Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti
Pratishthan felicitated legends from the fields of music, drama, art and social
work with the prestigious Deenanath Awards at the Shri Shanmukhanand Hall,
Sion. Hon. Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari
presided over the function. Hridaynath Mangeshkar, Usha Mangeshkar, Adinath Mangeshkar, Avinash
Prabhavalkar and Ravi Joshi among others played perfect hosts at the event that
had a familial feel to it.
This year, the Master Deenanath
Mangeshkar Award was conferred upon the Sarod Maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan;
Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Lifetime Award to Asha Bhosle, Master Deenanath
Mangeshkar Special Award to Anupam Kher for his contribution to Indian Theatre
and Cinema, Shekhar Sen for his contribution to Theatre, Dhananjay Datar for
his Social Entrepreneurship; the Vagvilasini Award to poet Yogesh Gaur for
Literature and Shriram Gogate Award to Rajiv Khandekar for Journalism; the
Mohan Wagh Award to Theatre Production - Ananya for Best Drama of the Year; the
Asha Bhosle Award to Mery Behlihomji, Hon. Chairperson of The Central Society
of Education for the Deaf for her social cause and contribution to the progress
of the hearing impaired for general public.
Ustad Amjad Ali Khan was elated. “For
the musicians of India, and especially for me, the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar
Smruti Pratishthan Award is the greatest and the most prestigious award of my
life. The legendary Deenanath jee gave the revered Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle,
Usha Mangeshkar, Meena Mangeshkar and Srimant Hridayanath Mangeshkar to the
music world. I feel very blessed and humbled with this honour.”
Asha Bhosle felt equally honoured.
“This award is really special for me as it is in the name of my father, Shri
Deenanath Mangeshkar. But more than that, I feel honoured to receive this award
as it has been conferred upon many stalwarts from the music industry, over the
years. This year is Deenanath ji’s 76th anniversary and legends like Pandit Birju Maharaj, Ustad Amjad
Ali Khan and Ajay Chakraborty among others will be part of celebrations. I feel
blessed. “
Social entrepreneur Dhananjay Datar
felt inspired. “I am extremely happy to be chosen to be a proud recipient of
the prestigious Deenanath Mangeshkar Awards. The Mangeshkar family, in every
way, has been giving Maharashtra, the best of their best. Apart from
entertaining the society with divine music, they have been active in social
service and enrichment of our culture. Their noble philanthropic service has set
a unique example for others to follow. It is a blessing for me to receive this
award. Secondly, I am inspired and encouraged by Pandit Hridaynathji
Mangeshkar, when I humbly started promoting Indian and specially Marathi
culture in Gulf countries. His words of appreciation boosted my spirit and
enthusiasm to march forward in this direction.”
Avered Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty,
“Deenanath ji was a great performing musician and a trendsetter in Maharashtra.
Raga music in Maharashtra was popular through Natya Sangeet and he was a King
in that periphery, his memory maintained by the legendary Lata ji, Asha ji,
Usha ji and Hridaynath ji. I think it’s really a privilege for everyone to come
and remember Deenanath ji today and the kind of hard work that the family has
put in to keep the tradition alive. I received the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar
Smruti Pratisthan Award four years ago and this time, I will be performing
alongside Birju Maharaj ji. It is going to be an enthralling experience for me
and I am looking forward to the same.”
The Mangeshkar family has been
celebrating Deenanath Mangeshkar’s anniversary since the last 75 years and this is the 76th anniversary celebrations. Earlier the celebrations used to be a
private function till they made it public since 1988.
“In memory of Master Deenanathji,
whose monumental contributions as a singer, musician and stage artiste have
been an inspiration to the people of Maharashtra and India, the Mangeshkar
family organizes the Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti Pratishthan Awards to
honour legends. We are glad that we have the love and support of the masses.”
echoed Hridaynath Mangeshkar.
The Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Smruti
Pratishthan Awards was followed by a classical programme, Swar Nritya Bhav
Darshan wherein Pt. Birju Maharaj
and Saswati Sen delivered a Kathak
performance, Pt. Ajoy Chakraborty’s rendition of Thumris, with Anindo
Chatterjee as the Tabla accompanist. The programme concluded with Pt.Ajoy
Chakraborty's Thumri rendition with Bhavmudra presentation by Pt.Birju Maharaj.
The 76th Master Deenanath Mangeshkar Punyatithi was organized by Master
Deenanath Mangeshkar Shruti Prathishthan along with Hridayesh Arts, who have
also organized the music programme.
