Vasant Prabhu
Vasant Prabhu was a music composer from Maharashtra who predominantly worked in Marathi film industry. He is known for his collaboration with singer Lata Mangeshkar for composing various songs of films which she sang. Prabhu also partnered with lyricist P. Savlaram on various films. Prabhu was also a choreographer.
Biography
Prabhu was a trained dancer having learned Katthak in his childhood. Along with dance, he also had basic knowledge of music and beats. He tried his luck in grabbing in a role as an actor in Marathi films which were then produced in Pune and Kolhapur. He finally got a break when HMV signed him for the Marathi film Ram Ram Paavhna where he composed few songs and also choreographed them. He also composed music for the film Vaadal which was produced under the banner "Surel Chitra" by Lata Mangeshkar. Mangeshkar also sang a thumri for this film. The thumri became very popular and a film talkies in Nagpur reported "once-more" requests. The part of the reel with the song was then copied into another reel to enable repeat broadcasts. Prabhu choreographed actress Sulochana Latkar for the film Taaraka directed by Dinkar D. Patil.Prabhu went on to pair with Mangeshkar and lyricist P. Swalaram in various further projects, notable being the film Kanyadaan. He also was composer of the songs "Ghat Doiwar, Ghat Kamrewar", "Jo Aawdto Sarwana" and "Aali Hasat Pahili Raat" penned by Sawlaram which became popular. For another film Bhairavi of Dinkar Patil, Prabhu's songs were sung by Pandit Firoz Dastur and Dashrath Pujari. For the film Putra Vhava Aisa, Talat Mahmood sang two songs for the first time in Marathi. Mahmood was popular for his ghazals in Hindi cinema.
Prabhu's biography in Marathi has been written by Madhu Potdar and published by Manjul Prakashan under the name "Manasicha Chitrakaar To", which is also a song he composed. In October 2008, Soham Pratishthan and Anubodh organized a show "Swarprabhu - Vasant Prabhu" in his memory at Vile Parle, Mumbai.
Discography
| Song | Film | Singer | Lyricist | Notes |
| "Aai Kuna Mhanu Mi" | Putra Vhava Aisa | Asha Bhosale | P. Sawlaram | |
| "Aali Diwali Aali Diwali" | Baykocha Bhau | Asha Bhosale | P. Sawlaram | |
| "Aali Hasat Pahili Raat" | Shikleli Bayko | Lata Mangeshkar | P. Sawlaram | Raag Hansadhwani |
| "Anaam Veera Jithe Jahala" | Lata Mangeshkar | Kusumagraj | ||
| "Apure Majhe Swapna Rahile" | Asha Bhosale | P. Sawlaram | ||
| "Asa Mi Kay Gunha Kela" | Asha Bhosale | Ramesh Anaavkar | Raag Pahadi | |
| "Chafa Bolena" | Lata Mangeshkar | Kavi 'B' | Raag Yaman | |
| "Ga Re Kokila Ga" | Baykocha Bhau | Asha Bhosale | P. Sawlaram | Raag Hameer, Kedar |
| "Galyat Majhya Tuch" | Asha Bhosle | P. Sawlaram | ||
| "Ganga Jamuna Dolyat Ubhya" | Lata Mangeshkar | P. Sawlaram | ||
| "Gharat Hasre Tare Asata" | Lata Mangeshkar | Datta V. Keskar | ||
| "Gharoghari Vadhadin" | Lata Mangeshkar | P. Sawlaram | ||
| "Ghat Doivar Ghat" | Lata Mangeshkar | P. Sawlaram | ||
| "God Tujhya Tya Swapnamadhli" | Gruhadevta | Lata Mangeshkar | P. Sawlaram | |
| "Ka Chinta Karisi" | Shikleli Bayko | Hridaynath Mangeshkar | P. Sawlaram | |
| "Kaay Karu Mi Bola" | Asha Bhosale | P. Sawlaram | ||
| "Kala Jyaa Lagalya Jeeva" | Lata Mangeshkar | Bha. Ra. Tambe | ||
| "Kalekalene Chandra Vadhato" | Mohantara Ajinkya | P. Sawlaram | ||
| "Kalpavruksha Kanyesathi" | Lata Mangeshkar | P. Sawlaram | Raag Pahadi | |
| "Kokil Kuhukuhu Bole" | Kanyadaan | Lata Mangeshkar | P. Sawlaram | |
| "Krishna Milali Koynela" | Lata Mangeshkar | P. Sawlaram | ||
| "Kuberacha Dhan Majhya Shetat" | Shikleli Bayko | Usha Mangeshkar, Hridaynath Mangeshkar | P. Sawlaram | |
| "Olakha Pahili Gali Hasate" | Asha Bhosale | P. Sawlaram | ||
| "Rimzhim Paaus Pade Sarkha" | Lata Mangeshkar | P. Sawlaram | ||
| "Utha Utha Sakal Jan" | Traditional song | Asha Bhosale | – | |
| "Uthi Govinda Uthi Gopala" | Asha Bhosale | P. Sawlaram | Raag Bhoop, Deshkar |