Vocalist and Theatre actor Master Deenanath Mangeshkar

Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar (29 December 1900 - 24 April 1942) was an exceptional Hindustani Classical, Semi-Classical and Natya-Sangeet Vocalist and Marathi theatre actor. He is popularly addressed as Master Deenanath Mangeshkar and better known as the father of great Mangeshkar sisters. His kids -Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Hridayanath Mangeshkar, Meena Khadikar and Usha Mangeshkar are of course the biggest names of Indian musical industry!

He was born at Mangeshi, Goa on 29 December 1900 as the son of a Brahmin priest of Mangueshi temple, Ganesh Bhatt Abhisheki. His mother was Yesubai who belonged to Devadasi community. Deenanath's father surname was Hardikar. But he adopted the surname Mangeshkar which means from the village of Mangeshi in Marathi. Deenanath Mangeshkar started his music lessons at the age of 5. He received formal training in Hindustani music from Shri Baba Mashelkar and later from Gwalior school. He travelled to Bikaner to take formal training in classical music from Pt. Sukhdev Prasad and has also learnt from Pt. Ramkrishnabuwa Vaze. He joined the Kirloskar Sangeet Mandali and the Kirloskar Natak Mandali at the age of 11. He formed Balwant Mandali with his friends Chintamanrao Kolhatkar and Krishnarao Kolhapure.

His personality, good looks and magical voice made him a popular name of Marathi theatre. He studied astrology as well. He was interested in numerology also. Bal Gandharva publicly declared that he would welcome the entry of Deenanath in his organization "by throwing a carpet of rupee coins under his feet".

In the middle 1930’s he produced three movies and a few dramas as well. He was the first musician to openly defy the British Empire by performing before them publically. He did so in front of British Viceroy in Simla. Deenanath's first wife was Narmada. They had a daughter named Latika, who died in her infancy. Narmada also died at a younger age. Later he married his first wife's younger sister, Shevanti with whom he had 5 children - Lata, Meena, Asha, Usha and Hridaynath. During financial hardship days of 1930s, he took to alcohol and died on 24 April 1942 in Pune, aged 41. Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital and research center, Pune was made by his family in memory of him.

On his Birth Anniversary, Hindustani Classical Music And Everything pays rich tributes to the legend and are grateful for his contributions to the Indian Classical & Semi-Classical Music, Natya-Sangeet and Drama.