Anand Bhate

Anand Bhate is one of the most promising artistes in the new generation of the great Kirana tradition. He started his musical journey in the childhood and since then he has continued to present different exponents of Hindustani Classical Music. He has a privilege of being the disciple of the great classical vocalist, Bharat-Ratna Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, doyen of the Kirana gharana, a legend in his lifetime.

Anand was a gifted child prodigy from a family that had a background in classical music as well as Marathi drama. His great-grandfather, called famously as Bhatebua, was known for his prowess in rendering the ‘Thumari’ and ‘Natyasangeet’. Anand’s father has been a devoted fan of Balgandharva, the legendary singer-actor of the Marathi stage during the first half of the last century.

Anand’s natural talent for music blossomed at a very young age. It was Anand’s father who started honing it when he was not yet 10. His two elder sisters, who were also learning music at the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, also used to pitch in. At that time he used to play the bulbultarang, but before long, he could play the harmonium without any tuition. Anand’s father took him to Chandrashekhar Deshpande for systematic training in Marathi natyasangeet. As a result, Anand was soon able to sing songs from various Marathi musical plays exactly in the manner and style of Balgandharva himself And also started to give public performances.

Anand gave his first television performance in 1981, at the age of 10, and became a young star almost overnight. Connoisseurs were spellbound by Anand’s luminous rendering of Balgandharva’s  gayaki and affectionately conferred on him  the title Anand Gandharva. In the ensuing few years Anand had many successes. He gave natyasangeet performances on All India Radio as well on Mumbai Doordarshan and many public performances at various places in Maharashtra. He published his first Natyasangeet cassette in 1983.

Meanwhile, again thanks to his father, Anand had also begun his systematic initial training in classical music with Pandit Yashwantrao Marathe, who initiated Anand into the intricacies of Khayal gayaki. He got many opportunities to perform, particularly at the residence of Hirabai Badodekar, another stalwart of the Kirana gharana. He invariably impressed his audience—which, on occasion, included stalwarts like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Alla Rakha and Ustad Zakir Hussain, among others.

His fame reached the Marathi-speaking Diaspora in the US. He was invited to perform at the Brihan Maharashtra Mandal convention in Chicago in 1984 where he captivated the audience. This was a landmark event - it was as if ‘he came, he saw, he conquered’.

As already mentioned, Anand Bhate became a disciple of the great Pandit Bhimsen Joshi in 1988, which was, indeed, a long-cherished dream coming true for Anand. Under Bhimsenji’s guidance, Anand has emerged as a notable Khayal-singer of the younger generation that has to carry forward the glorious tradition of Indian classical music in general and the Kirana gayaki in particular. He has performed many times at the prestigious Sawai Gandharva Music Festival at Pune including recent performance in 2010.

Alongside his career in music, Anand Bhate has also had a brilliant academic career. He figured in the merit list at both the SSC and HSC examinations and went on to do his BE (Electronics) and M.Tech (Computer Science) from the University of Pune. At present, he is a Technology Architect with Zensar Technologies at Pune.

Anand is a dedicated and hard-working professional—both as an engineer and as a musician. His professional work does not deter him from pursuing his passion, music.

*  Sawai Gandharva Music Festival in 2002, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2012.

*  The leading role as Shri Krishna in Sangeet Saubhadra 2012.

*  Playback for the film ‘Balgandharva’ released in 2011.

*  Pt. Rajabhaiya Poonchwale Smriti Samaroha, Gwalior, in 2012.

*  Majhe maher pandhari – A concert by Anunad, Rahuri, in 2012.

*  Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande Foundation concert, Chinchwad, in 2012.

*  Gandharva Mahavidyalay 80th Anniversary Conference, Pune, in 2012.

*  Swaragandha concert, Baroda, in 2012.

*  Maharashtra Festival, Kolhapur, in 2012.

*  Pt. Vasantrao Deshpande Smriti Mahotsav, Nagpur, in 2011.

*  Legends of India Music Festival, Delhi, in 2011.

*  Ustad Rahimat Khan Sahib Smriti Music Festival, Dharwad, in 2011.

*  Pt. Bhimsenji Prasang, Indore, in 2011.

*  Smt. Gangubai Hangal Smriti Samaroha, Hubli, in 2011.

*  Pt. Firoze Dastur Smriti Samaroha, Mumbai, in 2011.

*  Jyotsna Bhole Swarotsav, Pune, in 2011.

*  Vandu Swarabhaskara – A concert in memory of Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Kolhapur, in 2011.

*  Deenayan Kalaparva, Pune, in 2011.

*  Sawai Gandharva 125th Birth Anniversary concert, Mumbai, in 2010.

*  Yojana Pratishthan, Mumbai, in 2010.

*  Mitra Foundation, Pune, in 2010.

*  Balgandharva Smriti Mahotsav, Jalgaon, in 2010.

*  Suburban Music Circle, Mumbai, in 2009.

*  Maharashtra Samaj, Dewas, in 2009.

*  Karade Mitra Mandal, Bangalore, in 2009.

*  LearnQuest Music Conference, Boston, US – followed by 15+ concerts in United States, in 2009.

*  Gunijan Sangeet Samaroha, Sawantwadi in 2009.

*  Sahagayan with Jayteerth Meundi, organized by Madhukans, Pune in 2009.

*  Pandit Kumar Gandharva Smriti Mahotsav, Chiplun in 2009.

*  Diwali Prabhat, Sanand, Indore in 2008.

*  Ganesh Janma Utsava, Indore, in 2008.

*  Pt. D.V. Kanebua Pratishthan, Ichalkaranji, in 2008.

*  Priti Sangam - Yashwantrao Chavan Smruti Samaroha, Karad in 2008.

*  Sadhana Kala Manch, Pune, in 2007.

*  Ganavardhan concert, Pune, in 2007.

*  Damodar Sangeet Mahotsav, Vasco, in 2006.

*  Ustad Abdul Karim Khan Sahib Janmadivas concert, Hubli in 2006.

*  Vishwa Shanti Pratishthan (M.I.T.), Alandi in 2006.

*  Pandit Jitendra Abhisheki Sangeet Samaroha, Goa in 2006.

*  Sawai Sangeet Sammelan, Thane and Chandrapur in 2006.

*  Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya, Pune in 2006.

*  Saptak, Nasik in 2005.

*  Dasanavami Festival, Sajjangad and Satara in 2004 and 2006.

*  Kalyan Gayan Samaj in 2003.

*  Chaturanga Pratishthan, Dadar in 2003.

*  Sawai Gandharva Smarak inaguration in 2003.

*  Samanvay – A concert with Jayateertha Meundi, at Mumbai, Pune, Mangalore in 2011, 2012.

*  Triveni Swarabhaskarachi – A concert with Jayteertha Meundi and Upendra Bhat, Pune, in 2010.

*  Swar sangam – A thematic concert with Shounak Abhisheki, Pune, in 2010.

*  Triveni – A concert with Shounak Abhisheki and Rahul Deshpande, Vasantotsav, Pune, in 2010.

*  Nakshatranche Dene, He Nayaka Swarbhaskara, Den Swarabhaskarache – Concerts in 2008-2009 arranged by Zee Marathi, All India Radio, etc.  to celebrate the event of Pandit Bhimsen Joshi being conferred BharatRatna.

*  Abhanga Rang, Sangli, Kolhapur, Belgaum in 2008 – A thematic program of traditional and contemporary Abhang along with Manjusha Kulkarni-Patil and Raghunandan Panshikar.

*  Chaturanga Bhaktisangeet, Pune in 2006 – A thematic program on four Bhaktisangeet traditions presented by Anand, Shounak Abhisheki,  Manjusha Kulkarni and Vijay Sardeskmukh.

*  Amrut Swar Sanjivani, Nasik, Mumbai in 2006-07 - A thematic program of classical and semi-classical compositions along with Kalpanatai Zokarkar.

*  Brihan Maharashtra Mandal convention at Chicago in the U.S. in 1984

*  All India Radio Sangeet Sammelan in Satara in 1983

*  Maharashtra Day function in Delhi in 1982.

*  Natyadarpan Sangeet Rajani in 1981

*  Akhil Bharatiya Natyaparishad conventions in Pune and Mumbai in 1981

Concerts Abroad

*  Brihan Maharashtra Mandal convention at Chicago in the U.S. in July 2011

*  LearnQuest Music Conference, Boston, US – followed by 15+ concerts in United States, in 2009

*  Brihan Maharashtra Mandal convention at Chicago in the U.S. in 1984 (As a child artiste)

*  Commercial Recordings

*  Kirana Heritage – An Audio CD of Classical and Semi-classical renditions, produced by RagaRanga®, USA and distributed in India and abroad (2009).

*  Anand Nidhaan – An Audio CD of Abhangawani, produced by RagaRanga®, USA and distributed in India and abroad (2009).

*  Poojyaya Raghavendraya – Rendition of two Bhajans in the CD dedicated to Shri Raghavendra Swami, composed by Pandit Shridhar Phadke (2011).

*  Sant Tukaram – a grand play by ISKCON – playback in several Bhajans for this play, music composed by Pandit Ashok Patki (2011).

*  Lilav – Rendition of a light classical song in the CD named Lilav, composed by Pandit Shridhar Phadke (2012) .

Anand's fame reached the Marathi-speaking Diaspora in the US. He was invited to perform at the Brihan Maharashtra Mandal convention in Chicago in 1984 where he captivated the audience. This was a landmark event - it was as if ‘he came, he saw, he conquered’.