Songs like Me Manapmana (मी मानापमाना) or Chandrika Hi Janu (चंद्रिका ही जणू) are regarded as one of the best in Natya-Sangeet History. Of course credit to the actor and singer - Bal Gandharv (बाल गंधर्व), but no one should forget the writer of those note-worthy Sangeet Nataks - Krishnaji Prabhakar Khadilkar (कृष्णाजी प्रभाकर खाडिलकर) or more commonly known as Kakasaheb Khadilkar (काकासाहेब खाडिलकर).
My apologies for not having enough data regarding Khadilkar's birth-date, birth-town details. Khadilkar started his writing with Non-Sangeet Nataks. Plays like Kanchangadchi Mohana (कांचनगडची मोहना) and Keechakvadh (कीचकवध), actually propagated notion of independence. Because of the plays had political impacts, they were banned by British Government in 1910.
Speaking of Sangeet Nataks by Khadilkar, first comes in mind is Sangeet- Manapman (संगीत मानापमान) of 1911. Sangeet Manapman gave new heights to Sangeet Nataks. It was an era of change, era of a Gandharv Music.
Khadilkar worked at Kirloskar Natak Mandali (किर्लोस्कर नाटक मंडळी) for 6 years before Starting his own Gandharv Natak Mandali (गंधर्व नाटक मंडळी) along with Bal Gandharv (बाल गंधर्व).
Bal Gandharv's exemplary skills [role of Bhamini (भामिनी)] gave justice to Sangeet-Manapman. During that time Khadilkar wrote some more Sangeet Nataks like Sangeet-Vidyaharan (संगीत विद्याहरण), Sangeet-Satvapariksha (संगीत सत्वपरीक्षा). But these two Nataks didn't got the popularity as Sangeet-Manapman. But then came one of the greatest Sangeet Natak of history from Khadilkar - Sangeet-Swayamvar (संगीत स्वयंवर) in 1916. It actually started new era in Sangeet Nataks. It excelled the earlier Nataks in terms of Music and Melodious Compositions. Sangeet-Swayamvar achieved new heights of popularity. Again Bal Gandharv gave unforgettable performance as Rukmini (रूक्मिणी).
After Sangeet-Swayamvar, Khadilkar wrote some more Sangeet Nataks like Sangeet-Draupadi (संगीत द्रौपदी), Sangeet-Menka (संगीत मेनका), Sangeet-Savitri (संगीत सावित्री) etc.
Khadilkar is regarded as one of the five pioneers of Sangeet Nataks. With four others being - Annasaheb Kirloskar (अण्णासाहेब किर्लोस्कर), Shripad Krushna Kolhatkar (श्रीपाद कृष्ण कोल्हटकर), Govind Ballal Deval (गोविंद बल्लाळ देवल) and Ram Ganesh Gadkari (राम गणेश गडकरी).
For Songs in Sangeet-Manapman, Sangeet-Swayamvar, Sangeet-Draupadi please refer website Athvanitil Gani by Alka Vibhas Tattu
Sangeet-Manapman
Sangeet-Swayamvar
Sangeet-Draupadi
For all songs by Kakasaheb Khadilkar, please see
In my last two posts, I didn't added the links for all songs by Annasaheb Kirloskar and Govind Ballal Deval. Please refer following links for that.
Annasaheb Kirloskar
Govind Ballal Deval
I have my favourite songs from creations of Kakasaheb Kirloskar. My favourites incldues
संगीत मानापमान
चंद्रिका ही जणू
खरा तो प्रेमा
शूरा मी वंदिले
नमन नटवरा
संगीत स्वयंवर
नरवर कृष्णासमान
स्वकुल तारक सुता
सुजन कसा मन चोरी
