I am often asked by well meaning journalists to give interviews in the media, which I tend to avoid because contrary to my public image, I am at heart a recluse and an introvert. I am shy to discuss my achievements because I have so much more to learn in so little time. Having said that, for those of you who have time on your hands (meaning you are not big into social media) and wish to know a little more about my journey, please read on…
Prior to the advent of cinema, the only public entertainment platform was theatre. My wonderful actor, singer, composer and writer father Master Dinanath Mangeshkar owned his own travelling theatre company. I, along with my 4 siblings travelled with the theatre company all over India where my Father performed these grand musicals to a rapt audience. Therefore, I grew up in an atmosphere of music and the performing arts. Our theatre company folded up when Dada Saheb Phalke introduced cinema to India and soon after my loving father passed away in 1942 at the height of The Quit India
Movement. In 1943, World War Two was raging in Europe and that’s when I recorded my first Marathi song; around the time when the Battle for Stalingrad in Russia was in full swing. My first record label read British India. World War Two era was one of rationing and hardships and we often slept on empty stomachs. I remember attending a political rally at Shivaji Park in Mumbai where I first saw Mahatma Gandhi speaking and I was very impressed by him and other political leaders who such as Jawarlal Nehru, Sardar Patel, Abdul Ghaffar Khan etc. The partition of India was a painful experience for many Indians but we managed to live through that as well.
