Vasant Prabhu

{{Short description|Music Composer (1924–1968)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}

{{Use Indian English|date=October 2019}}

Vasant Prabhu (19 January 1924 – 13 October 1968) was a music composer from Maharashtra who was a prolific composer of nonfilm Marathi songs known as 'bhaav-geete', and also worked in Marathi film industry. He is known for his collaboration with singer Lata Mangeshkar for composing various songs of films which she sang. Prabhu also partnered with lyricist P. Savlaram on various films.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RH9YAAAAMAAJ&q=%22vasant+prabhu%22+music |title=Maharashtra: birthplace of Indian film industry |author= Mujawar, Isak |pages=147 |publisher=Chief Information Officer, Maharashtra Information Centre |year= 1969 |access-date=4 June 2015}} Prabhu was also a choreographer.{{cite web | url=https://www.manase.org/en/maharashtra.php?mid=68&smid=21&did=0&dsid=0&pmid=0&id=945 | title=Stalwarts of Marathi Cinema | publisher=Maharashtra Navnirman Sena | access-date=3 February 2014}}

Biography

Vasant Prabhu acted in a few films under National Studios banner around 1939 as a child artiste, under the name Master Vasant. In the film Comrades (1939), he was one of the voices in the chorus and on the screen for the song 'wo chamak chamak kar taare' under the music direction of Anil Biswas.

Prabhu was a trained dancer having learned Katthak in his childhood. Along with dance, he also had basic knowledge of music and beats. He tried his luck in grabbing in a role as an actor in Marathi films which were then produced in Pune and Kolhapur. He finally got a break when His Master's Voice signed him for the Marathi film Ram Ram Paavhna where he composed few songs and also choreographed them. He also composed music for the film Vaadal which was produced under the banner "Surel Chitra" by Lata Mangeshkar. Lata herself sang several songs in the film.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aathavanitli-gani.com/Chitrapat/Vadal|title = वादळ | Vadal | आठवणीतली गाणी | Aathavanitli Gani | Marathi songs lyrics online}} Prabhu choreographed actress Sulochana Latkar for the film Taaraka directed by Dinkar D. Patil.{{cite web|url= https://www.manase.org/maharashtra.php?mid=68&smid=21&did=0&dsid=0&pmid=0&id=725 |title= दिग्गज कलाकार - भाग (२) |language=mr | publisher=Maharashtra Navnirman Sena | access-date=4 June 2015}}

Prabhu went on to pair with Mangeshkar and lyricist P. Swalaram in various further projects, notable being the film Kanyadaan. He also was composer of the songs "Ghat Doiwar, Ghat Kamrewar", "Jo Aawdto Sarwana" and "Aali Hasat Pahili Raat" penned by Sawlaram which became popular. For another film Bhairavi of Dinkar Patil, Prabhu's songs were sung by Pandit Firoz Dastur and Dashrath Pujari. For the film Putra Vhava Aisa, Talat Mahmood sang two songs for the first time in Marathi. Mahmood was popular for his ghazals in Hindi cinema. Vasant Prabhu composed music for one Hindi film named Gharbaar in 1953.{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0251713/|title = Gharbaar (1953) - IMDb| website=IMDb }}

Prabhu's biography in Marathi has been written by Madhu Potdar and published by Manjul Prakashan under the name "Manasicha Chitrakaar To", which is also a song he composed.{{cite news|url=http://www.esakal.com/esakal/20130428/4903770007204937890.htm |title=भारतीय सिनेमाचा मराठीतला 'अक्षर'वेध! |newspaper=Sakal |date=28 April 2013 |language=mr |author= Kulkarni, Dhananjay |quote=मधू पोतदार यांनी तीन "वसंतां'वर लिहून रसिकांना सुरीली भेट दिली. संगीतकार वसंत देसाई यांच्यावरचं "वसंतवीणा', संगीतकार वसंत प्रभू यांच्यावरचं "मानसीचा चित्रकार तो' आणि संगीतकार वसंत पवार यांच्यावरचं "वसंतलावण्य' या तीनही पुस्तकांतून या कलावंतांच्या सांगीतिक कारकीर्दीचा समग्र आढावा घेतला गेला. |access-date=8 June 2015 }} In October 2008, Soham Pratishthan and Anubodh organized a show "Swarprabhu - Vasant Prabhu" in his memory at Vile Parle, Mumbai.{{cite news|url=http://maharashtratimes.indiatimes.com/no/-/articleshow/3567708.cms |title= संगीतकार वसंत प्रभूंना सांगीतिक आदरांजली |newspaper=Maharashtra Times |language= mr |date= 7 October 2008| access-date=4 June 2015}}

Discography

{{incomplete list|date=February 2014}}

class="wikitable sortable"
SongFilmSinger(s)LyricistNotes
"Aai Kuna Mhanu Mi"Putra Vhava AisaAsha BhosaleP. Sawlaram
"Aali Diwali Aali Diwali"Baykocha BhauAsha BhosaleP. Sawlaram
"Aali Hasat Pahili Raat"Shikleli BaykoLata MangeshkarP. SawlaramRaag Hansadhwani
"Anaam Veera Jithe Jahala"Lata MangeshkarKusumagraj
"Apure Majhe Swapna Rahile"Asha BhosaleP. Sawlaram
"Asa Mi Kay Gunha Kela"Asha BhosaleRamesh AnaavkarRaag Pahadi
"Chafa Bolena"Lata MangeshkarKavi 'B'Raag Yaman
"Ga Re Kokila Ga"Baykocha BhauAsha BhosaleP. SawlaramRaag Hameer, Kedar
"Galyat Majhya Tuch"Asha BhosleP. Sawlaram
"Ganga Jamuna Dolyat Ubhya"Lata MangeshkarP. Sawlaram
"Gharat Hasre Tare Asata"Lata MangeshkarDatta V. Keskar
"Gharoghari Vadhadin"Lata MangeshkarP. Sawlaram
"Ghat Doivar Ghat"Lata MangeshkarP. Sawlaram
"God Tujhya Tya Swapnamadhli"GruhadevtaLata MangeshkarP. Sawlaram
"Ka Chinta Karisi"Shikleli BaykoHridaynath MangeshkarP. Sawlaram
"Kaay Karu Mi Bola"Asha BhosaleP. Sawlaram
"Kala Jyaa Lagalya Jeeva"Lata MangeshkarBha. Ra. Tambe
"Kalekalene Chandra Vadhato"Mohantara AjinkyaP. Sawlaram
"Kalpavruksha Kanyesathi"Lata MangeshkarP. SawlaramRaag Pahadi
"Kokil Kuhukuhu Bole"KanyadaanLata MangeshkarP. Sawlaram
"Krishna Milali Koynela"Lata MangeshkarP. Sawlaram
"Kuberacha Dhan Majhya Shetat"Shikleli BaykoUsha Mangeshkar, Hridaynath MangeshkarP. Sawlaram
"Olakha Pahili Gali Hasate"Asha BhosaleP. Sawlaram
"Rimzhim Paaus Pade Sarkha"Lata MangeshkarP. Sawlaram
"Utha Utha Sakal Jan"Traditional songAsha Bhosale
"Uthi Govinda Uthi Gopala"Asha BhosaleP. SawlaramRaag Bhoop, Deshkar

References

{{Reflist}}

Further reading

  • Manasicha Chitrakaar To, Madhu Potdar, Manjul Prakashan {{ISBN|8189381156}}