The star is gone. forever. With the demise of Indian Marathi Bhavgeet singer, a star is lost. Usually the movies or the dramas promote that the loved one becomes a star. But Indians believe that the person gone is one star less from the starry sky!
A textile engineer from VJTI, Mumbai, he left his high profile job after 28 years to pursue a career in singing. His song ‘Shukratara’ was adjudged as song of the month by Mumbai Radio Station in 1962.
Arun was the first recipient of Gajanan Vatve Puraskar. His brother Ravi Date is a wellknown tabla player.
We grew up with his songs. In the 80s-90s they were a rage. If you lived outside Pune, the educational, cultural pulse of Maharashtra, and asked ‘Date? Arun Date?’ People would give you a look that could easily kill. If not, you felt why am I living?
Some song you happen to not know.. the glance said, From which rock have you come out? It was that bad. You had to know him, his songs, able to appreciate. Gradually, the voice mesmerizes & you really understand what they mean!
Shukratara penned by poet Mangesh Padgaonkar is one of the best. The songs in the album ,Shukratara, are all superb. I remember we had a cassette, we played it on our journey to Ganapati Pule. All the words & pauses became our breathing.
His soft, silken, serene voice made you dreamy. Forgetting the outside harsh world it offered the calm to the mind. The music just an accompaniment. Un intruding. Very rare in today’s scenario.
Hence, a lament. Adieu. Goodbye.
Asian Entertainment 