D. K. Datar

PLAYS

Violin

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GHARANA

Kirana

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Pt. Damodar Keshav Datar (14 October 1932 - 10 October 2018), popularly known as D. K. Datar, was an Indian violinist known for his gayaki style of playing. Born in Kurundwad, Kolhapur district, Maharashtra, he was introduced to music by his brother Narayanrao and took early violin lessons from Pt. Vighneshwar Shastri, who taught at the Deodhar School of Indian Music, Mumbai. He later received guidance from Professor B. R. Deodhar. Though he completed his Bachelor's degree, he took up music as a full-time profession. His style was influenced by his close association with his uncle, the late Pt. D. V. Paluskar. Known for his systematic presentation of ragas, he also excelled in thumris, bhajans and other light classical forms. At the Films Division of India he provided background scores for documentaries. He performed duets with Shahid Parvez, Hariprasad Chaurasia, Vijay Raghav Rao, Sultan Khan and Devendra Murdeshvar, and accompanied artistes including D. V. Paluskar, Kishori Amonkar, Saraswati Rane, Hirabai Barodekar, Narayanrao Vyas and Kumar Gandharva. He toured India and abroad, including the U.S.A., Canada, the U.K., Europe, Iceland, Japan, the U.A.E. and South East Asia. He received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1996), the Maharashtra Government Award (1998) and the Padma Shri (2004). He was visiting faculty at universities including Bombay University, S.N.D.T. University, M. S. Baroda University, Banaras Hindu University and Khairaghar University. His prominent disciples include Shri Milind Raikar and Shri Rajen Mashelkar. Pt. Datar died on 10 October 2018 at his home in Goregaon, Mumbai.