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{{short description|Indian Marathi singer and stage actor (1888–1967)}}
{{About||the 2011 film|Balgandharva (film)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Bal Gandharva
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption = Narayan Shripad Rajhans alias Bal Gandharva
| birth_name = Narayan Shripad Rajhans
| alias =
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1888|06|26}}
| birth_place = Nagthane, Palus taluka, Sangli, Maharashtra [[Bombay Presidency]], [[British India]]
| origin =
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1967|07|15|1888|06|26}}
| death_place = [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| genre = Musicals ([[Sangeet Natak]])
| occupation = Singer and stage actor
| years_active = 1905–1955
}}

'''Narayan Shripad Rajhans''', popularly known as '''Bal Gandharva''', (26 June 1888 – 15 July 1967) {{Pronunciation|Bal_Gandharva.wav}} was a famous [[Marathi language|Marathi]] singer and stage actor. He was known for his roles as female characters in Marathi plays, since women were not allowed to act on stage during his time.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LnB2CAAAQBAJ&pg=PT239|title=Two Men and Music: Nationalism in the Making of an Indian Classical Tradition|author=Janaki Bakhle|date=20 October 2005 |publisher=Oxford University Press|page=239|isbn=978-0-19-029024-5 |access-date=20 October 2005}}</ref><ref>[http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/review_bal-gandharva-is-an-awkwardly-paced-unevenly-executed_1540077 Balgandharva is awkwardly paced, unevenly executed] DNA 6 May 2011</ref>

Bal Gandharva got his name after a singing performance in Pune. [[Lokmanya Tilak]], a social reformer and a freedom fighter of the [[Indian independence movement]] was in the audience, and after the performance, reportedly patted Rajhans on the back and said that Narayan was a ''"Bal Gandharva"'' ({{abbr|lit.|literally}} Young [[Gandharva]]).<ref name="EPW1998">{{cite journal|last=Hansen|first=Kathryn|title=Stri Bhumika Female Impersonators and Actresses on the Parsi Stage|url=https://www.epw.in/journal/1998/35/special-articles/stri-bhumika-female-impersonators-and-actresses-parsi-stage.html|journal=[[Economic and Political Weekly]]|date=29 August 1998|volume=33|issue=35|page=2295|via=[[Economic and Political Weekly|EPW]]}}{{Subscription required}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Narayan Shripad Rajhans was born into a [[Deshastha Brahmin]] family to Shripad Rajhans and his wife Annapurnabai Rajhans.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Kincaids, two generations of a British family in the Indian civil service|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XrtHAAAAMAAJ|author=Aruṇa Ṭikekara|page=237|publisher=Promilla & Co.|year=1992| isbn=9788185002132 |quote=Bal Gandharva alias Narayanrao Rajhans was a Deshastha Brahmin and not a Chitpavan.}}</ref> He was born in the Nagthane village of [[Palus, Maharashtra|Palus]] taluka of Sangli district in what is now the state of [[Maharashtra]].

Bal Gandharva married twice. At a very young age, he was married to Lakshmibai, a lady from his own Deshastha Brahmin community and hailing from a respectable family with similar background, in a match arranged by their parents in the usual Indian tradition. The marriage, which was entirely harmonious and conventional, lasted until the death of Lakshmibai in 1940, after more than thirty-five years of marriage. Eleven years later, in 1951, Bal Gandharva married Gauharbai Karnataki (perhaps better known simply as Gohar Bai, and not to be confused with Gauhar Jaan Indian dancer from Kolkata), sister of the famous singer-actress [[Amirbai Karnataki]]. Gauharbai hailed from a family full of singers and dancers, and was a Muslim. She had made a career for herself as a stage actress with help of singing skills, and had worked with Narayanraao in theatrical productions, which is how they had fallen in love with each other. The marriage of a woman of her background and religion with a Brahmin gentleman was deeply unacceptable in society. Gauharbai was never received into polite society or acknowledged by any member of Narayanrao's family. The marriage remained childless, and Goharbai died in the year of 1964, three years before when Bal Gandharva died.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iicxDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT272|title=Gender, Culture, and Performance: Marathi Theatre and Cinema before Independence|author=Meera Kosambi|date=5 July 2017 |publisher=Routledge|access-date=5 July 2017|page=272|isbn=9781351565899 }}</ref>

== Theatre career ==
Narayan Rajhans was born into an ordinary family. He started his singing career at a very young age singing [[bhajans]]. [[Shahu of Kolhapur|Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur]] noticed his talent and was important in getting young Narayanrao's theatre career off the ground. Shahu Maharaj helped him get treatment for his hearing problems at [[William James Wanless|Miraj Hospital]]. Shahu Maharaj also introduced him to Kirloskar Mandali, the premier Marathi Musical theatre company of that era.<ref>{{cite book|title=Bal Gandharva, the nonpareil thespian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cx5lAAAAMAAJ|page=10|author=Mohan Nadkarni|publisher=National Book Trust|year=1988| isbn=9788123737133 }}</ref>
[[File:Tamboori of Bal Gandharva in Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, Pune.jpg|alt=Musical instrument Tamboori on display in a museum behind a glass pane|left|thumb|323x323px|[[Tamboori]] of Gandharva in the collection of [[Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum|Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, Pune]]]]
He started his career with [[Annasaheb Kirloskar|Kirloskar Natak Mandali]] in 1905.<ref name="EPW1998"/> The company was run by Mujumdar and Nanasaheb Joglekar. After Joglekar's death in 1911, there was discontent surrounding Mujumdar's dictatorial and manipulative style.<ref>{{cite book|title=Balgandharva and the Marathi Theatre|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zsoOAAAAIAAJ|author=Dnyaneshwar Nadkarni|publisher=Roopak Books|year=1988|page=47}}</ref> Bal Gandharva, [[Ganesh Bodas|Ganesh Govind ('Ganpatrao') Bodas]] and [[Govindrao Tembe]] left the company in 1913 to form Gandharva Sangeet Mandali.<ref>{{cite book|title=Bal Gandharva, the nonpareil thespian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cx5lAAAAMAAJ|page=52|author=Mohan Nadkarni|publisher=National Book Trust|year=1988| isbn=9788123737133 }}</ref> Bal Gandharva became the sole owner of the debt ridden company in 1921.<ref name="Sangeet Natak, Issues 83-86">{{cite book|title=Sangeet Natak, Issues 83-86|publisher=Sangeet Natak Akademi|year=1987|page=67|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=m56fAAAAMAAJ}}</ref> The debt was paid off in seven years' time. However, Narayanrao, dissolved the company when it again accumulated debt over the next 6–7 years.<ref>{{cite book|title=Bal Gandharva, the nonpareil thespian|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cx5lAAAAMAAJ|page=77|author=Mohan Nadkarni|publisher=National Book Trust|year=1988| isbn=9788123737133 }}</ref> Bal Gandharva signed a contract with [[Prabhat Film Company]] to make six films. However, the contract came to an end after just one film ''[[Dharmatma (1935 film)|Dharmatma]]'' (1935). The film was a major departure for Bal Gandharva in the sense that he played the main role of [[Eknath|Sant Eknath]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZsKR1RKoJKUC&pg=PA76|title=Filming the Gods: Religion and Indian Cinema|page=76|author=Rachel Dwyer|date=27 September 2006 |publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781134380701 |access-date=27 September 2006}}</ref>

Bal Gandharva revived his drama company in 1937. With Narayanrao increasingly ill at ease in female roles owing to his advancing years, the company looked for an actress to play female roles and found Gohar Karnataki in April 1938. Bal Gandharva soon formed an intimate relationship with Gohar Karnataki, also known as Gauhar Bai, that scandalized traditional Maharashtrian society at that time.<ref name="Sangeet Natak, Issues 83-86"/> His brother Bapurao Rajhans left the company to protest against Gohar's entry in Gandharva Sangeet Mandali and Bal Gandharva's life, when it became clear that Gohar would have a major say in the company's stewardship.<ref>{{cite book|title=Balgandharva and the Marathi Theatre|author=Dnyaneshwar Nadkarni|publisher=Roopak Books|page=127|year=1988}}</ref>

Bal Gandharva acted in 27 classic Marathi plays and played a big part in making ''[[Sangeet Natak]]'' (musicals) and [[Natya Sangeet]] (the music in those musicals) popular among common masses. He was a disciple of [[Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ktS00KztX3YC&pg=PA18|title=Aesthetics of Agra and Jaipur Traditions|author=Babanarāva Haḷadaṇakara|publisher=Popular Prakashan|year=2001|page=18}}</ref> Bakhale scored music for his drama Swayamwar. [[Govindrao Tembe]] scored music for Manapman.<ref>{{cite book|title=Maharashtra, Land and Its People|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bl90u5lmwRAC|publisher=Government of Maharashtra|year=2009|page=393}}</ref> In later years, Bal Gandharva's composer of choice was [[Krishnarao Phulambrikar|Master Krishnarao]] (Krishnarao Phulambrikar).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SLkABAAAQBAJ&pg=PA52|title=Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema|author1=Ashish Rajadhyaksha|author2=Paul Willemen|date=10 July 2014 |publisher=Routledge|access-date=10 July 2014|page=52|isbn=9781135943189 }}</ref>

The songs rendered by him are regarded as classics of Marathi [[Natya Sangeet]] and his singing style is greatly appreciated by Marathi critics and audiences.<ref>{{cite book|title=Lokrajya, Volume 36|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8DkMpkEjobgC|page=61|publisher=Directorate-General of Information and Public Relations|year=1980}}</ref> The Marathi stage was facing difficult times after the death of Bhaurao Kolhatkar in 1901. Bal Gandharva revived it. His famous contemporaries include [[Keshavrao Bhosale]] (known as "Sangeet-Surya") and [[Deenanath Mangeshkar]].<ref>{{cite book|title=History of Indian Literature: 1911-1956, struggle for freedom : triumph and tragedy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sqBjpV9OzcsC&pg=PA160|page=160|author=Sisir Kumar Das|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|year=2005| isbn=9788172017989 }}</ref>

He acted in plays written by [[Annasaheb Kirloskar]], [[Govind Ballal Deval]], [[Shripad Krushna Kolhatkar]], [[Krushnaji Prabhakar Khadilkar]], [[Ram Ganesh Gadkari]], [[Vasant Shantaram Desai]].

Bal Gandharva died on 15 July 1967.

== Legacy ==
* [[Bal Gandharva Ranga Mandir]], a theatre auditorium in the city of Pune was named in his honour. It was built by Pune Corporation in 1968 with the initiative of the famous Marathi author and Balgandharva's fan, P. L. Deshpande {Purushottam Laxman Deshpande}. It was inaugurated by Acharya [[Pralhad Keshav Atre]]. Balgandharva's very own hands contributed to the foundation of this play theatre, while he was alive.
* The movie ''[[Balgandharva (film)|Balgandharva]]'' portraying the life-journey of Balgandharva was released by Chandrakant Productions in May 2011.

== Roles ==
His famous roles include :
* Bhamini in Manapman(1911)
* Rukmini in Swayamwar(1916)
* Sindhu in Ekach Pyala(1920)
* Sharada in [[Sangeet Sharada]](1909)
* Vasantsena in Mruchchakatika

== Awards ==
* In 1955, Bal Gandharva received the coveted "President's Award", now known as the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]], the highest musical honour in India from the then [[President of India]].
* In 1964, Bal Gandharva received The [[Padma Bhushan]] Award, the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India.<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=July 21, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 |df=dmy }}</ref>

== Biography ==
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=X55UcgAACAAJ&q=Bal+Gandharva Bal Gandharva: the nonpareil thespian] Author- Mohan Nadkarni, Publisher-National Book Trust, 2002, Length – 77 pages
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=zsoOAAAAIAAJ&q=Bal+Gandharva+Biography Balgandharva and the Marathi theatre] Author- Dnyaneshwar Nadkarni, Publisher- Roopak Books, 1988, Length- 159 pages
* Asa Balgandharva [http://www.bookganga.com/eBooks/Books/Details/5030316922931647114] Author- [[Abhiram Bhadkamkar]], publisher- Rajhans Prakashan, 2011, length- 416 pages

== Also read ==
* [[Sangeet Natak]]
* [[Natya Sangeet]]
* [[Balgandharva (film)|Balgandharva Film]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Bal Gandharva}}
*{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20020428094933/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/04/06/stories/0206000p.htm Documenting a forgotten legend – The Hindu newspaper]}}
*[http://courses.nus.edu.sg/course/ellpatke/Miscellany/bal%20gandharva.htm List of Bal Gandharva's songs] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613033550/http://courses.nus.edu.sg/course/ellpatke/Miscellany/bal%20gandharva.htm |date=13 June 2011 }}

{{PadmaBhushanAwardRecipients 1960–69}}
{{Marathi Theatre}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gandharva, Bal}}
[[Category:1888 births]]
[[Category:1967 deaths]]
[[Category:Indian male stage actors]]
[[Category:Marathi-language singers]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Male actors in Marathi theatre]]
[[Category:Indian male musical theatre actors]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male singers]]

Bal Gandharva - Revision history

Aryakin2021 at 17:26, 17 December 2025