Sanjay Deshpande: The Revolutionary Sitar Player of Belagavi Since the Age of 11.

Sanjay Deshpande is a versatile sitar player from Belagavi City. He is popularly known for his versatility and creativity in performing a variety of music on the sitar Sanjay and is one of the leading Sitar player of the younger generation.

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE SITAR PLAYER SANJAY DESHPANDE:

His Early Age and Career:

Sanjay Deshpande was born and raised in Belagavi and started his musical journey since his childhood.

At the early age of 11,When he was studying in his 7th grade ,Sanjay started playing sitar under the guidance of late Pandit Vishnupant Dharmadhikari.

In the year 1979,Sanjay Despande performed Hindustani classical music and also composes light music since . Sanjay is the pioneer exponent of “Khayal Ang” on Sitar. He had his training in Hindustani classical music from late Pandit Vishnupant Dharmadhikari who was an Esraj player from Gwalior Gharana of Belagavi.

Sanjay has made major changes in Sitar instrument as well by facilitating for playing not only Hindustani, but for any music on Sitar. The Sitar is being popularly named as “Sanjaykhani Sitar” by the Sitar maker.

Sanjay also accompanied famous music group the Melody Makers from Pune, as a Sitar and Keyboard player for selected prestigious shows. He also accompanied famous Indian playback singer Late Kishor Kumar for his stage shows in India and abroad as well. Furthermore, He also presented weekly Sitar concerts and lec-dems for selected European audiences at Belgaum, through Image Holidays, England, and prestigious concerts for Kerkar Art Complex, Goa.

However, seeking greater recognition, Sanjay Despande returned to Belagavi in the year 1998 to strongly focus on Classical music and manage his family business.

Currently, Sanjay Deshpande plays not just classical music but rock and pop on his sitar. Thus Sanjay intends to go global and has chosen the widely accepted music form – Rock. And he has fused his Indian Sitar with the rock music to form Rock-n-Raga.

Awards and Achievements:

In the year 1995, Sanjay was felicitated with “Late Trimbak Daji Joshi Award” by Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalay, Mumbai, for securing first rank in Sangeet Visharad, with Sitar as subject.

Sanjay’s first audio cassette of his Sitar recital “The Singing Sitar” was released in the year 1993, through Super Star Audio Cassette Company, which won great applause and was appreciated by noted music critics and national news papers.

Notably, during a “Brahmanaad” event organized by the South Central Zone Cultural Centre, Sanjay mesmerizingly captivated the audience by playing a medley of Golden classics from Hindi films on his uniquily modified star.

In the year 2002, by honoring his contribution to Sitar, he was felicitated with the prestigious “Sardar Abasahib Muzumdar Puraskar” from Pune.

Sanjay Deshpande was also felicitated with “Sangeet Ratna puraskar” from Ganesh Festival Belgaum in the year 2007 for his contribution to the classical music of India.

Sanjay feels that for an artiste of his generation, it is going to be very difficult, if one adheres only to classical music as it is enjoyed by a limited audience.

Additionally, Sanjay Deshpande is also an accredited sitar player of All India Radio. One can frequently listen to his mesmerizing radio concerts broadcasted from AIR Dharwad. His Sitar concerts are regularly telecast on various TV channels like Panaji Doordarshan, Udaya TV and Chandana Channel of the Bangalore Doordarshan.

However, Sanjay Deshpande’s dedication to expanding the sitar’s versatility has left an remarkable legacy on the world of music by inspiring both audiences and musicians with his creative artistry.

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