Rahul Deshpande is an

Indian classical music Indian classical music is the classical music of the Indian subcontinent. It has two major traditions: the North Indian classical music known as '' Hindustani'' and the South Indian expression known as '' Carnatic''. These traditions were not ...

singer. He is the recipient of the 68th national award of the best playback singer for ''

Me Vasantrao ''Me Vasantrao'' () is a 2022 Indian Marathi-language biographical film based on the life of the Indian classical musician Vasantrao Deshpande. The film is written by Nipun Dharmadhikari, Upendra Sidhaye and directed by Nipun Dharmadhikari. Th ...

''. He is the grandson of

Vasantrao Deshpande Vasantrao Deshpande (2 May 1920 – 30 July 1983) was a Hindustani classical vocalist renowned for his contribution to Natya Sangeet (musical dramas). Early life Vasantrao Deshpande was born into a Deshastha Brahmin family in Murtizapur, Ako ...

Education and career

Rahul developed his interest in vocal music by studying the music of

Kumar Gandharva Pandit Kumar Gandharva (pronunciation:, Kn: ಕುಮಾರ್ ಗಂಧರ್ವ; 8 April 1924 – 12 January 1992), originally known as Shivaputra Siddharamayya Komkalimath was an Indian classical singer, well known for his unique vocal style ...

. Initially, he sought guidance of Pandit Gangadharbuva Pimpalkhare and Dr. Madhusudhan Patwardhan. He further learnt under the tutelage of Smt. Ushatai Chipalkatti and Pandit Mukul Shivputra. He also learned the

tabla A tabla, bn, তবলা, prs, طبلا, gu, તબલા, hi, तबला, kn, ತಬಲಾ, ml, തബല, mr, तबला, ne, तबला, or, ତବଲା, ps, طبله, pa, ਤਬਲਾ, ta, தபலா, te, తబల� ...

from Suresh Samant. His repertoire includes khayal, tap khayal, dhruvpad, thumri, kajri, hori, tappa, ghazal, abhanga, bhajan, natyasangeet and bhavgeet. Rahul has judged

Zee Marathi Zee Marathi is an Indian general entertainment channel which carries programming in Marathi. It is owned by Zee Entertainment Enterprises. The channel was launched on 15 August 1999 and was known as Alpha TV Marathi until 28 March 2005, then i ...

's popular reality TV show "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Little Champs" and Zee Yuva's "Sangeet Samrat parva2". His work in the re-opening of the musical play Katyar Kaljat Ghusali was appreciated. He was the playback singer for the songs of "Khansaheb Aftab Hussain Bareliwale", played by

Sachin Pilgaonkar Sachin Pilgaonkar, often known mononymously by his screen name Sachin, is an Indian actor, director, producer, writer and singer of Marathi language, Marathi and Hindi films. He has directed and acted in several Marathi films of the late 1980s ...

in the film. The role was played by Rahul himself in the play Katyar Kaljat Ghusali. Also, every year he arranges the "Vasantotsav" in the memory of his late grandfather Pandit

. A revised version of

Kakasaheb Khadilkar Krushnaji Prabhakar Khadilkar (Devanagari: कृष्णाजी प्रभाकर खाडिलकर) (25 November 1872 – 26 August 1948) was a Marathi writer from Maharashtra, India. George calls him "a prominent lieutenant of Lo ...

's Sangeet Maanapmaan played in

Maharashtra Maharashtra (; , abbr. MH or Maha) is a states and union territories of India, state in the western India, western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the List of states and union te ...

in 2011 and 2012, the centenary year of the play's first performance. It has been revised by Rahul Deshpande. "Originally, the play has five parts with around 52 classical songs. Deshpande's version will have two parts and 22 classical songs."

Stage appearances

* '' Katyar Kaljat Ghusali'' * ''Sangeet Sanshaykallol'' * "Sangeet Manapman" * "Sangeet Saubhadra"

Filmography

* ''

Balgandharva Narayan Shripad Rajhans, popularly known as Bal Gandharva, (26 June 1888 – 15 July 1967) was a famous Marathi language, Marathi singer and a stage actor. He was known for his roles in female characters in Marathi plays, since women were not ...

'' (Playback Singer) * '' Katyar Kaljat Ghusali'' (Playback Singer) * '' Amaltash'' (Actor and Playback Singer) (released) * ''

'' (Actor, as his grandfather and Playback Singer) (released)

Achievements and recognition

Rahul Deshpande singing in Vasantotsav 2010

* ''Rasikagrani Dattopant Deshpande Award,'' presented to him at the ''

Sawai Gandharva Music Festival The Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Mahotsav (formerly known as the Sawai Gandharva Sangeet Mahotsav and simply known as Sawai) is an annual Indian Classical music festival held in Pune since 1953. The festival is hosted by the Arya Sangeet Prasarak Ma ...

.'' * Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Awards 2012 by Lata Mangeshkar. * "Kothrud Bhushan" award by the hands of Maharashtra's Chief Minister, Devendra Phadanvis. * ''

Sudhir Phadke Sudhir Phadke (, 25 July 1919 – 29 July 2002) was an Indian singer-composer. He was regarded as an icon of the Marathi film industry and Marathi ''Sugam Sangeet'' (light music) for five decades. Apart from Marathi, Phadke sang and composed son ...

Award'' for his outstanding achievements at a young age. * Special Jury Award Best Singers in Zee Chitr Gaurav 2016. *

National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer The following is a list of winners of the National Film Awards, National Film Award (Silver Lotus Award) for Best Male Playback singer. The award was first granted to Mahendra Kapoor in the year 1967. The singers whose performances have won awar ...

for ''

'' (2022)

Personal life

Rahul is married to Neha Deshpande and they have a daughter.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Deshpande, Rahul Hindustani singers Living people Singers from Pune Indian Hindus Marathi-language singers Year of birth missing (living people) Patiala gharana 20th-century Khyal singers