Govindrao Tembe
Encyclopedia
Govind Sadashiv Tembe, popularly known as Govindrao Tembe (June 5, 1881-October 9, 1955) was a harmonium
player, stage actor, and music composer.
Narayan Sitaram Phadke had called Govindrao Tembe the architect of Marathi Natya Sangeet
. Bal Gandharva
considered Tembe his guru.
He grew up in Kolhapur and became attached to music early in life. He was largely self-taught as harmonium player. He has acknowledged the debt of Deval Club for his initial forays into Hindustani classical music
.
Tembe learnt his art from Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale
and, although he never received direct tuition from Alladiya Khan of Jaipur Gharana, Tembe considered Khansaheb as his guru.
He used to accompany the legendary singer Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale
, and would often perform solo, but later gave up harmonium for the most part.
He composed music for the drama Manapman in 1910, and also for the first Marathi talkie
Ayodhyecha Raja
(1932). He also acted in both these productions. His musical score of Manapman remains popular till the date.
He was part-owner of Gandharva Natak Mandali when it was formed in 1913. Two years later, he started his own company named Shivraj Natak Mandali. He wrote dramas and also the padas (songs) in them.
He has left behind more than thirty 78 rpm records of his harmonium playing, some songs sung by him, many more composed by him, and a few books of reminiscences which are hard to find today.
Harmonium
A harmonium is a free-standing keyboard instrument similar to a reed organ. Sound is produced by air being blown through sets of free reeds, resulting in a sound similar to that of an accordion...
player, stage actor, and music composer.
Narayan Sitaram Phadke had called Govindrao Tembe the architect of Marathi Natya Sangeet
Natya Sangeet
Natya Sangeet is a form of Indian classical and semi-classical music. The name literally means Dramatic Music and the musical dramas are then called as Sangeet Natak. It is also one of the two popular forms of vocal arts in Maharashtra and surrounding states...
. Bal Gandharva
Bal Gandharva
Narayan Shripad Rajhans , better known as Bal Gandharva was one of the greatest Marathi singers and stage actors. He was famous for his roles of female characters in Marathi plays, since women were not allowed to act on stage during his time....
considered Tembe his guru.
He grew up in Kolhapur and became attached to music early in life. He was largely self-taught as harmonium player. He has acknowledged the debt of Deval Club for his initial forays into Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music
Hindustani classical music is the Hindustani or North Indian style of Indian classical music found throughout the northern Indian subcontinent. The style is sometimes called North Indian Classical Music or Shāstriya Sangeet...
.
Tembe learnt his art from Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale
Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale
Bhaskar Raghunath Bakhale was a Hindustani classical vocalist, a composer, and a teacher.-Education:...
and, although he never received direct tuition from Alladiya Khan of Jaipur Gharana, Tembe considered Khansaheb as his guru.
He used to accompany the legendary singer Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale
Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale
Bhaskar Raghunath Bakhale was a Hindustani classical vocalist, a composer, and a teacher.-Education:...
, and would often perform solo, but later gave up harmonium for the most part.
He composed music for the drama Manapman in 1910, and also for the first Marathi talkie
Marathi cinema
Marathi cinema refers to films produced in the Marathi language in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is the oldest and pioneer film industry in India...
Ayodhyecha Raja
Ayodhyecha Raja
Ayodhyecha Raja was the first Marathi talkie released in 1932, directed by Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre...
(1932). He also acted in both these productions. His musical score of Manapman remains popular till the date.
He was part-owner of Gandharva Natak Mandali when it was formed in 1913. Two years later, he started his own company named Shivraj Natak Mandali. He wrote dramas and also the padas (songs) in them.
He has left behind more than thirty 78 rpm records of his harmonium playing, some songs sung by him, many more composed by him, and a few books of reminiscences which are hard to find today.
Authorship
Tembe's total published work runs into more than two and half thousand pages.- (in Marathi) "माझा संगीत व्यासंग" (My Study of Music) 1939 (Note- This book was selected as one of the top 150 Marathi books in a readership survey in 1986)
- (in Marathi) Songs
Further reading
- "Between Two Tanpuras" by Vamanrao H Deshpande ISBN 0 86132 226 6
- Book by Vasant Shantaram Desai 'Years of Glory', The Marathi Theatre: 1843-1960 (Bombay, 1961)
- In Marathi: 'सांस्कृतिक महाराष्ट्राचे शिल्पकार : गोविंदराव टेंबे', 2006 लेखक: डॉ. सौ. चारुशीला दिवेकर ("Sanskritik Maharashtrache Shilpkar : Govindrao Tembe", 2006 by Dr. Mrs. Charusheela Divekar)
External links
- Website of Prabhat Films
- Prabhat Film CompanyPrabhat Film CompanyPrabhat Film Company popularly known as Prabhat Films was an Indian film production company and film studios, formed in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, India in 1929, towards the end of silent films' era, by the noted film director V. Shantaram, along with V.G. Damle, K.R. Dhaiber, S. Fatelal and S.B...