Ramchandra Purushottam Marathe

Ramchandra Purushottam Marathe (23 October 1924 – 4 October 1989), also known as Pandit Ram Marathe, was a Marathi music director, singer[1], and actor on stage and in films.[2][3] As a child actor, he performed the title role of Krishna in Prabhat Film Company's 1938 film, Gopal Krishna.[4] He was disciple of Vilayat Hussain Khan, the maestro of Agra gharana of Hindustani classical music.[5],Master Krishnarao Phulambrikar and others. Through Master krishnarao, he developed his Khayal style which had elements of different gharanas such as Jaipur, Gwalior and Agra.

Ramchandra Purushottam Marathe
Born	23 October 1924 pune
Died	4 October 1989 thane mumbai
Nationality	Indian
Other names	Ram Marathe, Pandit Ram Marathe
Known for	Marathi music, Hindustani classical music, Sangeet Natak
Relatives	All are good classical singers and also acting on stage son... pt. mukund and sanjay marathe daughter veena natekar and sushil oak grandchildrens are also in classical music filed .swarangi marathe kale bhagyesh marathe prajakta marathe bicholkar pallavi pote bhagyashree keskar rohit natekar and mrunal natekar bhide

[6] SANGEET BHUSHAN / SANGEET CHUDAMANI PANDIT RAM MARATHE .

Gharandaj Gayak of Hindustani Classical Singer of Agra, Gwalior, Jaipur Gharanas,

Also acted in Films and Marathi Sangeet Natak,

Music Director, Playback Singer, Child artist marathi and hindi films

Tabla Player (Ustad Ahmadjaan Thirkawa Style),

Guru, Bandishkar (Nayak) &

“A Top Grade” Artist of All India Radio, Mumbai for more than 40 years.

Pandit Ram Marathe was born on 23^rd October 1924 at Pune and done his schooling at Bhave School. He joined Sagar Film Company in 1933 and acted in Mehboob Films like “Manmohan”, “Jagirdar” and “Vatan”. Subsequently he joined Prabhat Film Company in 1935 & acted in “Gopalkrishnan” under the direction of renowned Director Shri V. Shantaram. He was with Prabhat till 1940 and acted in number of Prabhat films notably “Admi” (Hindi) and “Manus” (Marathi). He acted as child prodigee/actor in more than 16 films.

Journey in Classical Music:

He had inborn talent and aptitude towards Hindustani classical music and attracted to learn and gain command and mastery from the following Musical Maestroes :-

1)     Pandit Manohar Barve of Gwalior Gharana

2)     Pandit Mirashibuwa of Gwalior Gharana

3)     Master Krishnarao Phulambrikar a musical illuminary and an astute disciple of Pandit Bhaskarbuwa Bakhle

4)     Pandit Wamanrao Sadolikar & Mogubai Kurdikar of Jaipur Gharana

5)     Khan Saheb Vilayat Hussein Khan of Agra Gharana

6)     Pandit Jagannath Buwa Purohit popularly known as ‘Gunidas’ and an ardent devotee of Khan Saheb Vilayat Hussain Khan

7)     Also he had tabla training from Pt. Balubhaiyya Rukdikar, Pt. Jagannath Buwa Purohit & Ustad Ahmadjaan Thirkhawa

Concerts / performances:

He had performed in all the prestigious musical festivals at various places like Jalandhar, Patna, Lahore, Delhi, Gwalior, Calcutta, Banaras, Amritsar and almost all over the Maharashtra. His contribution to Indian classical music was recognized with several Awards for his unique and successful performances. He was “A-top grade” Hindustani Classical Artist of All India Radio.

Gayaki Speciality:

Since he had undergone a proper Tabla training, he had a great command on Taal and Layakari. He had special command on Rare–Anvat Ragas & Jod Ragas and he was highly recognized for his clear and fast tankriyas and also for Purity of Ragas. He always used to enrich his audience with various semi-classical forms like Khayal, Tarana, Tappa, Natyasangeet, Thumri, Dadra & Bhajans in his concerts. Unlike the present classical singers, his concerts used to last more than 5 hours with the powerful intensity and stamina.He must have performed at least 3500 mehfils all over india .

Career as a Stage Actor & Music Director:

He started his stage career under the persual of Natvarya Shri Ganapatrao Bodas in 1950 as a leading character in old classical musical dramas like Saubhadra, Sanshayakallol, Swayamvar, Ekach Pyala, Manapman etc. with veteran actor and actress such as Balgandharva, Hirabai Badodekar, Vinayakbuwa Patwardhan, Nanasaheb Phatak etc. Despite of his busy schedule in concerts, he performed in 22 old & new Sangeet Natak with more than 6000 stage shows. This is purely out of his dedication and commitment towards Sangeet Rangbhoomi.

Composed music for more than 6 dramas such as – Mandarmala, Suvarntula, Meghmalhar, Tansen, Baiju etc. and acted in the play as a leading character role.

Awards & Recognitions:

• Maharashtra Government honoured the “Sangeet Bhushan” degree in 1961.
• Gold Medal by “Marathi Natya Parishad” at Balgandharva Anniversary in 1973.
• Recognition by Government of Maharashtra in 1981 for successful completion and continuous 30 years of career in Marathi Sangeet Rangbhumi.
• Honoured “Sangeet Chudamani Degree” by Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Puri.
• Thane Municipal Corporation awarded “Thane Bhushan Puraskar” for his honourable career in Music in 1985
• Prestigious “Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar” by Jagatik Marathi Parishad
• “Natya Gaurav Puraskar” by Pune Municipal Corporation in 1986
• Vishnudas Bhave Gaurav Puraskar in 1987
• Received Prestigious “Sangeet Natak Academy” Award in New Delhi in 1988 from Honorable President of India Shri Venkatraman
• Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande Puraskar in 1988
• Best Music Director Award in 1988
• Natya Darpan Puraskar in 1989 ….. and several others

Appointed by AIR, New Delhi on Northan (Hindustani) Music Audition Board Committee. Also  Advisory Nagpur and other Universities in India.

More than 100 Records and number of CDs and LPs to his credit and composed more than 50 Bandish in various Ragas.

Career as a Guru:

His disciples includes many eminent classical singers like Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, Sudhir Datar, Ram Pratham, Vishwanath Kanhere, Vishwanath Bagul, Yogini Joglekar, Shashikant Oak, Madhuwanti Dandekar, Sanjay Marathe & Mukund Marathe etc. (more than 50) and have got the training from him under the traditional Gurukul way of learning.

He was always humble & astute devotee and follower of Late Pandit Gayanacharya Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale. known as DEVGANDHARWA .

Notes

1. Dr. Afshana Shafi (1 November 2017). THE LEGACY OF GANGUBAI HANGAL. Horizon Books ( A Division of Ignited Minds Edutech P Ltd). p. 71. ISBN 978-93-86369-56-7.
2. Parrikar, Ranjan. "Musical Traditions of India" (PDF). Retrieved 26 October 2011.
3. S. M. M. Ausaja (2009). Bollywood in Posters. Om Books International. p. 24. ISBN 978-81-87108-55-9.
4. Mujahar, Isak (1969). MAHARASHTRA BIRTHPLACE OF INDIAN FILM INDUSTRY. Connaught Circus New Delhi: GOVERNMENT OF MAHARASHTRA. p. 73. Retrieved 31 October 2018.
5. Tapasi Ghosh (2008). Pran Piya Ustad Vilayat Hussain Khan: His Life and Contribution to the World of Music. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 71. ISBN 978-81-269-0855-4.
6. Shah, V. and Kashalkar, U., 2011. A Conversation with Ulhas Kashalkar. India International Centre Quarterly, 38(1), pp.134-141.