Cinemaazi remembers Dr Vasantrao Deshpande on his death anniversary

One of the legends of natya sangeet, Dr Vasantrao Deshpande passed away on 30 July, 1983. A musical vagabond of sorts, Dr. Deshpande picked up his musical training from a number of teachers, beginning with Shankarrao Sapre and Sureshbabu Mane, and later picking up the gayaki of Dinanath Mangeshkar. With the help of his uncle who stayed in Punjab, he also learnt from Asad Ali, Barkat Ali and Bade Ghulam Ali. An intrepid student of music, no boundaries, be they geographical or social like caste, could bar his curiosity. He became a fantastic proponent of classical and semi-classical music, and an influential practitioner of natya sangeet. At a very young age he also appeared in Bhalji Pendharkar's Kaliya Mardan (1935).