Vinayakrao Patwardhan

Vinayak Narayan Patwardhan
Marathi: विनायक नारायण पटवर्धन
Born	22 July 1898 Miraj, India
Died	August 23, 1975(1975-08-23) (aged 77)
Nationality	Indian
Other names	Pandit Vinayakrao Patwardhan

Vinayak Narayan Patwardhan (Marathi: विनायक नारायण पटवर्धन) (22 July 1898 – 23 August 1975), also known as Pandit Vinayakrao Patwardhan and Patwardhanbuwa is an Indian vocalist of Gwaliar-genre of Hindustani classical music.

Early Life and teaching career

Viyanak's uncle, Keshav Rao Koratkar, provided him with initial training in music. In 1907, he went to Gaandharva Mahavidyalaya at Lahore, where he was taught directly by Vishnu Digambar Paluskar. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar's mission had been to set up music schools for boys from respectable families in order to combat the stereotype that musicians were immoral pleasure seekers. Viyanak studied at one of these schools. The development of these schools helped legitimize music as both a career and art form. Vishnu Digambar Paluskar wanted his disciples to emulate his example and uphold the importance of music and musicians. Vinayakrao carried out these wishes and accepted teaching assignments at the various branches of the school, including those in Bombay, Nagpur, and Lahore. Vinayakrao’s sweet and high-pitched voice was popular with the masses, but specifically caught the eye of the actor/singer Balgandharva. On one occasion, the great Gwalior veteran Ramkrishna buwa Vazhe offered a challenge to singers in Pune. Vinayakrao accepted this challenge and proceeded to learn complex ragas from Vazhe buwa.

In the late forties, when Bhimsen Joshi was searching for the right teacher, he happened to meet Vinayakrao in Jalandhar. Vinayakrao advised Bhimsen Joshi to learn from Sawai Gandharva. Later, Vinayakrao Patwrdhan took up roles in Marathi musicals and was perhaps the first classical vocalist to have sung for a film.

However, heeding his teacher’s admonition and advice, Viyanak went to Pune and established his own branch of the Gaandharva Mahavidyalaya. Despite his young age, he had decided to dedicate himself to teaching music, and ignored the lure of dramas and film.

Viyanak trained a number of disciples who became famous as both teachers and singers. This list includes his guru’s son, D.V. Paluskar, a well-know singer.

Singing career

Vinayakrao Patwardhan’s singing reflected the simple and straightforward approach to ragas, which is the characteristic of the Gwalior Gharana style. As a singer Vinayakrao specialized in taranas which proved very popular with the audiences in India and overseas. His favourite ragas included Bahar, Adana, Multani, Malhar, Jaijaivanti, Hamir and Bhairav-bahar. He went around the country performing in most of the important music festivals. He was also one of the few practising musicians of the time who took the trouble of writing textbooks on music. In his seven-part Raaga Vigyan series, Vinayakrao described the important aspects of various ragas as well as their grammar. In his concerts and recordings, his fellow-student Narayanrao Vyas accompanied Vinayakrao.

He was awarded the Padma Bhushan award in 1972 by the President of India. He also led the Indian cultural delegation to USSR and other countries. One of his disciples, Pt. L.R.Kelkar settled down in Madras ( Chennai) and the author, Rohiniprasad, happened to learn sitar from him initially. Among Pt. Kelkar’s better known disciples, is also the violin virtuoso N. Rajam, who went on to learn later from Pt. Omkaarnath Thakur in Benares. FTII ( Film & TV Institute of India ) has also made a documentary by Aruna Raje.