Arvind Pilgaonkar gets Marathi theatre award

Mumbai, Dec 5 (IANS) Veteran Marathi theatre personality Arvind Pilgaonkar has been selected for this year’s Sangeetacharya Annasaheb Balwant Pandurang Kirloskar Lifetime Achievement award, an official said here late Wednesday.

The award, carrying a cash component of Rs.5 lakh, a citation and a scroll of honour, will be presented to 75-year old Pilgaonkar at a ceremony shortly, said Cultural Affairs Minister Sanjay Deotale.

Born in Mumbai in October 1937, Pilgaonkar completed his graduation in music from Wilson College in Mumbai and then studied under several music gurus.

He got his first major break in the acclaimed Marathi play “Yeshwantrao Holkar” in 1964 and later worked in scores of Marathi musical dramas over the years.

Some of the earlier recipients of the award include Faiyaz Khan, Prasad Savkar and Jaymala Shiledar.

The award is named after the legendary Kirloskar, considered among the founding fathers of Marathi musical theatre and founder of Kirloskar Natak Mandali, which thrived between 1874-1935.

Kirloskar died in 1885 aged 42.

IANS 2012-12-05 21:30:20