Govindrao Tembe

Govindrao Sadashiv Tembe, also known as Govindrao Tembe, is a former Indian music composer and harmonium player. He was born in Kolhapur, India, in 1881. Well-versed in Hindustani music, he contributed to several plays and movies. He composed 115 songs for 22 films in the Hindi, Marathi, and Urdu languages. Not only this, he was popularly known for using “Music ragas” like “Kafi, Tilang, Sarang, Des, and Bhairav” in his music. Born and brought up in Kolhapur, Tembe was interested in music from a young age. He was self-trained as a harmonium player. Initially, his training in Hindustani classical music took place at “Deval Club.” The “Late Yuvaraj of Mysore,” Tembe's friend, accompanied him during his trip to Europe in 1939. After World War, the troupe returned to India in January 1940. Later in 1940, Tembe lost his patron as Yuvaraj died at his place “Anchorage.”

“The Prabhat Film Company” had an association with Tembe which, ended after the failure of the film “Sairandhri” as he used to compose background music for them at the time. Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale, his mentor, trained him in music. As a solo performer, he accompanied Bakhale for performances but later played the harmonium. Govindrao was the co-owner of “Gandharva Natak Mandali," formed in 1913. In 1915, he started his own company “Shivraj Natak Mandali;" he wrote songs for the same.

He composed music for the first “Marathi Talkie ‘Ayodhyecha Raja' (1932)” and for a drama called “Manapman (1910).” He has sung the majority of the songs in “Simhagad” except a ballad “Powada.” Some movies he composed include “Ayodhyecha Raja (1932), Maya Machhindra (1932), and Agnikankan: Branded Oath (1932).” Tembe had a great ability to form the correct phrases for any scene as a lyricist. He clings more to “sweet sounds” with a classical touch for his music preference. His passion grew with time and made him more popular among music lovers. His contribution to Marathi Cinema deserves more recognition. We lost this gem at the age of 74 in 1955.