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( राजहंस उर्फ़ बालगंधर्व )

(१८८८-१९६७)

     बालगंधर्वाचे मुळ नावं नारायण श्रीपाद राजहंस ( कुलकर्णी ) असे होते. त्यांचा जन्म २६ जून १८८८ साली नागठाणे येथे झाला. आज ही गंधर्वाचा कुळकायद्याने गेलेला वाडा सुस्थितीत आहे. जन्म जातच गंधर्वाना लता दिदीच्या सारखा कंठ होता. त्यांचा गळा सुमधुर होता ते शिक्षणासाठी पुणे येथे गेले असता त्यांचा गायण, नाटकात कामे करणे आवडत असल्याने त्यांनी आपल्या शिक्षणाकडे दुर्लक्ष करून नाट्य क्षेत्र हे आपली कर्म भुमी म्हणून त्यांनी स्वीकारली विवीध नाटकांमध्ये शास्रीय गायन त्यांनी केले कालांतराने त्यांनी आपली गंधर्व नावाची नाट्य कंपनी चालू केली.

   गंधर्वाना लहान वयात लोकमान्य टिळकांनी गंधर्वाचे शास्रीय गायन व भुमिका सादरीकरण प्रत्यक्ष पाहिल्यानंतर बालगंधर्व ही पदवी दिली तेव्हा पासून ते नारायण राजहंसाचे नटसम्राट बालगंधर्व झाले आणि तो काळ त्यांनी ३० ते ३५ नाटकांच्या माध्यमातून गाजवला त्यांनी त्यांच्या कारकिर्दिमध्ये अनेक भुमीका आजरामर केल्या त्यातील त्यांची महत्वाची म्हणजे स्री वेशातील भुमीका लोकांना थक्क करून सोडे.

   महाराष्ट्रातील अनेक गावागावात त्यांची नाटके सादर व्हायची हे सर्व कार्यक्रम तिकीटावरती असायचे परंतू नागठाणे गावातून येणाऱ्‍या गावकरी लोकांसाठी फ्री पासची सोय असायची नागठाणेमध्ये शिराळकरांच्या कट्ट्यावर गंधर्वाची नाटके चार चार दिवस सादर व्हायचे याच बरोबर किर्लोस्करवाडीचे लक्ष्मणराव किर्लोस्कर यांच्या विनंतीवरून सुद्धा नाटकांचे प्रयोग होत असत त्यांची गाजलेली काही नाटके " एकच प्याला " , " संयोगवर " , " शांकुतल " , " मानापमान " , " मृचकटिक " ई. अशा महान कलाकाराने नाट्य कंपनी मधून मिळवलेल्या पैशातून नागठाणे गांवचा सुपूत्र म्हणून आपल्या वडीलांच्या स्मरणार्थ नागेश्वर मदीरा समोर मंदीरात जाणसाठी दगडी पायऱ्‍याने बांधकाम केले आहे त्या बांधकामामध्ये कोरलेल्या शिला लेखात पुढील मजकूर लिहलेला आपणास पाहावयास मिळतो तो असा " श्री नागेश्वर महाराज यांचे चरणी कै. श्रीपाद कृष्ण कुलकर्णी (राजहंस) रा. नागठाणे यांचे स्मरणार्थ चि. नारायण श्रीपाद राजहंस उर्फ बालगंधर्व यांनी या पायऱ्‍या बांधल्या मिती कार्तिक शु॥ १५ शके १९५२ " अशा या महान कलाव्यक्तीचा मृत्यू १५ जुलै १९६७ साली पुणे येथे झाला.

 Narayan Shripad Rajhans (Marathi:), better known as नारायण श्रीपाद राजहंस Bal Gandharva (1888 - 1967) was one of the greatest Marathi singer and stage actor. He was famous for his roles of femal characters in Marathi plays, since women were not allowed to act on stage during his time. He born in Nagthane 26 june 1888.

   Bal Gandharva got his name after a performance in Pune as an aspiring singer. Lokmanya Tilak, the great freedom fighter and the grand old man 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" (which means "Young Gandharva").

  Narayanrao Bal Gandharva acted in numerous classic Marathi plays and was one of those who were responsible for making Sangeet-Natak (musicals) and Natya-Sangeet (the music in those musicals) popular among common masses. He was a disciple of Bhaskar-buwa Bakhale. Bakhale scored music for his drama Swayamwar. Govindrao Tembe scored music for Manapman. Among the younger lot, Bal Gandharva's composer of choice was Master Krishnarao (Krishna Phulambrikar).

   The songs rendered by him are, to date, considered as classics and his singing style is greatly appreciated by Marathi critics and audiences. Marathi stage was facing difficult times after the death of Bhaurao Kolhatkar in 1901. Bal Gandharva revived it. His famous contemporaries include Keshavrao Bhosle and Dinanath Mangeshkar.

  He acted in plays written by Annasaheb Kirloskar, Govind Ballal Deval, Shripad Krishna Kolhatkar, Kakasaheb Khadilkar, Ram Ganesh Gadkari, Vasant Shantaram Desai.

  He began his career with Kirloskar Sangeet Mandali in 1905. The company was run by Mujumdar and Nanasaheb Joglekar. After Joglekar's death in 1911, there was discontent about Mujumdar's dictatorial and manipulative style. Bal Gandharva, Gangesh Govind ('Ganpatrao') Bodas and Govindrao Tembe left the company in 1913 to form Gandharva Sangeet Mandali. Narayanrao Bal Gandharva became the sole owner of the debt ridden company in 1921. The debt was paid off in 7 years' time. But the company accumulated debt again over next 6–7 years. Bal Gandharva dissolved the company to make 6 films with Prabhat Film Company but the partnership was dissolved after just one film in which BG was portrayed in a male role, that of Sant Eknath. Narayanrao revived his drama company in 1937, and soon formed an infamous association with Gohar Karnataki (also known as Gauhar Jan) who joined the company in April 1938. With Narayanrao increasingly ill at ease in female roles owing to his advancing years, the company was looking for an actress to play female roles. His brother Bapurao Rajhans left the company to protest against Gohar's entry in BG's life when it became clear that Gohar would have a major say in the company's stewardship. Narayanrao's heart-broken first wife died in 1940. Narayanrao and Gohar got married in 1951. Gohar died in 1964 and Narayanrao died in 1967.

  The Bal Gandharva Rangamandir (Bal Gandharva Auditorium) in the city of Pune is named in his honour.

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Roles His famous roles include :

• Bhamini in Manapman(1911)

• Rukmini in Swayamwar(1916)

. Sindhu in Ekach Pyala(1919)

Following links - more information  about Balgandharv. 

Nagthane

Balgandharv nagri

http://www.nagthane.co.cc/

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