Mumbai, Sep 2: Renowned Marathi music director Shrinivas Khale passed away at his residence in neighbouring Thane early today following brief illness. He was 85 and is survived by wife and three daughters. Sources said ‘Khale Kaka' as he was fondly called was not keeping well for the last few days and breathed his last at his residence in Vasant Vihar at 1.10 am. The funeral will take place later in the day.
One of the most respected artistes in the Marathi music industry for over six decades, his compositions include numerous songs in five languages—Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Sanskrit and mainly Marathi. He was recently conferred with the presitigious Padmabhushan award by the Central government.
Khale has worked with Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosale, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Vasantrao Deshpande, Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar, Dr Balamurli Krishnan,Talat Mehmood, Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Manna Dey, Bhupender Singh, Mahendra Kapoor, Suresh Wadkar, Arun Date.
He has recorded 141 ‘Bhavgeets' and composed music for 6 Marathi films (Yanda Kartavya Ahe, Bolki Bhauli, Palsala Pane Teen, Jivhala, Porki, and Sobati. ‘Bheti lagi Jeeva', ‘Ya chimnyano', ‘Bhaglyanchi maal phule', Gori Gori pan phula sarkhi chaan' are some of his most famous compositions.
He has also given music to theatrical plays like ‘Paanigrahan', ‘Vidushak' and ‘Devache paay' during his stint in Akashwani, Mumbai.He was the only known musician to bring along two Bharat Ratna recipient singers, Lata Mangeshkar and Pandit Bhimsen Joshi for a Hindi bhajan (devotional song) album Ram Shyam Gungaan.
Melody queen Lata Mangeshkar today said Khale was one of the pillars of the golden era of Marathi music, who has successfully left his imprint for time immemorial.
“Khale saheb had his own style and uniqueness. He was not inspired by others nor did he copy anyone. There will not be another Khale in Marathi music,” Lata told PTI. She said her family shared a close association with the musician, who passed away this morning, ever since he moved to Mumbai and started working with All India Radio (AIR), but they never worked together for a long time.
“He had approached me for a song ‘Eka Talyat Hoti Badke' for HMV's album ‘Panya Tuza Rang Kasa'. However, I could not allot dates for the recording and Asha (Bhosale) sang it. The song was very successful,” Lata recalled. She said they worked together for the first time for the song “Shravanat Ghan Nila Barasala” and later a movie song “Ya Chimnyano”.
The singing legend recalled working with Khale on “Abhang Tukyache”, compilation of Sant Tukaram's abhangs and later getting an opportunity to record a Hindi devotional album “Ram Shyam Gungaan” with Pandit Bhimsen Joshi due to him. “I was so scared when Khale saheb asked me to record with Anna (Pandit Bhimsen) as I thought I would not be able to sing alongside the legendary classical singer. However, Khale saheb handled me well and we recorded two duets. I had two solo songs as well in the album,” she said. I Union Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh said Khale was one of the most respected names in the field of music industry and a fatherly figure for all.
“His songs were musically rich that uplifted musical taste of connoisseurs,” Deshmukh said.Union Power Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said, “we have lost one of the doyens of the music industry.” Shinde said he was an extremely humble person who was known for his calm and loving nature. He introduced many talented singers. His work will continue to resonate in many ears in the years to come. State PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbhal said, “we have lost a legendary composer who blessed us with many Bhakti & Bhav geet with his unique style of melody.”
PROFILE: Hailing from Parli village in Konkan-Raigad of Maharashtra, Khale's father Vinayak and mother Laxmi were not keen on his inclination towards music during younger days. It was his elder brother Kashinath Khale encouraged him on the music path. He was later enormously supported by his wife Surekha Khale.
Kaka's father had to move to Baroda for work and that is where he begun his music lessons.
He started with Kanchanlal, a Gujrati music teacher. He then continued with Pt. Bansilal Bharati, Gulam Rasood, Faiyaaz Khan Sahab and Madhusudan Joshi. It was from the latter two that he learned the ‘Agra gharana gayaki'.
After his lessons from Madhusudan Joshi, Khale started his journey as a music director in All India Radio (AIR) in 1945. He went on with his first Gujarati recording of Talat Mahmood in Gramaphone Company India Limited in 1950 and since then there was no looking back.In 1952-53, his first Marathi song (Gori Gori Pan Fula Sarkhi) was recorded for HMV. He went on with recording many milestone songs in Marathi.
Later in 1970, a book titled ‘Shrinivas Khale - Ek Sankalan by Mauj Publishers was released in his honour on completion of 25 years as a successful music director, the preface of which was written by Shri Pu La Deshpande. In 2009,Datta Marulkar wrote a book Antaryami Surr Gavasala portraying Kaka's music journey. PTI
