Monday, 10 November 2014

Purushottam Laxman Deshpande

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Purushottam Lakshman Deshpande
Native nameपुरुषोत्तम लक्ष्मण देशपांडे
Born8 November 1919
Mumbai
Died12 June 2000 (aged 80)
Pune
EducationM.A., LL.B.
OccupationWriter, Actor, Music Composer, Film and Television Producer and Director
Website
www.puladeshpande.net
Purushottam Lakshman Deshpande (Marathi: पुरुषोत्तम लक्ष्मण देशपांडे) (8 November 1919 – 12 June 2000), popularly known by his initials पु. ल. ("Pu. La.") or as P. L. Deshpande, was a Marathi writer and humorist fromMaharashtra, India. He was also an accomplished film and stage actor, music composer, harmonium player, singer, and orator.[1] He was often referred to as "Maharashtrache laadke vyaktimatva" (roughly translated as "Maharashtra's beloved personality").

Biography[edit]

Early life[edit]

Purushottam Lakshman Deshpande was born on 8 November 1919 in Gaodevi area (Krupal Hemraj Chawl) in Mumbai to Lakshman and Lakshmibai Deshpande. The family used to stay at Kenway house (opposite Robert Money School), Proctor road, Grant road in the 1960s. Most of the observation he wrote in his Ganagot (1966) like B Merwan- Irani restaurant, Lamington road (Dr Dadasaheb Bhadakamkar marg) Ganeshotsav & their Indian classical singing programs, Hirabai Badodekar's stay. His family then moved to Vile Parle and Pu La Deshpande settled in Pune for educational and work purposes.

Education[edit]

Purushottam Lakshman Deshpande studied at Parle Tilak Vidyalaya. He received his college education at Fergusson College in Pune and Willingdon College in Sangli. He also took lessons in playing harmonium from Dattopant Rajopadhye ofBhaskar Sangitalaya.

Personal life[edit]

His first wife (the former Ms. Divadkar from a family in Karjat) died soon after the wedding in early 1940s. On 12 June 1946, Deshpande married his second wife Sunita Thakur, an accomplished writer herself, in Ratnagiri. Sunita-bai outlived him. He died on the 54th anniversary of their wedding ceremony.

Professional life[edit]

Both Deshpande and his wife served as teachers in Orient High School, Mumbai. Deshpande also worked for some years as a college professor in Belgaum, Karnataka before embarking on a career in writing, acting, directing and composing film music.
He also worked for newly founded Doordarshan, the state owned Indian TV. He was the first person to interview the thenPrime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on Indian television. He was deputed to the BBC in UK for a year long training. After which he spent some time in France and in West Germany. It was this specific period and stays in these countries that his latertravelogue "Apoorvai" was to be based upon. His other travelogue "Poorvarang" is based upon his journeys in South East Asian countries.

Accomplishments[edit]

Deshpande was proficient Hindustani classical musician. He went on to gain fame as author, screenplay writer, music director and singer. During his lifetime he also participated in several philanthropist activities.

Death[edit]

Deshpande died in Pune on 12 June 2000 as a result of an affliction of Parkinson's disease. He was aged 80.[2] A large public park on Sinhgad road in his adopted home town Pune was named after him in commemoration.

Literary accomplishments[edit]

Deshpande was most well known for his writings as a humorist. However he was a prolific writer in all genres and produced numerous original works as well as adaptations of works from other languages into Marathi. He preferred to identify his Marathi adaptations of plays and novels in other languages as bhawanuwad (भावानुवाद), roughly meaning "translation of expressions" or "translation of feelings". Most of his writings are deeply rooted in Marathi language.

One-act plays[edit]

  • मोठे मासे आणि छोटे मासे (Mothe Mase Aani Chhote Mase) – 1957
  • विठ्ठल तो आला आला (Vitthal To Aala Aala) – 1961
  • आम्ही लटिके ना बोलू (Aamhi Latike Na Bolu) – 1975

Plays[edit]

  • तुका म्हणे आता (Tuka Mhane Ata) – 1948
  • पुढारी पाहिजॆ (Pudhari Pahije) – 1951
  • अंमलदार (Ammaldar) – 1952...based on Nikolai Gogol's Inspector General
  • भाग्यवान (Bhagyawan) – 1953
  • तुझें आहे तुजपाशीं (Tujhe Ahe Tujapashi) – 1957
  • सुंदर मी होणार (Sundar Mi Honar) – 1958
  • पहिला राजा/आधे अधूरे (Pahila Raja/adhe Adhure) – 1976...based on Jagadish Chandra Mathur's Adhe Adhure
  • तीन पैशांचा तमाशा (Teen Paishancha Tamasha) – 1978...based on Bertolt Brecht's The Three Penny Opera'
  • ती फुलराणी (Ti Fulrani) – based on George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion
  • एक झुंज वार्‍याशी (Eka Jhunja Waryashi)

Children's plays[edit]

  • वयं मोठं खोटं (Wayam Motham Khotam) – 1956
  • नवे गोकुळ (Nawe Gokul) – 1958
  • खोगीरभरती (Khogir Bharati) – 1949
  • खिल्ली (Khilli)
  • कोट्याधीश पु. ल. (Kotyadhish Pu La.)
  • टेलिफोनचा जन्म (Teliphonacha Janma)
  • पोरवय (Porawaya)

Comedy books[edit]

  • नस्ती उठाठेव (Nasti Uthathev) – 1952
  • बटाट्याची चाळ (Batatayachi Chal) – 1958
  • गोळाबेरीज (Golaberij) – 1960
  • असा मी असामी (Asa Mi Asami) – 1964
  • ह(फ)सवणूक (Ha(pha)sawanuk) – 1968
  • उरलं सुरलं (Urala surala)
  • पुरचुंडी (Purchundi)
  • वटवट वटवट (Vatvat Vatvat)
  • मराठी वाङ्मयाचा (गाळीव) इतिहास (Marathi Wangmayacha Galeev Itihas)
  • अघळपघळ (Aghalpaghal) – 1998

Travelogue[edit]

  • वंगचित्रे (Vangachitre) – 1974
  • अपूर्वाई (Apoorvai) – 1960
  • पूर्वरंग (Poorvarang) -1963
  • जावे त्यांच्या देशा (Jaave Tyanchya Desha) – 1974

Novels[edit]

  • काय वाट्टेल ते होईल (Kay Wattel Te Hoeel) – 1962...based on Helen and George Papashvily's Anything Can Happen
  • एका कोळीयाने (Eka Koliyane) – 1965...based on Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea
  • कान्होजी आंग्रे (Kanhoji Angre)(Translation of English novel "Maratha Admiral Kanhoji Angre" by Manohar Malgoankar)

Biography[edit]

  • गांधीजी (Gandhiji) – 1970

Letters[edit]

  • मुक्काम शांतिनिकेतन

Collections of life sketches[edit]

  • गणगोत (Ganagot) – 1966
  • व्यक्ती आणि वल्ली (Wyakti Ani Walli) – 1966
  • गुण गाईन आवडी (Guna Gaeena Awadi) – 1975
  • रवीन्द्रनाथ : तीन व्याख्याने (Ravindranath : Teen Wyakhyane)
  • आपुलकी (Apulaki)
  • मैत्र (Maitra)

Other works[edit]

  • एक शून्य मी (Ek Shunya Mee)
  • चित्रमय स्वगत (Chitramay Swagat)
  • पु. ल : एक साठवण (Pu. La. : Ek Sathawan)
  • दाद (Daad)
  • द्विदल (Dwidal)
  • चार शब्द (Char Shabd)
  • पुढारी पाहिजे (Pudhari Pahije)

Humorous essays[edit]

  • चितळे मास्तर (Chitale Master)
  • गच्चीसह झालीच पाहिजे (Gacchisah Zalich Pahije)
  • एका रविवारची सकाळ (Eka Rawiwarchi Sakaal)
  • माझे शहरी जीवन (Maze Shahari Jeevan)
  • बिगरी ते मॅट्रिक (Bigari Te Matric)
  • हरी तात्या (Hari Tatya)
  • मुंबईकर, पुणेकर का नागपूरकर? (Mumbaikar, Punekar Ka Nagpurkar?)
  • म्हैस (Mhais)
  • मी आणि माझा शत्रुपक्ष (Mi Ani Majha Shatrupaksha)
  • पाळीव प्राणी (Paliv Prani)
  • पानवाला (Panwala)
  • काही नवे ग्रहयोग (Kahi Nave Grahayog)
  • माझे पोष्टिक जीवन (Majhe Poshtik Jeewan)
  • पेस्तन काका (Pestan Kaka)
  • रावसाहेब (Raosaheb)
  • सखाराम गटणे (Sakharam Gatane)
  • नामू परीट (Namu Parit)
  • उरलासुरला (Urala Surala)
  • नारायण (Narayan)
  • अंतू बर्वा (Antu Barva)
  • भय्या नागपूरकर (Bhayya Nagpurkar)
  • नाथा कामत (Natha Kamat)
  • तो (To)
Some of the above characters first appeared in various periodicals at different times. But later all of them were combined into and released as a single book titled व्यक्ती आणी वल्ली (Vyakti ani Valli).
The essay, मुंबईकर, पुणेकर का नागपूरकर? (Mumbaikar, Punekar Ka Nagpurkar?) can be considered as a political essay besides being humorous one. PuLa was opposed to any superficial distinction of religion, race or caste, and of course regionalism. The narrow-mindedness and petty politics that followed after the regional divide of the nation must have disturbed him. And hence this parody of human nature that thrives on the idea of distinction.

One-man stage shows[edit]

  • बटाट्याची चाळ (Batatyachi Chaal)
  • असा मी असामी (Asa Mi Asami)
  • हसविण्याचा माझा धंदा (Hasawinyacha Majha Dhanda)
  • वा-यावरची वरात (Waryawarachi Warat) – A large part of this play is one man show.

Speeches[edit]

  • रसिकहो!
  • सुजनहो!
  • मित्र हो!
  • श्रोते हो!
  • रेडियोवरील भाषणे व श्रुतिका (भाग एक व दोन)

Movies[edit]

  • कुबेर (Kuber) – 1947: Actor and Playback Singer
  • भाग्यरेषा (Bhagyaresha) – 1948: Actor and Playback Singer
  • वंदेमातरम् (Wandemataram) – 1948: Actor and Playback Singer
  • जागा भाड्याने देणे आहे (Jaga Bhadyane Dene ahe) – 1949: Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues
  • मानाचे पान (Manache Pan) – 1949: – Writer of Story, Screenplay, and Dialogues; and Co-Music Director in collaboration with Ga Di Madgulkar
  • मोठी माणसे (Mothi Manase) – 1949: Music Director
  • गोकुळचा राजा (Gokulacha Raja) – 1950: Writer of Story, Screenplay, and Dialogues
  • जरा जपून (Jara Japoon) – 1950: Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues
  • जोहार मायबाप (Johar Maybap) – 1950: Actor
  • नवरा बायको (Nawara Bayako) – 1950: Music Director and Writer of Story, Screenplay, and Dialogues
  • ही वाट पंढरीची (Hi Wat Pandharichi) – 1950: Actor
  • पुढचे पाऊल (Pudhache Paool) – 1950: Actor and Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues in collaboration with Ga Di Madgulkar
  • वर पाहिजे (War Pahije) – 1950: Actor and Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues in collaboration with Achyut Ranade
  • देव पावला (Dewa Pawala) – 1950: Music Director
  • दूध भात (Doodh Bhat) – 1952: Music Director and Writer of Story, Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics
  • घरधनी (Ghardhani) – 1952: Music Director and Writer of Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics
  • नवे बिर्‍हाड (Nawe Birhad) – 1952: Writer of Story and Screenplay
  • माईसाहेब (Maisaheb) – 1952: Music Director and Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues
  • संदेश (Sandesh) [in Hindi] – 1952: Writer of Story, Screenplay, and Dialogues (translated by Mir Asgar Ali)
  • देवबाप्पा (Dewabappa) – 1952: Music Director and Writer of Story, Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics
  • गुळाचा गणपती (Gulacha Ganapati) – 1953: Director, Music Director, Actor, and Writer of Story, Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics
  • फूल और कलियाँ (Phool Aur Kaliyan) [in Hindi] – 1960: Story writer
  • आज और कल (Aaj aur Kal) [in Hindi] – 1966: Story writer
  • चिमणराव गुंड्याभाऊ (Chimanarao Gundyabhau) – : Narrator
  • एक होता विदूषक (Ek Hota Vidushak) – 1993: Screenplay and Dialogues

Plots of plays[edit]

सुंदर मी होणार (Sundar Mi Honar)[edit]

The play highlights the struggle of a middle-age woman who is unable to walk because of an ailment. She is a daughter of a King or Zamindar of a small, princely state in India. The play captures the conflict between her father and her brothers, and depicts changes in their lives after the British Raj took over their princely state. A poet, who is a pen friend of the protagonist, helps her gain confidence which enables her to start walking again.

तुझे आहे तुजपाशी (Tujhe ahe Tujapashi)[edit]

The play casts criticism on authoritarian religious leaders and depicts the positive and colorful view of life and generous spirit of a character in the play, which is in stark contrast to that of another character, an authoritarian religious leader. In the end, the latter recognizes the shallowness of his life.

Awards and recognitions[edit]

  • P. L. Deshpande was the first interviewer to interview Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, for the then newly founded Doordarshan.
  • A cultural center, P. L. Deshpande Kala Academy at the Ravindra Natya Mandir in Mumbai, has been named after him.
  • A garden, Pu. La. Deshpande Udyan, in Pune has been named after him.

Social work[edit]

Deshpande donated and participated in several social causes. He preferred adding the name "Muktangan" to any cause he donated to. Some of his prominent philanthropic involvements are as below


  • Seed donation to Muktangan Deaddiction and Rehabilitation Center[3]
  • Donation to IUCAA Muktangan Vidnyan Shodhika[4]
  • Donation to Neehar, a hostel for the children of prostitutes[5]
  • Donation for closed-door auditorium and an open theatre for the blind students at Baba Amte's Anandvan[5]
  • Supporter of Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (Committee for Eradication of Blind Faith), promoting cultivation of scientific temperament
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