Rahul Deshpande

Rahul Deshpande
Rahul Deshpande - Singing in Pune in March 2011
Background information
Native name	राहुल देशपांडे
Birth name	Rahul
Born	(1979-10-10)October 10, 1979 Pune, Maharashtra, India
Genres	Hindustani classical music
Occupation(s)	singer
Years active	1984 onwards

Rahul Deshpande is an Indian classical music singer from Pune, India. He is the grandson of the well-known late Dr. Vasantrao Deshpande

Rahul developed his interest in vocal music by studying the music of Pandit Kumar Gandharva. Initially, he sought guidance from Ushatai Chipalkatti and Kumar Gandharva's son Mukul Shivputra. He further learned music under the tutelage of Gangadharbuva Pimpalkhare and Madhusudhan Patwardhan. He also learned playing tabla from Suresh Samant. Also, the legacy of Kumarji's search of including Nirguni Bhajans in the conventional form of music is learnt by him. His repertoire includes renditions from classical ragas to khayal, thumri, dadra, natyageet, bhajan, ghazal and bhaavgeet.

Rahul has achieved prominence as a creative musical performer from an early age. He is also the judge on Zee Marathi's popular reality TV show "Sa Re Ga Ma Pa - Little Champs". His work in the film Katyar Kaljat Ghusali was appreciated. He was the playback singer for the songs of "Khansaheb Aftab Hussain Bareliwale", played by Sachin Pilgaonkar in the film. The role was played by Rahul himself in the play Katyar Kaljat Ghusali.

Also, every year he arranges Vasantotsav in the memory of his grandfather Shree Vasantrao Deshpande.

A revised version of Kakasaheb Khadilkar's Sangeet Maanapmaan played in Maharashtra in 2011 and 2012, the centenary year of the play's first performance. It has been revised by Rahul Deshpande. "Originally, the play has five parts with around 52 classical songs. Deshpande's version will have two parts and 22 classical songs."