Pandit Prasad Sawkar (born 14 December 1928) is an Indian

vocalist Singing is the art of creating music with the voice. It is the oldest form of musical expression, and the human voice can be considered the first musical instrument. The definition of singing varies across sources. Some sources define singi ...

, and scholar of Indian classical, semi-classical, and devotional music. He received prestigious

Padma Shri The Padma Shri (IAST: ''padma śrī'', lit. 'Lotus Honour'), also spelled Padma Shree, is the fourth-highest Indian honours system, civilian award of the Republic of India, after the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Vibhushan and the Padma Bhushan. In ...

award in the year 2006 for his work in music and

Sangeet Natak ''Sangeet Natak'' (Marathi for 'musical drama') is a form of drama which combines prose and poetry in the form of songs to convey the story, similar to musicals. They have played a vital role in the development of Marathi theater and cinema, a ...

Early life and background

Sambaprasad Raghuvir Sawkar was born in

Baroda Vadodara (), also known as Baroda, is a city situated on the banks of the Vishwamitri River in the Indian state of Gujarat. It serves as the administrative headquarters of the Vadodara district. The city is named for its abundance of banyan ...

Gujarat Gujarat () is a States of India, state along the Western India, western coast of India. Its coastline of about is the longest in the country, most of which lies on the Kathiawar peninsula. Gujarat is the List of states and union territories ...

in a family of musicians and actors hailing from Goa. His father, Raghuvir Sawkar, was a singer and actor who was famous for acting a ladies character in the play who was known as Rangdevta. He took his formal education in music and acting from his father. Later he came under the influence of great musicians such as Jitendra Abhisheki and Nivruttibuwa Sarnaik

Career

Sawkar acted as child artist in the play Jinjihun Sutka (जिंजीहून सुटका) as Bal

Shivaji Shivaji I (Shivaji Shahaji Bhonsale, ; 19 February 1630 – 3 April 1680) was an Indian ruler and a member of the Bhonsle dynasty. Shivaji carved out his own independent kingdom from the Sultanate of Bijapur that formed the genesis of the ...

at the start of career in

Marathi theatre Marathi theatre is theatre in the Marathi language, mostly originating or based in the state of Maharashtra in India, and elsewhere with Marathi diaspora. Starting in the middle of the 19th century, it flourished in the 1950s and 1960s. Today, ...

. Later he went to his uncle Dattaram Sawkar for school education at Mhapsa who was also a harmonium player. Sawkar continued getting training of music over there. He played a role of 'Kruttika' in the play "Sanshay Kallol". He also made a record of by playing four characters in the same play namely Kruttika, Sadhu, Singer and Vaishakh Sheth. Later he played in Plays like Soubhadra, Mruchchakatik, Vidyharan, Manapman with "Kala Mandir" organization. Swakar played important roles with the organization "Natyniketan" in the plays like Rambha, Kulvadhu, Kone eke kali, Ek hota Mhatara, Lagnachi Bedi etc. He also made career in Marathi Cinema which includes Pedgaoche Shahane, Gora Kumbhar The period between 1960 and 1972 is known for the revival of Sangeet natak (play) in the industry. Sawkar played a major role in this. He was instrumental by acting in "Panditrao Jagannath" and "Suvarnatula" which get wide popularity. He started getting recognized by popular singer cum actor on the stage with this. In the year 1967, he played the role of "Sadashiv" in the play

Katyar kaljat ghusli ''Katyar Kaljat Ghusali'' is a Marathi musical play (Sangeet Natak), originally released in 1967. The play gained such popularity that more than 1,000 shows were staged in a very short period. The play was written by Purushottam Darvhekar. The ...

and worked closely with

Purushottam Darvhekar Purushottam Darwhekar (1 June 1926 – 21 September 1999) was an Indian writer and producer of Indian classical and semi-classical musical plays and radio and television programs. He is credited with a revival of the Marathi musical theater ( ...

Jitendra Abhisheki Ganesh Balawant Nawathe (21 September 1929 – 7 November 1998), better known as Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki, was an Indian vocalist, composer and scholar of Indian classical, semi-classical, and devotional music. While he distinguished hims ...

and

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, A ...

. The song Ghei chand makarand is known as a milestone in the musical plays. Swakar travelled to United States with his wife in 1972 and played small roles in his plays over there which also became very popular.

Plays

* Jinjihun Sutka जिंजीहून सुटका * Sanshay Kallol संशयकल्लोळ * Soubhadra सौभद्र * Mruchchakatik मृच्छकटिक * Vidyharan विद्याहरण * Manapman मानापमान * Rambha रंभा (१९५२) * Kulvadhu कुलवधू * Kone eke kali कोणे एके काळी * Lagnachi Bedi एक होता म्हातारा * Panditrao Jagannath पंडितराज जगन्नाथ 1960 * Suvarnatula सुवर्णतुला 1960 * Mandarmala मंदारमाला 1963 * Jai Jai Gourishankar जय जय गौरीशंकर 1966 *

कट्यार काळजात घुसली 1967 * Ghanshyam nayani aala घनश्याम नयनी आला 1968 * To Rajhans Ek तो राजहंस एक 1975 * Amrut mohini अमृत मोहिनी * Avagha rang ekachi rang अवघा रंग एकचि रंग

Cinema

* Pedgaoche Shahane पेडगावचे शहाणे * Gora Kumbhar गोरा कुंभार

Popular Songs

# Ghei Chand Makarand घेई छंद मकरंद # Jai Gange Bhagirathi जय गंगे भागिरथी # Narayana Ramaramana नारायणा रमारमणा # Sapt Sur Zankarit Bole सप्त सूर झंकारीत होते # Utha Pandharichya Raja ऊठ पंढरीच्या राजा # Jay Gange Bhagirathi जय गंगे भागीरथी # Tare Nahi Ye To Raat Ko तारे नहीं ये तो रात को # Narayana Rama Ramana नारायणा रमा रमणा # Patit Pavan Naam Aikuni पतित पावन नाम ऐकुनी # Priya Na Kavan Tuj प्रिय न कवण तुज # Basant Ki Bahar Aayi बसंत की बहार आयी # Bujhavo Deep A Sajani बुझावो दीप ए सजनी # Bhare Manat Sundara भरे मनात सुंदरा # Bhagya Surya Nashuni भाग्यसूर्य नाशुनि तिमिरा # Muralidhar Shyam He मुरलीधर श्याम हे नंदलाल # Yogi Pavan Manacha योगी पावन मनाचा # Ratihun Sundar Madan रतिहुन सुंदर मदनमंजिरी # Ragini Mukhachandrama रागिणी-मुखचंद्रमा # SaptSur Jhankarit Bole सप्‍तसूर झंकारित बोले # Sab Gunijan Mil Gavo सब गुनिजन मिल गावो # Savan Ghan Garaje Bajaye सावन घन गरजे बजाये # Sukhavito Madhumas Ha सुखवितो मधुमास हा # Hi Kanakangi Kon Lalana ही कनकांगी कोण ललना

Awards and recognitions

* Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti award * Jeevan Gourav Award from Maharashtra State Government * Panchratna Award * Padma Shri

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sawkar, Prasad Konkani-language singers 1928 births Hindustani singers Konkani people Musicians from North Goa district Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts Marathi-language singers 20th-century Indian male classical singers Living people Singers from Goa