Bai Sunderabai Jadhav: The tragic end of a very melodious voice!

Bai Sunderabai Jadhav Punekarin (1885-1952) Around 1920, Bal Gandharva staged Ram Ganesh Gadkari’s Marathi drama - ‘Ekach Pyala’. Bai Sunderabai of Poona composed its music. Songs from this drama are popular even today, after a long gap of over eighty-seven years. She used Kawaali ‘Katla Mujhe Kar Dala Rama for the pad ‘Satya vade vachanala natha’ and gazal ‘Dile bekarar tune’ for the most famous pad ‘Kashi ya tyaju padala’, both sung by the heroine Sindhu. Tune of this gazal and song became so much popular that Mr K. R. Vaidya, Marathi poet of Nalasopara (near Mumbai) wrote a paradoy song and she recorded it on twelve-inch diameter, 78 rpm record - ‘Tu haansalees majala tirva karuni dola’. It also became very popular. Born in 1885 at Pune, Sunderabai was a child prodigy. Her father realized talent in her voice and encouraged her to pursue this as a career. Her attachment to her birthplace was so intense that it could be heard at the end of some of her early 78 rpm recordings wherein she ends the song with an announcement - ‘My name is Bai Sunderbai of Poona’. However, she spent most of her working life in Mumbai (Bombay). Initially, she lived in Girgaon and learnt bhajans from Thakurdasboa who used to perform in Ram Mandir in the Girgaon area. Later on, she moved to Indore for some time and learnt from Ustad Dhamman Khan, Ustad Gulam Rasool Khan and Pandit Keshav Bhaiyya. In addition to pure classical music, she learnt almost all styles of light classical music. In Mumbai, she used to sing in prestigious music circles such as Laxmi Baug wherein great musicians like Bhaskarboa Bakhale, Master Krishnarao and Bal Gandharva attended her concerts. She was promptly recommended for music conferences outside Maharashtra. Later on, she regularly performed at prestigious conferences at Banaras, Allahabad, Hyderabad and Calcutta. Bai Sunderabai became very popular and earned lot of money, fame and name as ‘Bai Sunderabai Jadhav Punekarin’. She bought two motor cars and rented complete top floor of the building opposite to Victoria Terminus railway station in Bombay. This building is next to Capitol cinema house, presently occupied by McDonald food joint on the ground floor. She cut few records with the gramophone company in early period where her voice was rather thin and high pitched. She announces her name in these records. She again cut records in October 1921, in which her guru Ustad Dhamman Khan has accompanied her on tabla. She cut over 150 songs (75 records) on H.M.V., Odeon, Regal, Columbia and Young India labels. These songs were in Urdu, Hindustani, Pharsi, Bhojpuri and Marathi language. She has sung few ragas such as Jogia, Jaunpuri. However, she was very comfortable with light music. Although she was expert in Hori, Gazal, Dadra, Kawali, Bhajan and Thumri, her speciality was Marathi Lavni. Some of her famous lavni’s are - ‘Tumhi majhe savkaar’, ‘Dipawalichya sani’ and ‘Katheen bai badudyachee 5 chakaree’. Her bhajans ‘Vanavasi ram majha sanga kuni pahila’, ‘Sunder sari mori’, ‘Radhe Krishna Bol Mukhase’, ‘Mathura na sahi, gukul hi sahi’ crossed borders and she became popular in North India through her records. Sunderabai lived for over seventy years. She adapted herself with all the new modern and emerging media including radio and cinema. She acted in couple of films - Marathi ‘Sangam’ (1941), Hindi / Marathi ‘Admi / Manoos’ (C.1937) and her role of hero’s innocent and pious mother was very well received. She planned to launch a new record company titled - ‘The Navbharat Record Mfg. Company’ with the help of Mr. Dattopant Phatak, Pune who was also associated with Odeon record mfg. company. She thought of making several new records through her own company. However, the company was never formed and her dreams were shattered. She lost all her money, property, cars and had to live in a small room with her paralysed daughter. She received the job with All India Radio, Bombay. She persuaded several musicians including Ustad Abdul Kareem Khan for cutting records with the Odeon Company and also to give cpncerts for radio. Mr. Z. A. Bukhari, station director of Bombay radio was very helpful to artists and he encouraged them during his tenure. Sunderabai organized several radio programs of Bal Gandharva who was like her brother. She died in 1952 while in service with radio.
I do not own the copyright to any of the records used in this video. These music records will be copyrighted by those who have actual rights over them. I express my thanks and gratitude to all the collectors of records and those who made them available to music lovers!
You can support me at www.patreon.com/sdkd

[@ulhasphadtare4083]

Ye legend pune ki thi ye hamare liye bahot hi garva ki baat hai aur usme itne purane jamaneme bahujan samaj ki aurat the ye to aur bhi bahot badi baat hai aajke jamaneme bahujan samaj ke ladkionko aurotoko kitne retractio hai ye video banane walonko koti koti dhannyawad

[@ranganathansrinivasan7244]

A great research and thanks for this episode. I hope, the Sunderbai Hall in south mumbai is named after her.

[@sadashivkamatkar1322]

माननीय श्रेष्ठ गायिका सुंदराबाई जाधव यांना आजरपूर्वक नमस्कार. 🙏

[@sandipmuke76]

sahab aapne khoya huva kohinoor khoj nikala, bahot dhanyavad. sundarabai ko shat shat naman

[@manojdeokar7848]

Ati sundar gayki dhanyawad apka

[@shivamumbai1]

Great job, serving the music world.

[@priyokabi]

True artists can never deal with the harsh reality of life. They need protection from the lowly, selfish and beiman people of the world, but she had no one to safeguard her well-being, I guess. So sad

[@dilipjoshi7346]

धन्य हैं आप, और अद्भुत आनन्दपूर्ण है आपकी यह ऐतिहासिक प्रस्तुति । भारत में सुन्दराबाई जैसी कई और गुमनाम गायिकाएँ, और गायकों को आप अपने सरलतम व अत्याकर्षक भाव के साथ सफलतापूर्वक जीवन्तता देते रहे ; ताकि हमारी अभिरुचि सुषमृद्ध होती रहे । बार-बार आपके लिये हार्दिक शुभ कामनाएँ ज्ञापित करता हूँ ।

[@rajapal57]

Very wonderful

[@user-pl1lc6yx7d]

Very wonderful authentic voice heart touching voice and very heart touching narrating god bless u brother thank u very much from mangesh( music director)

[@surekhahulsurkar8235]

बहुत सुंदर

[@zaheerzulfiqar1885]

Lahore, Wah, what a majestic and melodious voice.

[@स्वामीहरवेदजीमहाराज]

बहुत सुन्दर प्रस्तुति

[@ogamiyashin2036]

i am 50years old live in japan i love music old and new, but realy i love sureely dinon ki dastan.i love and respect you dear sir.

[@SureeleDinonKiDastan]

Thanks a lot Ogami Yashin ji. give me your email id or email me at: [e-mail]

[@sarmadnaama8260]

Great work

[@narayanshastri7418]

Melodius voice

[@rammoesai6045]

amazing melodie of the past...i wish it was today

[@somnathmajumder3175]

Bahat achha, dukhad bhee

[@1961keyur]

Wonderful

[@payvand100]

Mind blowing 👌👌👌👌

[@simantinis1750]

Excellant

[@ishwarchandraic9418]

Good info , thanks for uploading

[@debanjalihota4382]

This is an excellent episode....v happy to learn more about this brilliant artiste from ur research....thnq v v much.

[@abrarahmad4345]

Sir nyc great 👍

[@shabanas4950]

Best 👍❤💐

[@Shriappaji36]

Fantastic.

[@shubhschiesser6951]

Wah! Her melodious voice!

[@ulhasphadtare4083]

Sory awaj aur gaykee tarif karte time typing mistak ho gayee awaj aur gayan bahot hi la jawab hai

[@MuhammadAkram-iq2kw]

Iam one of your subscribers I love the program way you presented very first time I heard this name although I'm very fond of listening old music please tell me about old actress leela desai she is alive or no I cannot find in goggle thanks

[@amarsuleman401]

Very sad story. They do say an artist entertainer is gullible.

[@ashwingokhale5235]

Very well researched episode. The detailing is simply amazing.....Thank you so much for your efforts....

[@SureeleDinonKiDastan]

So nice of you.

[@ShahAlam-eg9vy]

BAI SUNDRA-BAI (DEEMAK LAKDREE KHA GAIYE AOR JAB WOH ITNEE MEETHEE HO) MAERY DIL PHIR UDAS HO GAIYA IS SUREELEE AWAZ KO KISTRAEH APNON NAEY DHOKA DIYA AISA LAGTA HAEY YEH AZEEM GAIYEKA BOHOT SADA DIL THEE ! HAIYE RAEY !!

[@sushilchavan1769]

अनेक संगीत मैफिली ऐकल्या, ऐकतो. पण कुठेही जुन्या काळातील दिग्गज गायकांचा विषय निघाला की त्यात सुंदराबाई जाधव यांचे नाव ऐकायला मिळत नाही. माहितीबद्दल आभार.

[@arunpuranik2060]

गन्धर्व कंपनीच्या एकच प्याला नाटकात रामलाल ची भूमिका माझे आजोबा जगन्नाथबुवा पंढरपुरकर करत असत सुंदराबाई यांचा वृद्धापकाळ हलाखीत गेला रेडिओ स्टेशनचे बुखारी साहेब यांनी त्यांना काही काळ बोरीबंदर च्या एम्पायर होटल मधे ठेवले होते, जेवणाची व्यवस्था इन्कम टॅक्स ऑफिस च्या कैंटीन मधे केली होती

[@manoharchanne2485]

Akach pyala ye Ram Ganesh Gadkari Marathi ke great writer ka drama hay jinhe balganghava stage par laye aap akach pyara keh rahe ho sir thoda sudhar kar lo aapke har program ko may dekhta sunta hu Diwana parwana mastana ho jata hu aur apne great singer aur artist par seena garv se full jata hay aapka prayaas bemisaal hay may dil se aapka aabhari hu ek chota mota artist hone ke naate may apne desh ke Mahan singer aur artisto ki dastan sunkar Abhibhut ho jata hu aur kabhi kabhi besakhta aansoo nikal padte hay unki bekadri dekh kar aapka dil se shukriya ada karta hu

[@rpsingh7697]

Amooman dekha/suna gyaa hai ke aseem Daulat aur Shahurat se zyada tar aisi hastiyan Ahankaar ka ya koi Sazish ka shikaar ho kar andheri gufaaon mein kahien gum ho jati hain ya Aakhri umr mein gurbat aur bhookh mari se awajaar ho dam tod jati hain, naam leva bhi nahien hota Shayad ! ( Kaisi trasdee ....mit gyee ye hastiyaan) Khuda slaamat rakkhe " Surilee" ko, jo gaahey-bgaahey apni potlee se "Gauhar" nikalti rahti hai.

[@ulhasphadtare4083]

Awaj aur gayeki ka jawab nahi

[@syedathar3406]

G.information

[@manoharchanne2485]

Sir muze aap apna number de may diwana ho gaya hu aapse baat karke mera dil hulka ho jayega dubte ko tinke ka sahara ho usi tarah aapka ye program se may bahot jyada bhavnao se bhar jata hu

[@babushete9029]

Rag Durga...👌🌹

[@prashantjoshi849]

The only property owned by her that remained intact is Bai Sundarabai Hall in South Mumbai,

[@shyamsundarbhate4583]

Yes I had visited Bai Sundarabai hall situated near Bombay Hospitàl but was not knowing it is named in her memory.

[@taritkumarray2614]

Old darbari palace voice

[@shivprasadjoshi5280]

As per Wikipedia Marathi she died in 1967. Excellent information, nevertheless.

[@SureeleDinonKiDastan]

Wikipedia par Galat Jankari hai.

[@shivprasadjoshi5280]

@@SureeleDinonKiDastan thanks for the clarification, excellent information 👍

[@saleembhatti3071]

Zalim log tuffff aisay logon pay 😪😪😪

[@MuhammadNaeem-ob8xf]

Aap Mehdi Hassan Khan & Ghulam Ali Khan pe b velog banao.