Biography of Vinayak Rao Patwardhan

Born: 22 July 1898, Miraj
Died: 23 August 1975, Pune

Pandit Vinayak Rao Patvardhan belonged to Gwalior Gharana. He was a disciple of Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar.

Pandit Vinayak Rao Patwardhan was born on July 10, 1898, at Miraj in a Maharashtrian family. His first music teacher was his uncle Keshavrao Patwardhan. Then he went to Lahore where he was taught by Pandit Vishnu Digambar Paluskar. After completing his education, and on the advice of his guru, he became a teacher in Kanpur, Bombay, and in the Lahore branch of Gandharva University.

In 1922, he became a member of Bal Gandharva. He acted in plays like Man Apman', 'Samasya Kalaant', and 'Vidli Likhat'. He also gave music in the Marathi film 'Maji Layak'. In the Hindi film Madhuri' he played a lead role and also sang a song based on Raga Bahar.

During those days, he successfully spread Hindustani classical music. In 1932, he founded a branch of Gandharva University in Pune. He died in 1974.