Pandit Vasantrao Deshpande (2 May 1920 - 30 July 1983)[1] was a Hindustani classical vocalist renowned for his contribution to Natya Sangeet (musical dramas) Vasantrao Deshpande was born into a Deshastha Brahmin family in Murtizapur, Akola District, in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra in India. At the age of eight, Vasantrao Deshpande's ability was observed by Bhalji Pendharkar, who cast him in the role of Krishna in the Hindi movie Kaliya Mardan (1935). He obtained his PhD in Music.