Datta Davjekar Biography 
Datta Davjekar is a legendary music director associated with Marathi movies. He has also composed songs for Bollywood. He was the first music director who gave first break to legendary singer, Lata Mangeshkar, apart from her younger sisters Asha Bhosle and Usha Mangeshkar. First break to playback singer Anuradha Paudwal was also given by none other than Datta. He died at the age of 90 in 2007 following a massive heart attack. "Sainik Ho Tumchyaa Saathi" is one of his most popular non-filmy songs.
Datta Davjekar's father Baburao was a tabla artist. Young Davjekar too earned tabla except from harmonium and showed interest to music at a younger age. Later he started composing songs and performed live in many concerts too. He joined film industry as assistant to famous music directors - C. Ramachandra and Chitragupta. His first movie as an independent music director was Marathi film Municipality in 1941. Its ‘Naache Sangeet Natwar’ track became very popular establishing him as a musician of film industry. He got associated with almost all leading film directors as well as playback singers of his time and best known for giving first break to the first three Mangeshkar sisters.
He stayed in the industry for more than 5 decades and composed songs for 60 films apart from a few private albums and documentaries. He was mostly associated with Marathi cinema. A song for film Maazhe Baal, released in 1943 was his first recorded song with Lata Mangeshkar. Her first break to Hindi songs was given by Datta. Song was Paa Laagoo Kar Jori Re for the film Aap Ki Sewa Mein (1947). ''Rangalyaa Raatri Ashyaa'', ''Padchaaya'', ''Chimanrao Gundyabhao'', ''Paathlaag'', ''Pahu Re Kitni Vaat'', ''Thoraataanchi Kamlaa'', ''Pedgaonche Shahane'', 'Juna Te Sona'' and 'Sant Vahate Krishna Mai'' are among his best works. He composed songs for Bollywood movies - '' Adalat (1948)'' and “Jeet Kiski (1952).
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Updated: June 16, 2014
