Extraordinary man had ordinary life

Music composer Bhaskar Chandavarkar always preferred a low-key life. In death too, he wanted it to be a private affair.

Before he passed away on Saturday night at the Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital in Kothrud, Chandavarkar had instructed his family members to keep post-death ceremonies at the minimal. Chandavarkar was suffering from skin cancer for nearly two years.

Born in Pune on March 16, 1936, Chandavarkar was a science student at the Wadia College in Pune and schooled from the New English School. His interest in music drove him take tutelage from Sitar virtuoso Pt Ravi Shankar. He contributed in a significant way to the film industry in Mumbai from 1963 to 1968 after which he came back to Pune to teach at the Film and Television Institute of India where he worked for 15 years.

Among his more famous students are names like Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Rehana Sultan, Shabana Azmi, Jaya Bachchan, and Parikshit Sahani.

Chandavarkar had studied Western music in depth. Along with this, he also studied folk music from Maharashtra and other Indian states. He became popular owing to his compositions for projects like Ghashiram Kotwal, Ek Daav Bhootacha, Garambicha Bapu, Shwaas, Maati Maay, Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hain and Sari Var Sari.

“He travelled widely to the US, Europe and various other countries as a visiting professor in various colleges. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 1988,” said Rohit, his son.

Among one of the last wishes of Chandavarkar was that he wanted to donate his eyes. However, the wish remained just that owing to his illness. Chandavarkar is survived by his wife Meena, a noted educationist and son Rohit.