Cinemaazi remembers Bal Gandharva on his birth anniversary

One of the best-known female impersonators of the Marathi stage, Bal Gandharva was born on 26 June, 1888. Born as Narayan Sripad Rajhans in Nagthane, he was spotted at a young age by Shahu Maharaj who introduced him to Kirloskar Mandali. Acting in many Marathi classics, he played an important role in popularising Natya Sangeet. After Nanasaheb Joglekar's death in 1911, he left Kirloskar Mandali to form Gandharva Sangeet Mandali. Ultimately it had to closed down due to incurring heavy debts. Named Bal Gandharva by an impressed Lokmanya Tilak after a performance, he acted in only one film - Prabhat Film's Dharmatma (1935). Cast as the Marathi poet and philosopher Sant Eknath, his debut was heavily publicised. But cast agaisnt the mold of the roles he usually played, he felt uncomfortable and did not act in a film again. His version of classical music was propagated by the likes of Govindrao Tembe and Krishnarao Phulambrikar.