
  • Dev Deenaghari Dhavala (Marathi Drama)
  • Panditraj Jagganath (Marathi musical drama)
  • Jai Jai GauriShankar (Marathi musical drama)
  • Sangeet Mandarmala (Marathi musical drama)

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Vasant Desai Encyclopaedia of Hindi cinema, by Gulzar, Govind Nihalani, Saibal Chatterjee. (Encyclopædia Britannica (India) Pvt. Ltd,) Publisher: Popular Prakashan, 2003. ISBN 81-7991-066-0. p. 544.
  2. ↑ http://village.kokansearch.com/show-village-details.php/sonawade+tarf+kalsuli/kudal/sindhudurg Archived 18 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine Vasant Desai Hindi Film Song: Music Beyond Boundaries, by Ashok Da. Ranade. Bibliophile South Asia, 2006. ISBN 81-85002-64-9. p. 229.
  3. ↑ Nostalgia unlimited: Vani Jairam's songs in Malayalam continue to enchant a new generation of music lovers The Hindu, 2 December 2005.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 http://www.bookganga.com/Preview/Preview.aspx?BookId=170912115720&PreviewType=ebooks (p. 23)

External links[edit | edit source]

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