HMV's G N Joshi in action

[naniwadekar]

Govind N Joshi was a singer, composer and recording executive with HMV.
Marathi bhaav-geet songs composed by him (in 1940s and 1950s) are remembered
now only by a dwindling number of fans of good music. G N Joshi was not a
classical performer but to serious followers of classical music, he is known
for his book 'Down Melody Lane' which had articles on several leading
classicalists whom he had heard perform. He passed away more than 25 years
ago but I was delighted to discover that an old TV program featuring him is
available on YouTube. The program is in Marathi. Participants were singer
Babanrao NaavaDeekar (Navdikar), Gajanan Watve, Malti Pande and Govind
Joshi. The familiar Nana Mule is on tabla. Padma Lokur conducts the program
most charmingly. Those were the days when people compering such programs
actually had interest in and understanding of music. Today's comperes look,
dress, and talk as if they have been recruited from brothel, and they are
the role models for middle-class Maharashtrians.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RU1TlDYZqjA&feature=related
At 7:30 mark, Padma Lokur says to GN Joshi: 'Govindrao, now you sing a few
lines to give Watve some rest'. At 8:35 he sings a song which he tells us he
based on 'You are always in my heart'. At 11:20, Watve sings 'gaganee
ugavalaa' which is a clear lift from Krishna Master's tune for 'har galii
me.n hai.n bageeche', brilliantly sung by Shanta Apte in the film: Wahan in
1937, when Watve was 20.
See: http://www.aathavanitli-gani.com/Song/Gagani_Ugavala_Sayantara


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHiIWXKDSs8
At 7:50 mark, Navdikar sings a song which he says he based on 'jhoom jhoom
ke naacho aaj' in Andaaz.
At 13:20 mark, Padma Lokur again coaxes G N Joshi to exercise his vocal
chords and he sings a few lines from a song.


- dn

[naniwadekar]

G N Joshi, at longer length.

http://www.aathavanitli-gani.com/Song/Nadikinari_Nadikinari_Ga
Click on the link to the right, under 'Register' button, to listen.
The song was written by Naagoraam Ghanashyam Deshpande (b 1909), a
phenomenal poet who never got the recognition he deserved. But he got
his due from cognoscenti; a poet of Borkar's caliber said that he
found Naa Gha Deshpande's poems hypnotic. I believe Sumatibai
Suklikar, the BJP politician from Nagpur, was related to Naa Gha.

GN Joshi has both composed and sung the song: नदीकिनारी, नदीकिनारी,
नदीकिनारी, गं .
Beautiful tune, very well sung.


- dn

[Archisman Mozumder]

Thanks for the link Dhananjay.

When I had first arrived in Bombay (to earn a living) in Jan 1994, I
had made it a point to visit his residence in Mahim West. He was very
ill & could bare think coherently for several minutes at a stretch.

As he lifted his head from the bed, I touched his feet. That day is
blessed for me. Anyone who has been instrumental in publishing the
great 78 rpms of the 40-s & 50-s is the Almighty's gift to us, music
lovers. If one were to add vinyls like Amir Khan's Darbari/Marwa &
Dagar Brother's Darbari/Adana (among many many others) gets elevated
to a more exalted position).

So, assuming that he passed away in the same year as I had met him
(1994) that makes it about 18 years, right?

Regards.

[Abhik Majumdar]

Fantastic work, Nani! Kudos, and many many thanks!

Abhik

[naniwadekar]

On Feb 2, 7:28 pm, Archisman Mozumder wrote:
>
> So, assuming that he passed away in the same year as I had met him
> (1994) that makes it about 18 years, right?
>

This page (http://www.aathavanitli-gani.com/Sangeetkar/G_N_Joshi) says
he died in Sept 1984. I will let that site's admin know that G N Joshi
was alive in 1994.

The person (one 'Dattaji') who posted that GNJ link has also posted
links to tabla player Lalaji Gokhale playing tabla and talking about
his association with Thirakwa, a very good Bhairavi jugalbandi by
Buwa's grand-daughetrs Apoorva Gokhale and Pallavi Joshi (with Buwa's
singer daughter Sucheta Bidkar the woman in green in the crowd), and a
fantastic Malgunji by Gajananbuwa Joshi.

- dn