Sudhir Phadke - the greatest ever Composer-Singer

Namaskar.

New blog after almost 6 months! However, I am sure that you will be pleasantly surprised to read it and watch the songs presented herein. Please do leave your comments and forward in your circles. Thank you.

Sudhir Phadke alias Babuji as a Composer and Singer is a household name in Maharashtra. His compositions and singing of Geet Ramayan (a series of 56 songs in Marathi penned by the legendary poet Gajanan Digambar Madgulkar depicting the life of Lord Ram, which was broadcast live on Pune Aakashvani in 1955) is hugely popular till date amongst the Maharashtrians across the world.

However, little that we know that Sudhir Phadke had also composed music for Hindi films for almost 16 years from 1946 to 1962! In today's blog, I have tried to explain Babuji's life and also his work in Hindi films.

Around 100 years back, Kolhapur was known to be a city of people who loved music and films. The local folk music forms like Povada, Laavani along with traditional Natya Sangeet (songs from the Marathi theatrical shows) and Mehfils portraying all forms of Indian Classical music used to be the musical fest for people of Kolhapur throughout the year. 

Guru
Pt. Vamanrao Padhye

Ram Phadke was born in such a musical city of Kolhapur on 25th July 1919. He started learning the Hindustani Classical music at a very young age under the able guidance of his Guru Pandit Vamanrao Padhye. Ram was so talented that in a very short span of time he mastered the art of singing the notation (the Sa-Ra-Ga-Ma) of the singer's lyrics.

Due to the poor financial condition of his family, Ram had to start the Vocal training classes and a small group which used to perform music at various Ganesh festivals. Ram's compositions became popular. During this time, his friend Mr. N. N. Deshpande changed his name from Ram to Sudhir Phadke. Later, his fans started fondly calling him as Babuji, a pet name that stuck to Sudhir Phadke forever thereafter.

Babuji's first public vocal performance was in Miraj in 1931, he was barely 12 years old then! At the age of 18 in 1937, Babuji performed for the first time for Bombay (now Mumbai) Radio. Between 1939-41, Babuji had to undertake a tour of different states like Bihar, Punjab, Rajasthan and Bengal. He enriched his musical knowledge by listening to various forms of music from these states. While in Calcutta (now Kolkata), he worked for a Recording company. He had the fortune of listening to gramophone records of the legendary singer Kundanlal Saigal. Babuji also tried to learn on his own from his idols like Saigal, Hirabai Badodekar and Balgandharva. Babuji had his first opportunity to record a song for H. M. V. and sing it himself! The year was 1941. 

11th February 1946 was the day when Babuji experienced the turning point of his life when he was invited by the famous Prabhat Film Company to work with them as a Music Composer. "Gokul" (1946) was his first movie as a composer. What an irony it is that the composer whose major career is in Marathi, a Hindi film happened to be his first film! 

In the same year, Pradip Pictures invited Babuji to compose music jointly with Snehal Bhatkar for their upcoming movie "Rukmini Swayamvar". The famous singer of those time - Lalita Deulkar - had sung 4 songs in this film. Sudhir Phadke later married to Lalita Deulkar.

Babuji composed for Prabhat yet again in 1947 for their film "Aage Badho", wherein Khursheed, another famous singer of those times, sung for Babuji for the first time. The legendary singers Mohammad Rafi and Manna Dey also had their first songs for Babuji in this film.

Later, Babuji worked for several mythological movies like "Seeta Swayamvar" (1948), "Jai Bheem", "Maya Bazar" and "Sant Janabai" (1949) and "Ram Pratigyaa" and "Shrikrishna Darshan" (1950). It was the movie "Sant Janabai" in which the legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar had her first song recorded for Babuji. The pair gave no. of great songs later. Lata ji has sung 32 songs for Babuji in Hindi which is around 20% of Babuji's Hindi compositions!

From 1951 onwards, Babuji's Hindi compositions saw the golden period in his career in Hindi films. The films like "Malati Madhav" (1951), "Muraliwala" (1951), "Ratnaghar" (1955), "Sajni" (1956) all had great songs. Cut to 1962, Sudhir Phadke gave probably the best of his compositions in the film "Bhabhi Ki Choodiyan" starring Meena Kumari. It had 8 songs sung by Lata, Asha Bhosale and Mukesh, and almost all were hit. The song "Jyoti Kalash Chhalake" by Lata is remembered by audience till date. 

Between the years 1946 and 1962, Babuji was parallelly working both for Marathi and Hindi cinemas. In these 16 years, he composed for 18 Hindi and 47 Marathi films i.e. total 65 films in 16 years, i.e. approx. 4 films per year! And while working as a composer, he also had his singing career going at great guns.

There are not many composers who could sing well. E.g. Anil Biswas, Madan Mohan, C. Ramchandra, S. D. Burman, R. D. Burman and Hemant Kumar were all great composers but average singers except Hemant Kumar. Their work as singers is also far less as compared to Hemant Kumar or Babuji. Babuji's greatness as a Composer-Singer lies in the statistics presented below and the quality he could consistently deliver in his career.

As a Music Composer:

As a Singer:

Having said this, it is sadly true that Babuji could not achieve the kind of success in Hindi films compared to his contemporary musicians who were perhaps more talented, gifted in understanding the demands of the Hindi cinema.

Some of Babuji's notable compositions:

1) Din Hai Suhana Aaj Pehli Taarikh Hai - Pehli Taarikh (1954) - Kishore Kumar - Lyricist Qamar Jalalabadi

• Kishore Kumar's first and only song with Sudhir Phadke; played on Radio Ceylon on the first day of every month. MUST LISTEN

2) Ja Re Chandra Aur Kahi Ja Re - Sajni (1956) - Lata Mangeshkar - Lyricist Pt. Narendra Sharma

3) Qismat Kaa Nahin Dosh Baaware - Sajni (1956) - Sudhir Phadke and Lata Mangeshkar - Lyricist Pt. Narendra Sharma

• One of the 3 duets that Babuji has sung along with Lata Mangeshkar; extremely rare song - MUST LISTEN 

4) Chand Tu Yahan Hai Aur Chand Tu Waha - Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan (1961) - Asha Bhosale - Lyricist Pt. Narendra Sharma

5) Lau Lagati Geet Gati Deep Hoon Mai Preet Bati - Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan (1961) - Lata Mangeshkar - Lyricist Pt. Narendra Sharma

• Extremely beautiful composition based on Raag Yaman MUST LISTEN 

"Daraar" (1972) was the last Hindi film composed by Babuji. In 1987, he was invited to compose the background music for the film "Sher Shivaji" produced by the then Maharasthtra State Government.

Babuji received number of awards in recognition of his work as a composer. He was awarded as the Best Composer by SurSingar Sansad twice - first for the film "Bhabhi Ki Choodiyan" in 1968 and then in 1970 for the Marathi film "Mumbaicha Jaavai". The Maharashtra State Government awarded him with the prestigious Lata Mangeshkar Puraskaar in the year 2001.

Sudhir Phadke died of old age after a brief illness on 20th July 2002 in Mumbai. 

Today, presenting below some of his best compositions and songs sung by him. It would perhaps help you understand the greatness of the Composer-Singer Sudhir Phadke.

1) Gop Sab Banmala Pucha Hari Kaha Gaye - Sant Janabai (1949) - Lata Mangeshkar - Lyricist Pt. Narendra Sharma

Babuji composed almost every form of music like Khayal, Devotional, Laavani, Romantic songs, Classical based songs and Raagmala, but mostly in Marathi. This particular song is a beautiful devotional song sung by Lataji in equally serene, pure voice. This is the first of the 32 songs Lata ji recorded under the direction of Babuji.

2) Prabhat Vandana Kare Jaago Re Hare - Sant Janabai (1949) - Manna Dey - Lyricist Pt. Narendra Sharma

This is the title song of the movie. Manna Dey sung total 4 songs with Babuji, this is the best of his songs. It's a bhajan rendered in the early morning hours at the temple. Hence, the composition is extremely soft, gives us a feeling of complete surrender to the almighty. Manna Dey's low pitch voice and rendering has only enhanced the quality of the composition.

3) Baandh Preeti Phool Dor - Malti Madhav (1951) - Lata Mangeshkar - Lyricist Pt. Narendra Sharma

Given below are the 2 versions of this song - one original by Lata and the other one by the composer himself from a program on Doordarshan. The song is based on Raag Jai Jaiawanti.

Lata Mangeshkar version

Sudhir Phadke version

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4) Jyoti Kalash Chhalake - Bhabhi Ki Choodiyan (1961) - Lata Mangeshkar - Lyricist Pt. Narendra Sharma

This is Babuji's most popular song till date, filmed on Meena Kumari. Listen to the wonderful Taan at the beginning of the song. The song is composed in Raag Bhoopali, the situation being the early morning hours. The main instrument used is Sitar, supported by the Flute. Lata has sung this song in her soulful voice. Listen to 2 versions - one by Lata and other one by Babuji himself.

Lata Mangeshkar version

Sudhir Phadke version

5) Bhaj Man Raam Charan Sukhdai - Hindi Bhajan and O Rasiyaa - Raag Durga

Babuji wanted to become an established Hindustani Classical singer but could not. He always had a regret regarding this. However, whenever he had an opportunity to sing songs close to being Classical, he excelled in it. Following 2 songs will prove this point. The fist Bhajan is recorded in the '70s in a private program in United States, while the second one has been performed in one of the interviews Babuji gave on Doordarshan. Both are rare and hence extremely valuable assets for those who love music.

My humble tribute to this great legendary artist. Hope you have enjoyed the blog. Please leave a comment or two and do not forget to forward the link to your near and dear ones. Thank you.

References:

1) Swarateerth Sudhir Phadke Birth Centenary Special edition by Narkesari Prakashan, Nagpur 

2) Swarateerth Sudhir Phadke Gaurav Granth Publisher Sharad Dandekar

3) Babuji by Anil Balel Publisher Snehal Prakashan

4) Wikipedia and YouTube