Sawai Gandharva, born on 19 January 1886, in Kundgol village near Dharwad in 1886 was a popular Hindustani Classical vocalist from Karnataka. His original name was Ramachandra Kundgolkar Samsi (‘Sawai Gandharva’ was a title he earned for his genius on the Marathi stage). Nobody in his family practised music but the child displayed a wonderful voice and a passion for music. His initial training in singing was from a local kirtankar.
He was a master in the genre of Kirana
Gharana style. He was the first and foremost disciple of Ustad Abdul Karim
Khan, and guru of Bharat Ratna laureate Pandit Bhimsen Joshi.
Ever the free-spirited artist, Sawai Gandharva entered the
world of Marathi stage in 1907, against the will of his Guru. He became popular
as a singer at the Marathi musical theatre playing both male and female roles
with equal dexterity.
Sawai Gandharva is best known for
popularizing the stylings of the Kirana Gharana through his accomplished
disciples, including Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Dr. Gangubai Hangal, Firoz Dastur,
and Basavaraj Rajguru.
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