Ranbir Kapoor to play Balgandharva?The news surprised fans of the Bollywood heartthrob. But those who follow theatre know that such an opportunity comes once in a lifetime.
Who is offering Ranbir the role of Balgandharva?
Banjo director Ravi Jadhav wants to remake his super hit Marathi film Balgandharva in Hindi. And if Ranveer Singh can play Bajirao, we trust Ranbir can pull off the role of Balgandharva.
Who was Balgandharva?
He was the eminent singer-actor from the golden era of Marathi sangeet natak (musical dramas) who played female leads with such grace and elan that none could say it was a man dressed as a woman.
Born on 26 June 1888 in a village in Satara district, he was deaf in one ear. The cherub-faced boy was named Narayan Shripad Rajhans. Freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak was so impressed with the boy’s singing that he called him Balgandharva, which literally means ‘the celestial singer’. The name stuck on.
Shahu Maharaj, the Raja of Kolhapur, encouraged his artistic journey.
Balgandharva soon became famous for playing female characters, since women were not allowed to act on stage during his time.
Balgandharv’s USP?
His genius lay in enacting a variety of woman character roles on stage. He did it with such grace and realism that the identity of the artiste and the art was total and complete.
His famous roles include :
- Bhamini in Manapman (1911)
- Rukmini in Swayamwar(1916)
- Sindhu in Ekach Pyala (1920)
- Sharada in Sangeet Sharada (1909)
- Vasantsena in Mritchakatikam
The only male role he ever played was that of Saint Eknath in a film.
In 1955 he was honoured with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. In 1964 the Padma Bhushan followed. The accomplished theatre stalwart died on 15 July 1967.
Video Editor: Prashant Bhardwaj
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