Rare Piano of Music Composer C. Ramchandra Donated To Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum In Pune
Rare Piano of Music Composer C. Ramchandra Donated To Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum In Pune
To be Unveiled at the Museum on Sunday, February 16, 2025
Pune: The rare piano used by legendary singer and music composer C. Ramchandra (Ramchandra Narhar Chitalkar) will soon become a part of the Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum’s prestigious collection. Museum director Sudhanva Ranade shared this news through an official statement.
C. Ramchandra, fondly known as ‘Anna,’ composed numerous iconic songs on this piano. After his passing, his wife Ben entrusted the piano to the family of Suresh Yadav in Mumbai for safekeeping. The Yadav family cherished the instrument, performing rituals and preserving it with great care. Notably, Suresh Yadav played the saxophone in the orchestra ‘Mulaye Na Bane,’ founded by C. Ramchandra in 1975. His sons, Sushant and Sandesh, also learned to play music on this very piano.
In a gesture of goodwill, Suresh Yadav recently decided to donate the piano to Raja Dinkar Kelkar Museum, ensuring its preservation for future generations. The piano will be officially handed over to the museum during a special ceremony on Sunday, February 16, 2025, at 11:00 AM, where renowned accordion player Enoch Daniels will accept the donation on behalf of the museum. Enoch Daniels, a notable music arranger, performed alongside C. Ramchandra and several other legendary composers.
The event will be graced by the presence of Suresh Yadav and his family, Dr. Shrikant Kelkar (renowned ophthalmologist and nephew of collector Dinkar Kelkar), musicologist Dr. Prakash Kamat, and Suhaschandra Kulkarni from Melody Makers.
C. Ramchandra was a pioneer in blending Western music elements into Hindi cinema. Throughout his illustrious career, he composed music for 118 Hindi, 7 Marathi, 1 Tamil, and 1 Telugu films, leaving an indelible mark on the Indian music industry. His notable works include the soundtracks for films like Shehnai, Asha, Anarkali, Albela, and Azaad.
This donation stands as a tribute to C. Ramchandra’s legacy, offering music lovers a chance to witness a cherished piece of history.
