Born in 1912 in Kudal, Maharashtra, Vasant Desai was dedicated to the charm of music and theater since childhood. He was a singer-actor who turned to music direction in later years. Vasant Desai composed music that was made its own style by its classical notes. His interest in music and folk theatre started music traditions such as powadti and Livmi. These musical styles influenced his work later.

In 1929, Desai joined the Prabhat Film Company as an actor and he starred in some of V. Shantaram`s early films, including Ayodhya Ka Raja and Dhannatma. Desai has also been assisting Prabhat`s leading music directors, like Keshavrao, Govindrao Tembe and Master Krishnarao.

Kumarsen Samarth`s Shaque was Desai`s first film as an independent music director. He achieved his first hit with Rajkamal Kalamandir`s period drama, Shakuntala. V. Shantarani depended on Desai for most of his landmark films, including the musical Do Aankhen Barah Haath, Jhanak Jhanak payel Baaje and Dr Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani.

Desai`s unforgettable melodies include Ten- Mir aur mm geet (Goonj Uthi Shehnai), Nain so nain naahin milao (Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje) and Humko mann ki shakti dena (Guddi). In spite of his successes, Desai did not actually get his worth and was hardly named the top-ranking music directors of the day. His style, deeply rooted in the classical tradition, was regarded as suitable only for the historical and mythological films. His bias for Marathi folk traditions also did not find its proper place in the industry.

Desai continued to work until the mid-1970s and composed music for directors like Vijay Bhatt, Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Gulzar. He died in an elevator accident in 1975.

Filmography of Vasant Desai

Acted

Year	Film
1932	Ayodljya Ka Raja
1935	Dharmatma
1936	Amar Jyoti
1937	Wahan
1940	Sant Dnyaneshwar

Directed

Year	Film	Year	Film
1942	Shobha	1958	Do Phool
1943	Mauj; Shakuntala	1959	Do Behnen; Goonj Uthi Shehnai; Samrat Prithviraj Chouhan
1944	Parbat Pe Apna Dera	1961	Pyar Ki Pyaas; Sampoorna Ramayan
1946	Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani; Jeevan Yatra; Subhadra	1964	Yaadein
1947	Matwala Shayar Ramjoshi	1965	Amar jyoti
1948	Mandir, Sona	1967	Ramrajya
1949	Udhaar, Nai Taleem	1968	Ashirwad
1950	Dahej; Hindustan Hamara; Shush Mahal	1971	Guddi
1951	Jeevan Tara	1972	Grahan
1952	Hyderabad Ki Nazneen	1973	Achanak
1953	Anand Bhavan; Dhuaan; Jhansi Ki Rani	1974	Jai Rase Krishna
1954	Kalakaar, Savdhan; and Suhagan (all three co-music director: C. Ramchandra); 1955: Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baajtr	1975	Rani Aur Lalpari
1956	Toofan Aur Diya; 1957: Do Aankhen Barah Haath	1976	Shaque.