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Bal Gandharva

Bal Gandharva
Birth nameNarayan Shripad Rajhans
Born(1888-06-26)26 June 1888
Nagthane, Palus taluka, Sangli, Maharashtra Bombay Presidency, British India
Died15 July 1967(1967-07-15) (aged 79)
Pune, Maharashtra, India
GenresMusicals (Sangeet Natak)
Occupation(s)Singer and stage actor
Years active1905–1955

Narayan Shripad Rajhans, popularly known as Bal Gandharva, (26 June 1888 – 15 July 1967) pronunciation was a famous Marathi singer and stage actor. He was known for his roles as female characters in Marathi plays, since women were not allowed to act on stage during his time.[1][2]

Bal Gandharva got his name after a singing performance in Pune. Lokmanya Tilak, a social reformer and a freedom fighter of the Indian independence movement was in the audience, and after the performance, reportedly patted Rajhans on the back and said that Narayan was a "Bal Gandharva" (lit. Young Gandharva).[3]

  1. ^ Janaki Bakhle (20 October 2005). Two Men and Music: Nationalism in the Making of an Indian Classical Tradition. Oxford University Press. p. 239. ISBN 978-0-19-029024-5. Retrieved 20 October 2005.
  2. ^ Balgandharva is awkwardly paced, unevenly executed DNA 6 May 2011
  3. ^ Hansen, Kathryn (29 August 1998). "Stri Bhumika Female Impersonators and Actresses on the Parsi Stage". Economic and Political Weekly. 33 (35): 2295 – via EPW.(subscription required)

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