|
 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 |
Year |
Film |
| 1932 |
Ayodljya Ka Raja |
1937 |
Wahan |
| 1935 |
Dharmatma |
1940 |
Sant Dnyaneshwar |
| 1936 |
Amar Jyoti |
|
|
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 |
(Last Updated on : 22-11-2014)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recently Updated Articles in Indian Movies
|
|
|
| • | Bhanu Athaiya
Bhanu Athaiya was one of the most eminent costume designers of India. She was the first Indian to win an academy awards and also the only female member of the Bombay Progressive Artists` Group.
| | | • | Tarun Majumdar
Tarun Majumdar was a notable Bengali film director and has recreated classics written by some of the best writers. He was an iconic filmmaker who deftly blended aesthetics of art films with the mainstream cinema to make movies for the masses.
| | | • | Soumitra Chatterjee
Soumitra Chatterjee is one of the most talented and acknowledged one from Bengal. Bengali film Industry became enriched after getting one actor like him. Through his career spanning across many decades, Soumitra Chatterjee has worked with legendary film makers like Satyajit Ray, Mrinal Sen, Tapan Sinha, Ajoy Kar, and many more.
| | | • | Bappi Lahiri
Bappi Lahiri was an Indian singer, music composer, dancer, disco musician, actor and record producer. He is known as the ‘Disco King’ because he popularized the use of synthesized disco music in Indian cinema with a traditional blend of Indian flavor. He has also composed songs in South Indian movies.
| | | • | Sandhya Mukhopadhyay
Sandhya Mukhopadhyay is a legendary singer. She made her career in Bengali and Hindi music.
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
