Deenanath Mangeshkar

Pt. Deenanath Mangeshkar (born Deenanath Hardikar), popularly known as Dina, was born at Mangeshi, Goa on 29 December 1900.[2] His father, Ganesh Bhatt Navathe Hardikar (Abhisheki),[3][4] was a Karhade Brahmin who served as priest at the famous Mangueshi Temple in Goa. His mother Yesubai (sometimes referred to as Yesubai Rane) belonged to the Devadasi community of Goa,[2] which is now known as Gomantak Maratha Samaj. Since the family lived in Mangeshi village in Goa, and Deenanath was born there, he was given the surname "Mangeshkar," which means "of Mangesh." Incidentally, Mangesh is the name of the deity worshipped in the Mangueshi Temple.

As a Devadasi, Yesubai often sang and danced at temple events and festivals. She is said to have had an unerring genius for music. Deenanath's father's surname was Hardikar, whose family performed the Abhishekam (ritual bathing) of the lingam of Shiva at Mangueshi Temple, thus they were known as Abhishekis. Deenanath adopted the surname Mangeshkar, which means from the village of Mangeshi in Konkani and Marathi.[5] The father of the renowned Indian vocalist Jitendra Abhisheki was Deenanath's half-brother.

Deenanath Mangeshkar started taking singing and music lessons from Shri Baba Mashelkar at the age of five. He was also to become a disciple at Gwalior school. He was fascinated by the variety and aggressive style of Gayanacharya Pundit Ramkrishna bua Vaze and became gandabandh shagird. In his youth, he travelled to Bikaner and took formal training in classical music from Pundit Sukhdev Prasad, father of Pundit Mani Prasad, of the Kirana Gharana. He joined the Kirloskar Sangeet Mandali and the Kirloskar Natak Mandali at the age of 11. Later, he left Kirloskar Mandali, and formed Balwant Mandali with his friends Chintamanrao Kolhatkar and Krishnarao Kolhapure. This new group had Gadkari's blessing, but shortly after the group was formed; Gadkari died in January 1919.

Deenanath's good looks and melodious voice won him popularity in the Marathi theatre. So much so that the then giant of the Marathi stage, Bal Gandharva publicly declared that he would welcome the entry of Deenanath in his organisation "by throwing a carpet of rupee coins under his feet".

During the period of 1935, he produced 3 films, one of them being Krishnarjun Yuddha. It was made in both Hindi and Marathi, and a song from it, sung by and filmed on Deenanath. Deenanath also studied Indian classical music under Ramkrishna Vaze. He also studied astrology.

Partly out of his interest in astrology and numerology, he believed that dramas with 5 letters, with anuswar (diacritical) on the third letter, were lucky for him. Examples : Ranadundubhi (रणदुंदुभी), Rajsanyas (राजसंन्यास), Deshkantak (देशकंटक).

The dramas produced by Deenanath were extremely popular amongst the masses due to his masterly presentation of the songs composed by Vaze Bua and the patriotic content.

Mangeshkar on a 1993 stamp of India

Deenanath took to alcohol during the days of financial hardship in 1930s. After being ill for a few weeks, he died in Pune in April 1942. He was only 41 at the time his death.

His family has erected a Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and research centre in his name in Pune.

Some of his theatrical productions, in which he sang and starred too, are

• Manapaman (मानापमान) (written by K.P. Khadilkar)
• Ranadundubhi (रणदुंदुभी) (written by Veer Vamanrao Joshi) Music composed by Vaze buwa
• Punyaprabhaav (पुण्यप्रभाव)
• Sanyasta Khadga (संन्यस्त खड्ग) (written by Veer Savarkar) Music composed by Vaze buwa
• Rajsanyaas (राजसंन्यास) (written by Ram Ganesh Gadkari)
• Deshkantak (देशकंटक)
• Ram Rajya Viyog (रामराज्य वियोग)

• Mangeshkar Family

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Deenanath Mangeshkar.

• Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital,Pune
• Deenanath Mangeshkar Award