| Saraswati Rane | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Saraswati Abdul Mane |
| Also known as | Smt. Saraswati Rane |
| Born | October 4, 1913 Miraj, Bombay Presidency, British India |
| Origin | Miraj, Maharashtra |
| Died | October 10, 2006 (aged 93) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Genres | Hindustani Classical, Khayal, Thumri, Bhajan, Abhang, etc. |
| Occupations | Hindustani Classical vocalist |
| Years active | 1940–2006 |
Saraswati Abdul Rane (October 4, 1913 - October 10, 2006) was an Indian classical singer in the Hindustani Classical genre. Daughter of Ustad Abdul Karim Khan (1872–1937), the founder of Kirana Gharana, her family had a long and great music tradition, she got her initial training of vocal music of Kirana Gharana style from her elder brother Sureshbabu Mane and elder sister Hirabai Barodekar, who themselves were the doyen of Indian classical music of their times.[1] Later she also sang along with elder sister, Hirabai Bododekar, the doyenne of Kirana gharana, especially in jugalbandi style.[2]
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Born on October 4, 1913 to Ustad Abdul Karim Khan (1872–1937), the founder of Kirana Gharana and Tarabai Mane, as Sakina, she grew in a musical household. But after separating from her father, her monther, Tarabai renamed all her five children, hence Sakina became Kumari Saraswati Mane. She was initiated into music by her brother Sureshbabu Mane, later after 1930, she also started learning from her sister Hirabai Barodekar.
To enhance her musical knowledge she also got taleem (training) from ustads of different gharanas like nephew of Alladiya Khan, Ustad Natthan Khan of Jaipur gharana, Prof. B. R. Deodhar and Pandit Master Krishnarao of Gwalior gharana.[3]
Smt. Saraswatibai started her musical career at a very early age of seven years with stage acting in musical dramas like Sangeet Saubhadra, Sangeet Sanshaykallol, Sangeet Ekach Pyala etc. Right from her young age i.e. since 1929 she started acting in major roles with great noted artists like Balgandharva and many such noted artists in thousands of shows all over the country.
Since 1933, she started giving performances in Radio, when Akashwani was the then government institution. She gave her performances in All India Radio as a top grade artist till 1990, when she declared her retirement from public performances. She is amongst the few classical vocalist who have participated in each and every Radio Sangeet Sabha from Kanyakumari to Peshawar (now in Pakistan) from early 40's to mid 80's.
She was amongst the first lady to give playback for Hindi and Marathi films. Her first playback was in Marathi film Payachi Dasi, directed by Acharya Atre. Then she remained in the field till 1954. Her song from Hindi film Ramrajya..`Bina Madhur Madhur Kachu Bol’ reached the peak of popularity all over India and she was awarded by HMV for highest sale of gramophone records in those times.
She has also given playback for Hindi film, Sargam (1950), and Bhumika (1977), directed by noted director Shyam Benegal.
She had an opportunity to sing under the music direction of great music directors like C. Ramchandra, Shankarrao Vyas, K. C. Day, Sudhir Phadke.
Smt. Saraswatibai was invited to participate on the eve of first independence Day at Delhi. Sahe was also invited to participate a grand celebration at Shivneri on the first Maharashtra Din by the then chief minister Late Yashwantrao Chavan.
In the same period she became very popular singer of Marathi light classical songs popularly known as Bhav-geet and her records got overwhelming response from all over Maharashtra.
She is among the few top artists of our country who has been invited in all the prestigious music conferences held at places like Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Baroda, Bhopal, Gwalior etc. She often performed at the Pune's Sawai Gandharva Music Festival.[4]
Saraswatibai and her elder sister Smt. Hirabai Barodekar are the first lady pair to start the concept of jugalbandi vocal recital by ladies. Their jugalbandi recital was appreciated all over the world and got an overwhelming response since 1965 to 1980.
Their jugalbandi long playing records and now cassettes are still in demand all over.
Though Saraswatibai was so much tied up and busy in her career, whenever she found free time, she carried on with work of teaching classical music to talented students, some of them are known artists in this field. Her grand daughter Meena Faterpekar is one of the very few female classical vocalists from Kirana Gharana perusing the same tradition.
She was married to Sunderrao Rane. Smt. Saraswatibai Rane died 10 October 2006.
Sarswatibai was awarded: 1. Balgandharva Purskar (Government of Maharashtra, 1966) 2. Balgandharva Gold Medal 3. ITC Sangeet Research Academy Award 4. Yeshwantrao Chavan Puraskar 5. Guru Mahatmya Puraskar (Maharashtra) 6. Ustad Faiyaz Ahmed Khan Memorial Trust (Kirana Gharana Award 1999)