Raghunath Brahmbhatt

Raghunath Tribhuvandas Brahmbhatt (13 December 1892 11 July 1983) was an Indian Gujarati-language poet, playwright and lyricist, widely known in literary and theatre circles as Rasakavi (lit. "poet of rasa"). He was active during the early to mid-20th century and contributed significantly to Gujarati theatre and cinema.

Early life Raghunath Brahmbhatt was born to Tribhuvandas and Mohiba on 13 December 1892 in Linch, a village in British India (now in Mehsana district of Gujarat, India). He completed his primary and higher secondary education till fifth grade at Nadiad. His interest in drama led him to write plays and songs that were later staged by several Gujarati theatre companies. At the age of 17, he started his playwright career in Gujarati theatre with the hit play Buddhadev, which was later staged by Arya Subodh Natak Mandali, a theatre troupe from Morbi.

"Saibo Maro Gulab no Chhod" for play Hansakumari and "Rasila Premi Na Haiya" for play Shalivahan are among his popular songs. for the Gujarati play Chhatra Vijay in 1920. It was performed live by master Mukund during the play's run in the theatre, and was also recorded by The Twins, a gramophone company. When the Hindi epic film Mughal-e-Azam directed by K. Asif was released in 1960, Brahmbhatt's song was used in the film, but credited to Shakeel Badayuni. A viewer informed the Pakistani daily Dawn that the song had been copied. In 2004, Raj Brahmbhatt, grandson of Brahmbhatt, signed an agreement with the film's producer, Shapoorji Pallonji's Sterling Investment Corporation Limited, which acknowledged and credited Raghunath Brahmbhatt as a lyricist on the covers of the home video released by the company.

In 1944, Brahmbhatt was honoured in Mumbai by the Desi Natak Samaj for his contributions to Gujarati theatre. Buddhadev: Trianki Natak; Devo, Rishio ane Pratapi Purusho and Suman Saurabh.

He died on 11 July 1983 in Nadiad.

Theater Brahmbhatt wrote more than twenty-five Gujarati plays.