Saraswati Rane Biography 
Saraswati Rane was a famous vocalist of Carnatic music. She is the daughter of Ustad Abdul Karim Khan, the founder of Kirana Gharana. Thus her family holds a music tradition. She was the younger sister of Sureshbabu Mane and Hirabai Barodekar, from whom she took early lessons of Hindustani music. Along with Hirabai Bododekar, she has done numerous concerts of which major were Jugalbandhis. The concept of jugalbandi vocal recital by ladies was started by Rane and her sister. Her mother’s name is Tarabai Mane and she was born on October 4, 1913 at Miraj of Bombay Presidency as Sakina.
Her parents got separated and Tarabai later renamed all her kids. Thus Sakina became Saraswati later. She was initiated into music by her brother Sureshbabu Mane, followed by her sister Hirabai. Later she learnt from gurus belonging to different Kharanas. Famous vocalists - B. R. Deodhar, Ustad Natthan Khan and Pandit Master Krishnarao were her gurus. At the age of 7, she started singing for music dramas. She has sung for music dramas like Sangeet Saubhadra, Sangeet Sanshaykallol and Sangeet Ekach Pyala.later she worked as a stage actor also. In 1933, she started performing on All India Radio and remained as ‘A’ Grade artist till she declared retirement from public concerts in 1990. In her active career she has performed in many Radio Sangeet Sabhas from Kanyakumari to Peshawar.
She was one among the first female playback singers of Hindi and Marathi. She has also done playback singing for Hindi films like Sargam (1950), and Bhumika (1977). She was invited to participate on the eve of first Independence Day at Delhi and has also performed at grand celebration at Shivneri on the first Maharashtra Din. She is very popular artist of Bhav-geet, Marathi light classical songs and has recorded many albums as well.
Published: N/A
Updated: February 19, 2014
