Krishnarao Phulambrikar

Krishnarao Ganesh Phulambrikar is a classical musician, vocalist, film and drama artist. He is popularly called Master Krishnarao out of respect. He was born in 1898 to in Devachi Alandi, Pune, Maharashtra. He became associated with a drama company called ‘Natyakalapravartak Mandali’ which gave him the opportunity to perform as a child actor-singer in a musical drama called ‘Sant Sakhu’. Another actor of that company, Sawai Gandharva Ramachandra Kundgolkar Saunshi, popularly known as >> Read More... began teaching Krishnarao about Indian classical music. In 1911, he became the acquaintance of a famous singer Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale was born on 17 October 1869 i >> Read More... , his Guru who taught him Agra, Jaipur and Gwalior gharanas of Hindustani music until he passed away in 1922. He gained expertise in khayal and thumri traditions of classical music.

He created several ragas by merging different aspects of other ragas, including Tilak Kedar, Mangal Todi, Shiva Kalyan Bio coming soon... >> Read More... and many more. He was awarded the title ‘Sangeet Kalanidhi’in 1933 by Shankaracharya of Karvir Peeth after his first solo concert while he was just 14. After that, he went on to perform in other parts of India and Abroad. He also becamethe Director of the ‘Bharat Gayan Samaj’ founded by his Guru. He contracted with the ‘Prabhat Film Company’ to compose music for their upcoming film “Dharmatma”.

He composed music for 15 other films like “Padosi”, and“Lakh Lakh Chanderi”. He was also portrayed in a movie called “Bhakticha Mala” as the main character of Sant Savata Mali, for which he composed the music and sang all the songs. He tuned‘ Vande Mataram Popular Hindi Channel ‘Aaj Tak’ started its docume >> Read More... ’, the Indian National Song in Rag jhinjoti and unsuccessfully promoted it as the National Anthem. He was awarded the ‘Padma Bhusan’ for his musical success in 1917. He was the first person to receive Balgandharv Gold Medal. In 1972, he was presented with the ‘Sangeet Natak Akademi Ratna Puraskar’. His career came to a halt when he suffered from facial paralysis in 1968. He died on 20th October, 1974.