Sudhir Phadke

Sudhir Phadke(;bornRam Phadke;25 July 1919 – 29 July 2002) was an Indian singer-composer.He is regarded as an icon of theMarathi film industryandMarathiSugam Sangeetwith a legacy spanning five decades. Apart from Marathi, Phadke sang and composed songs in severalHindifilms as well.

Swaragandharva Sudhir Phadke
Born	Ram Phadke (1919-07-25)25 July 1919 Kolhapur,Kolhapur State,British India
Died	29 July 2002(2002-07-29)(aged 83) Mumbai,Maharashtra,India
Nationality	Indian
Other names	Babuji Swaragandharva
Occupation(s)	Singer, Music composer
Organisation	Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
Works	Geet Ramayan
Spouse	Lalita Deulkar
Children	Shridhar Phadke
Awards	National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi(1963) Sangeet Natak Akademi Award(1991) Sahyadri Swara Ratna Puraskar(2002)

Phadke's nickname was Babuji.

Life

Sudhir Phadke was born inKolhapuron 25 July 1919. His birth name was Ram Phadke, but he later changed his name to 'Sudhir' when he composed a song forHMV.Phadke acquired his primary tutelage in vocal classical music from the late Vamanrao Padhye inKolhapur.After beginning his career with HMV in 1941, he joined thePrabhat Film Companyas music director in 1946. During his long career, he composed music for many Marathi and Hindi films. He was also an immaculate playback singer. Phadke married his fellow singer Lalita Deulkar. Their sonShridhar Phadke(born 1950) is also a composer and singer.

Geet Ramayana,based on poetG D Madgulkar's verses, is one of Phadke's most popular works. The programme ran onAll India Radiofor a year, 1955–56. Stage performances of the program continue to draw huge crowds even today. Phadke set to music all 56 songs, and they were sung by different singers for radio (Manik Varma,Lalita Deulkar,Lata Mangeshkar,Phadke himself,Vasantrao Deshpande,Ram Phatak,Usha Atre). All 56 songs were also recorded in Phadke's own voice.

In his last days of life, Phadke was involved in producing a Hindi film on the life of the Indianfreedom fighterVinayak Damodar Savarkar.The movieVeer Savarkarwas funded by public donations.He was also actively involved with Goa Freedom Movement and in post freedom fight of India.Phadke was connected withRashtriya Swayamsevak Sanghfor over 60 years.He was the main inspiration and founder member of India Heritage Foundation in theUnited States.

Filmography

As a composer

(Partial filmography)

1. Gokul(1946)
2. Rukmini Swayamvar(1946)
3. Aage Badho(1947)
4. Sita Swayamwar(1948)
5. Jivacha sakha(1948)
6. Sita Swayanwar(1948)
7. Vande Mataram(1948)
8. Aparadhi(1949)
9. Bheem(1949)
10. Maya Baazar(1949)
11. Ram Pratiggya(1949)
12. Sant Janabai(1949)
13. Shri Krishna Darshan(1950)
14. Johar Maibap(1950)
15. Pudhacha Paul(1950)
16. Vanshacha Diva(1950)
17. Jashas Tase(1951)
18. Vithal Rakhmai(1951)
19. Maalti Madhav(1951)
20. Murli Wala(1951)
21. Lakhaci Goshta(1952)
22. May Bahini(1952)
23. Narveer Tanaji(1952)
24. Pratapgad(1952)
25. Bolvita dhani(1953)
26. Kon Kunacha(1953)
27. Kuberacha Dhan(1953)
28. Soubhagya(1953)
29. Vahininchya bangadya(1953)
30. Pehli Taarikh(1954)
31. Ratna Ghar(1954)
32. In meen sade teen(1954)
33. Maharani Yesubai(1954)
34. Un paus(1954)
35. Owalni(1954)
36. Postatil mulgi(1954)
37. Rashmachya Gathi(1954)
38. Shevagyachya Shenga(1955)
39. Ganget ghoda nhala(1955)
40. Mi tulas tuzhya angani(1955)
41. Devghar(1956)
42. Sajni(1956)
43. Andhala magato ek dola(1956)
44. Maza ghar mazi manasa(1956)
45. Devagharcha lena(1957)
46. Gharcha zala thoda(1957)
47. Utavala narad(1957)
48. Gaj Gauri(1958)
49. Gokul Ka Chor(1959)
50. Jagachya pathiwar(1960)
51. Lagnala jato mi(1960)
52. Umaj padel tar(1960)
53. Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan(1961)
54. Adhi kalas mag paya(1961)
55. Kalanka Shobha(1961)
56. Mazi Aai(1961)
57. Nirupama ani parirani(1961)
58. Prapancha(1961)
59. Suwasini(1961)
60. Pyar Ki Jeet(1962)
61. Bhintila kaan astat(1962)
62. Char divas sasuche char divas suneche(1962)
63. Chimnyanchi shala(1962)
64. Gariba gharachi lek(1962)
65. Soniyachi paule(1962)
66. Bayko maheri jate(1963)
67. Ha maza marga ekla(1963)
68. Te maze ghar(1963)
69. Devacha khel(1964)
70. Gurukilli(1966)
71. Sant gora kumbhar(1967)
72. Ekati(1968)
73. Aamhi jaato amuchchya gaava(1968)
74. Aadhar(1969)
75. Dev manus(1970)
76. Dhakti bahin(1970)
77. Mumbaicha jawai(Marathi original ofBasu ChatterjeeHindi languagefilmPiya ka ghar)(1970)
78. Zala mahar pandharinath(1970)
79. Daraar(1971 film)
80. Bajiraocha beta(1971)
81. Zep(1971)
82. Lakhat ashi dekhani(1971)
83. Mi hi manus ahe(1971)
84. Anolkhi(1973)
85. Javai vikat ghene ahe(1973)
86. Kartiki(1974)
87. Jyotibacha navas (1975)
88. Ya sukhano ya(1975)
89. Aram haram ahe(1976)
90. Chandra hota sakshila(1978)
91. Dost asava tar asa(1978)
92. Sher Shivaji(1981)
93. Devghar Mar(1981)
94. Aplech dat amplech oth(1982)
95. Thorali Jau(1983)
96. Chorachya manat chandane(1984)
97. Maherchi manasa(1984)
98. Dhakti soon(1986)
99. Pudhacha paul(1986)
100. Sher Shivaji(1987)
101. Reshim gathi(1988)
102. Veer Savarkar(Hindi) (2001)

As an actor

1. Jagachya Pathivar(1960)

Popular songs

Geet Ramayan (Marathi:गीत रामायण)

Composed and renditioned 'Geet Ramayan', 56 songs written byMadgulkar. Geet Ramayan, collection of songs is summary of Indian epic of Ramayana in chronological sequence. The first of Geet Ramayan by Sudhir Phadke was broadcast by All India Radio Pune on Friday 1 April 1955 on the day of Raam Navami (celebration of the birth of Lord Ram). From 1 April 1955 for 56 weeks, every Sunday a new song of Geet Ramayana was broadcast.It was one of the most popular programs of that time. Geet Ramayan has been translated in 9 Indian languagesAssamese,Bengali,English,Hindi,Kannada,Konkani,Sindhi,TeluguandOriya.

As a composer

• Jyoti kalash chalke(Bhabhi ki Chudiyan), a song based on RagaDeshkarsung byLata Mangeshkar
• "Pehli Tarikh", sung byKishor Kumarthe song is till date played on Radio Ceylon-Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation on 1st of every month.
• Maratha Sphurti Geetthe regimental song ofMaratha Light Infantry,was composed and arranged for the military band by Sudhir Phadke. The lyrics were written byG. D. Madgulkar.
• Chahiye Ashish Madhava homage to Second Sarsanghchalak Shri M S Golwalkar of the RSS.

Other major creations of Phadke include: Ashi pakhare yeti, Dev devharyat nahi, Daav mandun mandun modu nako, Vikat ghetla shyam, Tujhe geet ganyasathi sur labhu de, Toch chandrama nabhaat.

Awards

Phadke won numerous awards, including:

• National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathiat11th National Film Awards(1963) forHa Majha Marg Ekla.
• Sangeet Natak AkademiAward in 1991
• Sahyadri Swara Ratna Puraskarin April 2002, an award presented byDDSahyadri

Death

He died inMumbaion 29 July 2002 at 10.30 AM after suffering a brainhaemorrhage.His body was kept atVeer SavarkarMemorial atDadarin central Mumbai, where many admirers came to pay their last tributes.

AFlyoverwhich goes over the railway line andDahisarriver in the Mumbai suburb betweenBorivaliandDahisarconnecting east and west was named after him.

Bhandup Village Road in Mumbai suburb of Bhandup (West) was renamed as Sangeetkar Sudhir Phadke Marg byBMC.

In popular culture

Swargandharva Sudhir Phadkeis a film based on his life starringSunil BarveandMrunmayee Deshpande.