Theatre doyen Jaymala Shiledar no more

Padma Shri Jaymala Shiledar (86), the veteran singer actress who devoted seven decades of her life for Marathi musical theatre (natyasangeet), passed away on Thursday morning. She was suffering from a kidney-related ailment. She is survived by five daughters and their families. The last rites were performed at Vaikunth crematorium on Thursday afternoon.

She was born in Indore on August 21, 1926 as Pramila Jadhav. She first went on the stage in 1942. She got the opportunity to work with the legendary Balgandharva in the musical Sangeet Sharada in 1945 and played the lead role. She married co-artiste singer actor Jayram Shiledar and became Jaymala Shiledar. She was awarded the Padma Shri this year.

During her illustrious career, she won the prestigious Annashabe Kirloskar award, Lata Mangeshkar award, Balgandharva award by the state government, Vishnudas Bhave award, a citation from Kolhapur Municipal Corporation, Mahindra Natraj award instituted by Natyadarpan, Krushnarav Gokhale memorial award instituted by Pune Marathi Granthalaya, Zinda Dil award by Rangat Sangat Foundation and many others.

Jaymala Shiledar played the lead roles in acclaimed musicals including Swayamwar, Maan Apmaan, Sharada, Sanshaykallol, Vidyaharan, Saubhadra, Kanhopatra, Premsanyas and Ekach Pyala. She played 52 roles in 46 Marathi musical plays. She also composed music for 16 plays that were penned by noted playwrights like Bal Kolhatkar, Go Ni Dandekar, Nanasaheb Gokhale and Madha Gadgil. She was active on the Marathi stage in lead roles for over 25 years. She also visited the US and Europe in the 1960s. In 2003, she had the distinction of becoming president of Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Natya Sammelan.

Both Jayram and Jaymala Shiledar, despite having several offers for the silver screen, decided to devote their entire life for upliftment of the Marathi musical theatre and founded their own company, Marathi Rangabhoomi on October 10, 1949.

While celebrating the birth centenary of the late Balgandharva in 1987, Jaymala, through her Marathi Rangabhoomi, presented more than 125 shows of plays by Balgandharva all over the state.
After her husband Jayram died in 1992, she started looking after the affairs of the trust set up in his memory.

Jaymala made it a point to not send her daughters and famous actress singers Keerti and Lata to make a career in films, but asked them to devote their career to Marathi musical theatre. Both of them have been working for Marathi Rangabhoomi and Marathi musicals.

Jaymala was also a great teacher. She trained hundreds of children to attract them towards the Marathi musical theatre. She taught students for over six decades and many accomplished singers of the present day are her disciples.

She has influenced three generations with her mesmerising performances and even double roles in some of the plays. However, the most unforgettable characteristic was her smile, which she maintained till her last breath.

Veteran artistes from the theatre and musical theatre gathered to pay their last respects to the legendary Jaymala on Thursday. She was cremated at Vaikunth crematorium. Artistes and Marathi theatre lovers paid tributes to her at Balgandharva Rangmandir, Bharat Natya Mandir and Tilak Smarak Mandir. Her tabla accompaniment artiste Vinayak Thorat, Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad president Mohan Joshi, Natya Sammelan president Mohan Agashe, Marathi Sahitya Mahamandal president Madhavi Vaidya, Shaila Datar, Prabhakar Bhave, Anand Bhate, Salil Kulkarni, Ravindra Khare, Ram Sathye, Vandana Khandekar, Sudhir Gadgil, Ulhas Pawar, Anand Panse, Shubhangi Damle, Sunil Mahajan, Satish Desai, Ajit Satbhai and Prakash Bhonde paid homage to the departed soul.

Illustrious career

Born on August 21, 1926
First appeared on Marathi stage in 1942 in the play Veshantar
Worked with Balgandharva in Sangeet Sharada in 1945
Married Jayram Shiledar on January 23, 1950
Completed silver jubilee as heroine in Marathi theatre in 1967
Toured US, Europe with Marathi musicals in 1968
Presented 125 Balgandharva plays in the state in 1987
Founded ‘Marathi Rangabhoomi’ in 1949 with Jayram Shiledar
Worked in 46 musicals, playing 52 roles
Composed music for 16 musicals
Trained hundreds of disciples
Received many awards, including Padma Shri in 2013