Pt. Vasantrao Deshpande sings khayal in vilambit ektaal and a teentaal bandish in Raga Maru Bihag, an evening melodious raga. Tabla - Nana Mulye Harmonium - Govindrao Patwardhan
'वसंताची गायकी पंरपरेच्या पालखीतून संथपणे मिरवीत जाणारी नाही. दऱ्याखोऱ्यातून बेफाम दौडत जाणाऱ्या जवान घोडेस्वारासारखी त्याच्या गायकीची मूर्ती आहे. भर उन्हाळ्यात पलाशबनात अग्निपुष्पे फुलावी तशी ही गायकी. ती फुले पहायला उन्हाची तिरीप सोसणारी जवानी हवी.' - पु.ल. देशपांडे
Pt. Vasantrao was a class by himself. His grip over sur and taal was astounding. He could bend any notation like a plastic wire.His firat in all octaves was indication of him being a born master. Possessing a sweet voice like Ustad Abdul Karim Khan he used toer be the same create his own stamp on the Indian Music. Vasantrao, you should not have left us so early and I intensely feel Indian Classical Music will never be same without you !!.
"My gharana begins with me.."this is how VasantKhan saheb responded when asked" Aapka gharana kaunsa..?" You find a rocksolid goldpure novel individuality to his style though finding elusive shades of Agra, Gwalior, Punjab, Bhindibazaar..What laykaari..and a unique enchanting style of sargam! Excellent saath sangat too..a very young Chandrakant Limaye on tanpura and the stalwart duo Nana on tabla and Govindrao on peti!
UNA HI SE JAAY KAHO , MORE MAAN KI BITHA ( VYATHA) DARASA BINA, KACHU NA SUHAVE AKHIYANA ME PRAN GUNAVANTA what a fantastic lyrics....i however missed the lifetime opportunity to watch Dr. Vasantrao live....thanks to uploader.
ok...if you are familiar with Lord Krishna ...then you might understand this more easily. any way i am trying to explain...this is basically expressed by the " Gopika " who loves Krishna beyond her life....and says to her friends that " SOME ONE GO AND TELL LORD KRISHNA , THE PAIN OR THE AGONY , WHICH SHE HAS IN HER MIND / HEART " .....SHE DID NOT SEE HIM FOR LONG , AND DUE TO THAT SHE IS RESTLESS, CANNOT THINK, SHE IS BLANK , HER EYES ARE WAITING FOR HIS "DARSHAN" , SHE IS VERY DESPERATE TO SEE HIM...." THATS IT.....! If you want word-by-word meaning...let me know.
an aggresive marubihag ! only Vasantraoji could sing this way. others would make it a little softer and subtler, every one has his/her own style. prabha atre sang it differently altogether !
I still remember the Raag Ahir Bhairav and Raag Salag Varali sung by him in Sawai Gandharva in 1982 fortunately I do have the recording of the same on Audio casate
Looking closely at the jora of tanpuras used here by Pt. Vasantrao, they look very familiar to me, and I am inclined to think they were made by Prof Haji Abdulkarim Ismailshaheb & Sons,Satarmakers MIRAJ as I have one (also of a jora) just like it!