With some restrictions of theatre attendance still implemented, instead of hosting live programmes in presence of audience in theatres, Planet Marathi have come up with a novel idea of presenting a musical programme ‘Bhimanna’ on the occasion of ‘Diwali Pahaat’ on 5th November 2021 on their OTT platform. This being the centenary year of celebration of his birth anniversary, this programme which can be seen worldwide, is dedicated to Pt. Bhimsen Joshi and his classical presentations such as, ‘Tirth Vithha’,  ‘Sakhi Mand Jhalya Taraka’, ‘Mile Sur Mera Tumhara’ and many others will be presented on this occasion.

The main attraction of this programme is that all these songs of Panditji will be rendered by Ustaad Rashid Khan, while this programme will be anchored by Sunil Barve, who will also speak to Panditji’s close relatives and friends. The programme will also present the other side of Panditji and his way of encouraging new young singers. In all, it will be a good treat for music lovers, on the occasion of Diwali.

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Legendary vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, who mesmerized music lovers with his extraordinary presentation of Hindustani classical music, passed away at Sahyadri hospital in Pune today morning after a prolonged illness.

He was 89. A recipient of Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award, Joshi had been put on life support system since past one month. The most-celebrated exponent of ‘Kirana gharana’ his guru was Sawai Gandharva, in whose memory he had started the popular gandharva festival. Born on February 4, 1922 at Gadag in Dharwad district of Karnataka, Joshi got his first break for a live performance at the age of 19, during the 60th birthday celebrations of his guru Sawai Gandharva. His first album was released by HMW, when he was 22 years old.

Besides classical music, Panditji lent is voice as a “dhrupad” singer for a Bengali film based on the life of Tansen and later was a playback singer for Marathi film “Gulacha Ganapati”, produced and directed by celebrated Marathi humorist “Pu La” Deshpande. He had also rendered his voice in Hindi movies like “Basant Bahar” and “Bhairavi”.

But it was his ‘Abhang Vani’ and ‘Bhakti Sangeet’ that gained him popularity more. How can we forget his ‘Majhe Maher Pandhari’ and Ramya hi Swargahun Lanka’ ? Besides Bharat ratna in 2008, he was also honoured with Padmashri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan in addition to Sangeet Natak academy award and Tansen Puraskar. He leaves behind three sons and a daughter. He will be cremated at Vaikunth, Pune around 3 pm today.

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