‘Rangabahar’, was an evening to remember as the audience was treated to soulful music from Marathi musical dramas known for semi-classical compositions that began their journey way back in the 19th century, the golden age of musical stage plays. Organised jointly by Bal Gandharv Sangeet Rasik Mandak, Pune and Swastik Cultural Centre, Panjim at the Institute Menezes Braganza, ‘Rangabahar’ was held recently to commemorate the birth anniversary of late Dr Savlo Keni, n eminent doctor, theatre personality and former vice-chairman of Kala Academy.
The evening belonged to renowned stage artistes Bakul Pandit, Ravindra Kulkarni, Asmita Chinchalkar, and the outstanding compere, Suresh Sakhwalkar. He left the audience spellbound by his sense of the history of musical plays from Annasaheb Kirloskar’s ‘Sangeet Shakuntal’ with anecdotes about leading yesteryear stage personalities who were known for their stellar role as actors, phenomenal singers and philanthropists.
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The highlight of the evening was, Vidushi Bakul Pandit, despite touching mid-70s, her sonorous rendition of the song ‘Ugavla Chandra Punvecha’ from P K Atre’s ‘Panigrahan,’ originally composed by Shrinivas Khale, left the audience swaying. Music lovers impatiently waited to listen to this song synonymous with her name, so also another one from ‘He Band Reshmache’, ‘Sajana Ka Dharila Pardesh’, penned by
Ranjit Desai.
Praising the accompanists, she said, “Our singing blooms and reaches a higher level because of outstanding accompaniment we receive from them,” while complimenting the Goan tabla player Dayanidesh Kosambi and Raya Korgaonkar, who was
on harmonium.
The concert began with songs by Asmita Chinchalkar that included a classic from Shree Govind Ballal Deval’s ‘Sangeet Mruchchhakatik’, originally made famous by the legendary stage artist Bal Gandharv, and another superb rendition of a devotional song from ‘Sangeet Sant Kanopatra’. Singer Ravindra Kulkarni followed her by singing from ‘Sangeet Manapman’ and ‘Sangeet Danya Te Gaganikala’, and Suresh Sakhwalkar surprised the audience by singing a Dinanath Mangeshkar song ‘Divya Swatantra Ravi’ and ‘Shree Ranga Kamala Kanta’ from Sangeet Honaji Bala that reminded people of yet another Goan artiste, Pt Ramdas Kamat.
It was not just listening to classic songs but Suresh took the audience back in time when the actors were too dedicated to their work. When the first show of Sangeet Manapman written by Shree Krishnaji Prabhakar Khadilkar was organised in 1912, the legend of Marathi stage, Bal Gandharvm who was enacting the leading female role of ‘Bhamini’ came to know about the demise of his two-year-old daughter. Despite the sad news, he didn’t cancel the show which was booked to capacity as it would inconvenience his fans but went on to give a rousing performance as if nothing has happened with the audience unaware of the heartbreaking episode before the show. Yes, that’s surely dedication!
The richness of musical dramas has remained due to the incorporation of different styles of music such as folk tradition, gavlan, thumri, dadra, lavni, tappa and other forms, which were readily accepted by the music composers that gave the songs unique melodies.
Goa’s contribution to stage plays and classical music in India, they are second to none despite its minuscule size having produced some great musicians in the form of the Mangeshkar family, Surashree Kesarbai Kerkar, Surashree Mogubai Kurdikar, Pt Ramdas Kamat to just name a few, opined Sakhwalkar, which was music to ears for everyone present.
Despite more than 150 years of sangeet natak traditions, the love for music still brings back the audience to the theatre even in times of OTT and all forms of modern music. During any classical concert, even after listening to hours of composition in ragas, the demand by the audience for a natyageet is unquestionable. That’s what Goans love and they throng stage shows just to listen to songs year after year.
With the nonagenarian Nana Kulkarni, president of Balgandharva Sangeet Rasik Mandak, Pune attending the show along with Dr Ajit Shirodkar, Seema Shirodkar, Dr Pravin Gaonkar, president of Swastik, Keni family members and Goan music aficionados, the musical concert was a perfect setting for a glorious Diwali week.
