Krishnarao Phulambrikar, Indian classical singer and music composer
Indian classical singer and music composer

Krishnarao Phulambrikar

· verify — Died 20 October 1974

Created three Hindustani ragas and composed music for the 1935 film Dharmatma.

Krishnaji Ganesh Phulambrikar (1898–1974), popularly known as Master Krishnarao, was a musical genius - an Indian vocalist, classical musician and composer of Hindustani music. He was credited with the creation of three Hindustani ragas and several bandishes. Phulambrikar, a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, was also the music composer of several movies, including Dharmatma, a 1935 Hindi film starring Bal Gandharva, a renowned Marathi singer and Padosi, a 1941 directorial venture of V. Shantaram.

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A detail that
surprised us

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Phulambrikar’s ancestral family name was originally 'Pathak', meaning a Vedic reciter, tracing back to a great-grandfather who performed Vedic chants for the Peshwa rulers in Pune.

The Story

1
🎭 In 1911, a 13-year-old Krishnarao Phulambrikar began rigorous training under Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale, spanning Gwalior, Agra, and Jaipur gharanas, shaping his multifaceted Hindustani classical style.
2
🎶 By 1930, he had earned the title Sangeet Kalanidhi from Jagadguru Shankaracharya Dr. Kurtkoti, marking his emergence as a leading classical vocalist in Pune.
3🎬 In 1935, Phulambrikar composed music for the Hindi film Dharmatma starring Bal Gandharva, linking classical music with early Indian cinema’s evolving soundscape.
4📚 Between 1915 and 1933, he scored music for Marathi musical plays like Menaka and Kanhopatra, blending stage traditions with classical innovations in Pune’s Gandharva Sangeet Natak Mandali.

🏅 Awards & Honours

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Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

🔍 One thing most people don't know

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In 1935, Phulambrikar composed the soundtrack for Dharmatma, a Hindi film starring Bal Gandharva, who was better known as a Marathi musical theatre legend rather than a film actor.

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Through the Years

2 photographs from the archives
Krishnarao Phulambrikar, Indian classical musician and composer, portrait photograph (1943)
Krishnarao Phulambrikar, Indian classical musician and composer, portrait photograph (1943)
1943
Krishnarao Phulambrikar, renowned Hindustani vocalist, captured in a formal portrait (1952)

🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
Born in Devachi Alandi, Maharashtra
Krishnarao Phulambrikar was born into a Deshastha Brahmin family with a strong Vedic tradition near Pune.
1898
📚
Education
Started training under Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale
At age 13, began formal training in multiple gharanas of Hindustani music under Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale.
1911
⚡
Career
Joined Gandharva Sangeet Natak Mandali
Began composing and performing music for Marathi musical theatre under Bal Gandharva’s company.
1915
🏅
Award
Awarded Sangeet Kalanidhi title
Jagadguru Shankaracharya Dr. Kurtkoti honored him for his mastery in classical music.
1930
⚡
Career
Composed music for Dharmatma film
Scored the soundtrack for the Hindi film Dharmatma starring Marathi theatre legend Bal Gandharva.
1935
⚡
Career
Indian cultural delegate to China
Performed Hindustani classical music internationally as part of India’s cultural diplomacy efforts.
1953
🏅
Award
Received Padma Bhushan award
Government of India honored him with the Padma Bhushan for contributions to Indian music.
1971
🕊️
Death
Passed away
Master Krishnarao died, leaving behind a legacy of compositions, innovations, and pedagogy.
1974
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 05
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Master Krishnarao’s first solo classical concert was held at the tender age of 13, a rare achievement for a child artist trained under Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale.

02 / 05
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

His 7-volume Raag Samgraha documents an extensive compilation of compositions from multiple gharanas, offering unique insight into early 20th-century Hindustani music practice.

03 / 05
🌍HISTORICAL IMPACT

In 1953, Phulambrikar toured China as an official cultural delegate from India, a rare example of classical musicians representing India’s soft power during the early Cold War period.

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🌱 What changed because of them

Krishnarao Phulambrikar revitalized Marathi musical theatre by composing fresh scores for iconic plays, bridging classical music and popular culture. His preservation of rare bandishes through the Raag Samgraha volumes became an invaluable resource for Hindustani musicians. His role as director of Pune Bharat Gayan Samaj sustained the legacy of his guru Bhaskarbuwa Bakhale, fostering generations of classical artists.

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💭 Memories & Tributes

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