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{{Short description|Indian Marathi language writer and humorist}}
{{Short description|Indian writer and humorist (1919–2000)}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{More citations needed|date=September 2017}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name              = Pu La Deshpande
| other_names = Pu. La. Deshpande<br /> Bhai
| other_names       = P. L. Deshpande<br />Pu. La.<br /> Bhai
| image       = Suresh Joshi with P L Deshpandey (cropped).jpg
| image             = Suresh Joshi with P L Deshpandey (cropped).jpg
| caption     = Deshpande, {{c.|1974}}
| caption           = P. L. Deshpande at [[Pune]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1919|11|8}}
| birth_date         = {{birth date|df=y|1919|11|8}}
| birth_place = [[Bombay]], [[Bombay Presidency]], [[British India]]
| birth_place       = [[Mumbai, Maharashtra]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2000|06|12|1919|11|8}}
| death_date               = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2000|06|12|1919|11|8}}
| death_place = [[Pune]], [[Maharashtra]], India
| death_place               = Pune, Maharashtra, India
| education   =
| nationality        = Indian
| occupation = Writer
| education         = MA, LLB
| spouse     = {{marriage|[[Sunita Deshpande]]|1946}}
| occupation         = Harmonium player,Writer, actor, composer, film and television producer, film director, music director
| relatives   = [[Vaman Mangesh Dubhashi]] (maternal grandfather)&lt;br /&gt;[[Satish Dubhashi]] (cousin brother)&lt;br /&gt;[[Dinesh Thakur (mathematician)|Dinesh Thakur]] (nephew)
| spouse             = [[Sunita Deshpande]]
| signature   = PL-D-sign.png
| relatives         = [[Vaman Mangesh Dubhashi]] (maternal grandfather)<br/>[[Satish Dubhashi]] (cousin brother)
| website     = {{URL|puladeshpande.net/}}
| signature         = PL-D-sign.png
| website           = {{url|puladeshpande.net/}}
}}
}}


'''Purushottam Laxman Deshpande''' (alternatively written as '''Pu La Deshpande''' (8 November 1919 – 12 June 2000), popularly known by his initials ("'''Pu. La.'''") or as '''P. L. Deshpande''', was a [[Marathi language|Marathi]] writer and humorist from [[Maharashtra]], India. He was also an accomplished film and stage actor, script writer, author, composer, musician, singer and orator. He was often referred to as "Maharashtra's beloved personality".<ref>{{cite web|date=10 June 2018|title=A documentary ode to Pu La Deshpande in Pune on June 12|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/a-documentary-ode-to-pu-la-deshpande-in-pune-on-june-12/story-NoO6GjKPktxXy3tc0rPiSP.html|website=The Hindustan Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=A cultural icon called PuLa who made Marathis laugh at themselves - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/a-cultural-icon-called-pula-who-made-marathis-laugh-at-themselves/articleshow/66674448.cms|website=The Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=24 November 2018|title=Socially aware PuLa: A conversation tracing the late writer's service to society|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/socially-aware-pula-a-conversation-tracing-the-late-writers-service-to-society-5462199/}}</ref><ref name="Death Anniversary of P.L. Deshpande">{{cite web |title=Death Anniversary of P.L. Deshpande |date=12 June 2019 |url=https://www.mintageworld.com/media/detail/9651-death-anniversary-of-p-l-deshpande/ |publisher=Mintage World - |access-date=31 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.punesite.com/pu-la-deshpande-park-in-pune.html|title=Pu La Deshpande Park in Pune|website=www.punesite.com|access-date=1 November 2017}}</ref>
'''Purushottam Laxman Deshpande''' (alternatively written as '''Pu La Deshpande'''; 8 November 1919 – 12 June 2000) was a [[Marathi language|Marathi]] writer and humorist from [[Maharashtra]]. He was also an accomplished film and stage actor, script writer, author, composer, musician, singer and orator. He was often referred to as "Maharashtra's beloved personality".&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web|date=10 June 2018|title=A documentary ode to Pu La Deshpande in Pune on June 12|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/a-documentary-ode-to-pu-la-deshpande-in-pune-on-june-12/story-NoO6GjKPktxXy3tc0rPiSP.html|website=The Hindustan Times}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite news|title=A cultural icon called PuLa who made Marathis laugh at themselves |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/a-cultural-icon-called-pula-who-made-marathis-laugh-at-themselves/articleshow/66674448.cms|website=The Times of India|date=18 November 2018 }}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web|date=24 November 2018|title=Socially aware PuLa: A conversation tracing the late writer's service to society|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/socially-aware-pula-a-conversation-tracing-the-late-writers-service-to-society-5462199/}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name="Death Anniversary of P.L. Deshpande"&gt;{{cite web |title=Death Anniversary of P.L. Deshpande |date=12 June 2019 |url=https://www.mintageworld.com/media/detail/9651-death-anniversary-of-p-l-deshpande/ |publisher=Mintage World - |access-date=31 May 2021}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite web|title=Pu La Deshpande Park in Pune|url=http://www.punesite.com/pu-la-deshpande-park-in-pune.html|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107022348/http://www.punesite.com/pu-la-deshpande-park-in-pune.html|archive-date=7 November 2017|access-date=1 November 2017|website=www.punesite.com}}&lt;/ref&gt;


Deshpande's works have been translated into several languages including [[English language|English]] and [[Kannada language|Kannada]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/cover-story/bangalore/cover-story/two-good-couple-of-translators-bring-joy-to-kannada-marathi/articleshow/59303271.cms|title=Two good: Couple of translators bring joy to Kannada, Marathi – Bangalore Mirror -|work=Bangalore Mirror|access-date=1 November 2017}}</ref>
Deshpande's works have been translated into several languages including English and [[Kannada language|Kannada]].&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite news|url=http://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/cover-story/bangalore/cover-story/two-good-couple-of-translators-bring-joy-to-kannada-marathi/articleshow/59303271.cms|title=Two good: Couple of translators bring joy to Kannada, Marathi – Bangalore Mirror -|work=Bangalore Mirror|access-date=1 November 2017}}&lt;/ref&gt;


== Early life ==
== Early life ==


Purushottam Laxman Deshpande was born in Gamdevi Street, Chowpati, [[Mumbai]] in a [[Gaud Saraswat Brahmin]] (GSB)<ref>{{cite journal|title=Economic and Political Weekly, Volume 14|page=1519|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NauwAAAAIAAJ&q=deshpande&pg=PA1519|quote=Deshpande a college graduate from a progressive Gaud Saraswat Brahmin community..|publisher=Sameeksha Trust|year=1979}}</ref> family to Laxman Trimbak Deshpande and Laxmibai Laxman Deshpande.{{Citation needed|reason=Your EXPLANATION here|date=December 2017}} His maternal grandfather, [[Vaman Mangesh Dubhashi]], was a Marathi poet and writer. He had translated [[Rabindranath Tagore]]'s [[Gitanjali]] into Marathi, with the title, "''Abhang Gitanjali''".<ref name="biodictbook1">{{cite book|last1=Chauhan|first1=K.A. Author)|last2=Ray|first2=N.R. (Editor)|title=DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY (Supplement) Volume I (A-D)|date=1986|publisher=N. R. Ray Director, Institute of Historical Studies|location=Calcutta|pages=341–342|url=https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.100392/2015.100392.Dictionary-Of-National-Biography-Supplement-Vol-1a-d1986_djvu.txt|access-date=20 August 2017}}</ref>
Purushottam Laxman Deshpande was born in Gamdevi Street, Chowpati, [[Mumbai]] in a [[Gaud Saraswat Brahmin]] (GSB)&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|title=Volume 14|page=1519|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NauwAAAAIAAJ&amp;q=deshpande&amp;pg=PA1519|quote=Deshpande a college graduate from a progressive Gaud Saraswat Brahmin community..|publisher=Sameeksha Trust|year=1979}}&lt;/ref&gt; family to Laxman Trimbak Deshpande and Laxmibai Laxman Deshpande.{{Citation needed|reason=Your EXPLANATION here|date=December 2017}} His maternal grandfather, [[Vaman Mangesh Dubhashi]], was a Marathi poet and writer. He had translated [[Rabindranath Tagore]]'s [[Gitanjali]] into Marathi, with the title, "''Abhang Gitanjali''".&lt;ref name="biodictbook1"&gt;{{cite encyclopedia|last=Chauhan|first=K.A.|editor-last=Ray|editor-first=N.R. |title=DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY (Supplement) Volume I (A-D)|date=1986|publisher=N. R. Ray Director, Institute of Historical Studies|location=Calcutta|pages=341–342|url=https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.100392/2015.100392.Dictionary-Of-National-Biography-Supplement-Vol-1a-d1986_djvu.txt|access-date=20 August 2017}}&lt;/ref&gt;


The family used to stay at Kenway House, Procter Road in the [[Grant Road]] locality in Mumbai. His family then moved to [[Jogeshwari]]. His first 8 years at the newly formed Saraswati Baug Colony are described in the story titled 'Balpanicha Kaal Sukhacha' or ''Bālpaṇicā Kāḷ Sukhācā'' (translation: the happy days of childhood) in his book ''Purchundi''. The family then moved to [[Vile Parle]].<ref name="pld-kala-bio">{{Cite web|url=http://pldkalaacademy.org/p_l_deshpande.html|title=P.L.Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi, Mumbai|website=pldkalaacademy.org|access-date=1 November 2017}}</ref>
The family used to stay at Kenway House, Procter Road in the [[Grant Road (South Mumbai, India)|Grant Road]] locality in Mumbai. His family then moved to [[Jogeshwari]]. His first 8 years at the newly formed Saraswati Baug Colony are described in the story titled 'Balpanicha Kaal Sukhacha' or ''Bālpaṇicā Kāḷ Sukhācā'' (translation: the happy days of childhood) in his book ''Purchundi''. The family then moved to [[Vile Parle]].&lt;ref name="pld-kala-bio"&gt;{{Cite web|url=http://pldkalaacademy.org/p_l_deshpande.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715085645/http://pldkalaacademy.org/p_l_deshpande.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=15 July 2016|title=P.L.Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi, Mumbai|website=pldkalaacademy.org|access-date=1 November 2017}}&lt;/ref&gt;


== Education ==
== Education ==


Deshpande studied at [[Parle Tilak Vidyalaya]]. He attended [[Ismail Yusuf College]] after high school and then [[Government Law College, Mumbai]] for [[LLB]]. Later, he attended [[Fergusson College]] in [[Pune]]. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1950 and then a Master of Arts (MA) degree from Willingdon College, [[Sangli]].<ref name="biodictbook1" /> He also took lessons in playing the harmonium from Dattopant Rajopadhye of ''Bhaskar [[Music school|Sangitalaya]]{{Citation needed|date=September 2017}}.
Deshpande studied at [[Parle Tilak Vidyalaya]]. He attended [[Ismail Yusuf College]] after high school and then [[Fergusson College]] in [[Pune]] for BA. Later, he attended [[Government Law College, Mumbai]] for [[LLB]]. He completed Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1950 and then a Master of Arts (MA) degree from [[Willingdon College]], [[Sangli]].&lt;ref name="biodictbook1" /&gt; He also took lessons in playing the harmonium from Dattopant Rajopadhye of ''Bhaskar [[Music school|Sangitalaya]]''{{Citation needed|date=September 2017}}.


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==
His first wife, Sundar Divadkar, died soon after their wedding. On 12 June 1946, Deshpande married his colleague, [[Sunita Deshpande|Sunita Thakur]].<ref name="biodictbook1" /> Thakur was to go on to become an accomplished writer in her own right.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Author-Deshpande-passes-away-at-83/articleshow/5207987.cms|title=Author Deshpande passes away at 83 – Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=1 November 2017}}</ref> The couple did not have any children. They looked upon their nephews, Dinesh Thakur and Jayant Deshpande, as their own sons.
His first wife, Sundar Divadkar, died soon after their wedding. On 12 June 1946, Deshpande married his colleague, [[Sunita Deshpande|Sunita Thakur]].&lt;ref name="biodictbook1" /&gt; She (Sunita Deshpande) was to go on to become an accomplished writer in her own right.&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Author-Deshpande-passes-away-at-83/articleshow/5207987.cms|title=Author Deshpande passes away at 83 – Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=1 November 2017}}&lt;/ref&gt; The couple did not have any children of their own. They raised Sunitabai's nephew, [[Dinesh Thakur (mathematician)|Dinesh Thakur]] as their own son. Pu La wrote on Dinesh in his book Gangot.


== Professional life ==
== Professional life ==
 
===Educator===
Both Deshpande and his wife served as teachers in Orient High School, Mumbai. He also worked for some years as a college professor in Rani Parvati Devi College, [[Belgaum]] in [[Karnataka]] and [[Kirti M. Doongursee College|Kirti College]] in  Mumbai.
Both Deshpande and his wife served as teachers in Orient High School, Mumbai. He also worked for some years as a college professor in Rani Parvati Devi College, [[Belgaum]] in [[Karnataka]] and [[Kirti M. Doongursee College|Kirti College]] in  Mumbai.


He also worked for [[Doordarshan]], the state-owned TV channel. He was the first person to interview the then Prime Minister, [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], on Indian television. He was seconded to the [[BBC]] for a year-long training. After this, he spent some time in [[France]] and [[West Germany]]. It was this specific period and stays in these countries that his later [[Travel documentary|travelogue]] "Apoorvai" was to be based upon. His other travelogues are "Poorvaranga" and "Jave Tyanchya Desha".<ref name="biodictbook1" /><ref name="pld-kala-bio" />
===Television===
He also worked for [[Doordarshan]], the state-owned TV channel. He was the first person to interview the then Prime Minister, [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], on Indian television. He was seconded to the [[BBC]] for a year-long training. After this, he spent some time in France and [[West Germany]]. It was this specific period and stays in these countries that his later [[Travel documentary|travelogue]] "Apoorvai" was to be based upon. His other travelogues are "Poorvaranga" and "Jave Tyanchya Desha".&lt;ref name="biodictbook1" /&gt;&lt;ref name="pld-kala-bio" /&gt;


===Accomplishments===
===Film and music===
Pu La Deshpande was a proficient [[Hindustani classical music]]ian. He went on to gain fame as an author, [[screenplay writer]], actor, director, music director and singer. He also participated in several philanthropic activities.<ref name="biodictbook1" /><ref name="pld-kala-bio" />
Deshpande was a man of many talents. Apart from writing, the talents he used in  filmmaking included writing  [[screenplay]]s, directing, acting, composing music, and singing. He was instrumental in establishing the iconic [[Bal Gandharva Ranga Mandir]] in Pune. He was a proficient in [[Hindustani classical music]].He composed music for many marathi films of 1940s and '50s including  'Amaldar', 'Gulacha Ganapati', 'Ghardhani', 'Chokhamela', 'Dudhbhat', 'Dev Pavla', 'Devbappa', 'Navrabayako', 'Nave Birhad', 'Manache Paan' and 'Mothi Manase'.&lt;ref name="biodictbook1"/&gt;&lt;ref&gt;{{cite news |last1=Mishra |first1=Garima |title=NFAI acquires handwritten script of Pu La Deshpande's 1953 film 'Gulacha Ganpati |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/nfai-acquires-handwritten-script-of-pu-la-deshpandes-1953-film-gulacha-ganpati/ |access-date=11 July 2021 |work=Indian Express |issue=November 20, 2015 |publisher=The express group |date=2015}}&lt;/ref&gt; He was also the composer for many popular non-film songs in the
"bhavegeet" genre sung by singers such as  [[Jyotsna Bhole]], [[Manik Varma]] and [[Asha Bhosale]].


== Death ==
== Death ==


Deshpande died in Pune, Maharashtra, on 12 June 2000, due to complications from [[Parkinson's disease]]. He was aged 80. He was survived by his wife Sunita. He died on the 54th anniversary of their wedding.<ref>{{cite news|last=PTI|title=Pu La Deshpande passes away|url=http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/20000613/ifr13022.html|access-date=26 December 2010|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=12 June 2000}}</ref><ref name="toi1">{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spotlight/Pu-La-Deshpande-to-come-alive-on-silver-screen/articleshow/19538608.cms|title=Pu La Deshpande to come alive on silver screen – Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=1 November 2017}}</ref>
Deshpande died in Pune, Maharashtra, on 12 June 2000, due to complications from [[Parkinson's disease]]. He was aged 80. He died on the couple's 54th wedding anniversary.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite news|last=PTI|title=Pu La Deshpande passes away|url=http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/20000613/ifr13022.html|access-date=26 December 2010|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=12 June 2000}}&lt;/ref&gt;&lt;ref name="toi1"&gt;{{Cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/spotlight/Pu-La-Deshpande-to-come-alive-on-silver-screen/articleshow/19538608.cms|title=Pu La Deshpande to come alive on silver screen – Times of India|work=The Times of India|access-date=1 November 2017}}&lt;/ref&gt;
 
== Bibliography ==


==Bibliography==
{{Main|Purushottam Laxman Deshpande bibliography}}
{{Main|Purushottam Laxman Deshpande bibliography}}
Most of Deshpande's literary contributions are in the Marathi language.<ref name="pld-kala-bio" /> Although he wrote across several genres, he was particularly well known for his works of humor. He also adapted prominent works from other languages into screenplays - scripts - for films in the [[Marathi language|Marathi]]. Prominent examples include:
Most of Deshpande's literary contributions are in the Marathi language.&lt;ref name="pld-kala-bio" /&gt; Although he wrote across several genres, he was particularly well known for his works of humor. He also adapted prominent works from other languages into screenplays - scripts - for films in the [[Marathi language|Marathi]]. Prominent examples include:
* The 1952 film अंमलदार (Ammaldar), based on [[Nikolai Gogol]]'s ''[[The Government Inspector|Inspector General]]'',
* The 1952 film अंमलदार (Ammaldar), based on [[Nikolai Gogol]]'s ''[[The Government Inspector|Inspector General]]'',
* The 1962 book काय वाट्टेल ते होईल (Kay Wattel Te Hoeel), based on the translation of [[Helen Papashvily|Helen]] and [[George Papashvily]]'s script of ''[[Anything Can Happen]]''),
* The 1962 book काय वाट्टेल ते होईल (Kay Wattel Te Hoeel), based on the translation of [[Helen Papashvily|Helen]] and [[George Papashvily]]'s script of ''[[Anything Can Happen]]''.
etc. He referred to his adaptations as भावानुवाद (Bhawanuwad'' or paraphrasing) instead of as conventional "translation"s or "adaptation"s {{Citation needed|date=September 2017}}.
* Teen paishyacha tamasha based on [[The Threepenny Opera]] (Die Dreigroschenoper) by [[Bertolt Brecht]]
The Marathi book eka koliyane ( एका कोळीयानें ) is a translation ( भावानुवाद ) of earnest Hemingway's book old man and the sea.&lt;ref name="BökerDetmers2006"&gt;{{cite book|author1=Uwe Böker|author2=Ines Detmers|author3=Anna-Christina Giovanopoulos|title=John Gay's The Beggar's Opera, 1728-2004: adaptations and re-writings|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WAqR9D1WfysC&amp;pg=PA7|year=2006|publisher=Rodopi|isbn=90-420-2113-6|pages=7, 26–27}}&lt;/ref&gt;
 
He referred to his adaptations as भावानुवाद (''Bhawanuwad'' or paraphrasing) instead of as conventional "translation"s or "adaptation"s {{Citation needed|date=September 2017}}.


==Filmography==
==Filmography==
* [[:mr:चित्रपट कुबेर|कुबेर]] (Kuber)&nbsp;– 1947: actor and playback singer
* [[:mr:चित्रपट कुबेर|कुबेर]] (Kuber)&amp;nbsp;– 1947: actor and playback singer
* [[:mr:चित्रपट भाग्यरेषा|भाग्यरेषा]] (Bhagyaresha)&nbsp;–  1948: actor and playback singer
* [[:mr:चित्रपट भाग्यरेखा|भाग्यरेखा]] (Bhagyarekha)&amp;nbsp;–  1948: actor and playback singer
* [[:mr:चित्रपट वंदेमातरम्|वंदेमातरम्]] (Wandemataram)&nbsp;–  1948: actor and playback singer
* [[:mr:चित्रपट वंदेमातरम्|वंदेमातरम्]] (Wandemataram)&amp;nbsp;–  1948: actor and playback singer
* [[:mr:चित्रपट जागा भाड्याने देणे आहे|जागा भाड्याने देणे आहे]] (Jaga Bhadyane Dene ahe)&nbsp;– 1949: screenplay and dialogues
* [[:mr:चित्रपट जागा भाड्याने देणे आहे|जागा भाड्याने देणे आहे]] (Jaga Bhadyane Dene ahe)&amp;nbsp;– 1949: screenplay and dialogues
* [[:mr:चित्रपट मानाचे पान|मानाचे पान]] (Manache Pan)&nbsp;– 1949: &nbsp;– story, screenplay, and dialogues; co-music director in collaboration with [[Ga Di Madgulkar]]
* [[:mr:चित्रपट मानाचे पान|मानाचे पान]] (Manache Pan)&amp;nbsp;– 1949: &amp;nbsp;– story, screenplay, and dialogues; co-music director in collaboration with [[Ga Di Madgulkar]]
* [[:mr:चित्रपट मोठी माणसे|मोठी माणसे]] (Mothi Manase)&nbsp;– 1949: music director
* [[:mr:चित्रपट मोठी माणसे|मोठी माणसे]] (Mothi Manase)&amp;nbsp;– 1949: music director
* गोकुळचा राजा (Gokulacha Raja)&nbsp;– 1950: Writer of Story, Screenplay, and Dialogues
* गोकुळचा राजा (Gokulacha Raja)&amp;nbsp;– 1950: Writer of Story, Screenplay, and Dialogues
* जरा जपून (Jara Japoon)&nbsp;– 1950: Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues
* जरा जपून (Jara Japoon)&amp;nbsp;– 1950: Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues
* जोहार मायबाप (Johar Maybap)&nbsp;– 1950: Actor
* जोहार मायबाप (Johar Maybap)&amp;nbsp;– 1950: Actor
* नवरा बायको (Nawara Bayako)&nbsp;– 1950: Music Director and Writer of Story, Screenplay, and Dialogues
* नवरा बायको (Nawara Bayako)&amp;nbsp;– 1950: Music Director and Writer of Story, Screenplay, and Dialogues
* ही वाट पंढरीची (Hi Wat Pandharichi)&nbsp;– 1950: Actor
* ही वाट पंढरीची (Hi Wat Pandharichi)&amp;nbsp;– 1950: Actor
* पुढचे पाऊल (Pudhache Paool)&nbsp;– 1950: Actor and Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues in collaboration with [[Ga Di Madgulkar]]
* पुढचे पाऊल (Pudhache Paool)&amp;nbsp;– 1950: Actor and Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues in collaboration with [[Ga Di Madgulkar]]
* वर पाहिजे (Var Pahije)&nbsp;– 1950: Actor and Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues in collaboration with Achyut Ranade
* वर पाहिजे (Var Pahije)&amp;nbsp;– 1950: Actor and Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues in collaboration with Achyut Ranade
* देव पावला (Dewa Pawala)&nbsp;– 1950: Music Director
* देव पावला (Dewa Pawala)&amp;nbsp;– 1950: Music Director
* दूध भात (Doodh Bhat)&nbsp;– 1952: Music Director and Writer of Story, Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics
* दूध भात (Doodh Bhat)&amp;nbsp;– 1952: Music Director and Writer of Story, Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics
* घरधनी (Ghardhani)&nbsp;– 1952: Music Director and Writer of Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics
* घरधनी (Ghardhani)&amp;nbsp;– 1952: Music Director and Writer of Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics
* नवे बिर्हाड (Nawe Birhad)&nbsp;– 1952:  Writer of Story and Screenplay
* नवे बिर्हाड (Nawe Birhad)&amp;nbsp;– 1952:  Writer of Story and Screenplay
* माईसाहेब (Maisaheb)&nbsp;– 1952: Music Director and Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues
* माईसाहेब (Maisaheb)&amp;nbsp;– 1952: Music Director and Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues
* संदेश (Sandesh) [in Hindi]&nbsp;– 1952: Writer of Story, Screenplay, and Dialogues (translated by Mir Asgar Ali)
* संदेश (Sandesh) [in Hindi]&amp;nbsp;– 1952: Writer of Story, Screenplay, and Dialogues (translated by Mir Asgar Ali)
* देवबाप्पा (Dewabappa)&nbsp;– 1952: Music Director and Writer of Story, Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics
* देवबाप्पा (Dewabappa)&amp;nbsp;– 1952: Music Director and Writer of Story, Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics
* गुळाचा गणपती (Gulacha Ganapati)&nbsp;– 1953: Director, Music Director, actor, and Writer of Story, Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/nfai-acquires-handwritten-script-of-pu-la-deshpandes-1953-film-gulacha-ganpati/|title=NFAI acquires handwritten script of Pu La Deshpande's 1953 film 'Gulacha Ganpati'|date=20 November 2015|work=The Indian Express|access-date=1 November 2017|language=en-US}}</ref>
* गुळाचा गणपती (Gulacha Ganapati)&amp;nbsp;– 1953: Director, music director, actor, and Writer of Story, Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite news|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/nfai-acquires-handwritten-script-of-pu-la-deshpandes-1953-film-gulacha-ganpati/|title=NFAI acquires handwritten script of Pu La Deshpande's 1953 film 'Gulacha Ganpati'|date=20 November 2015|work=The Indian Express|access-date=1 November 2017|language=en-US}}&lt;/ref&gt;
* फूल और कलियाँ (Phool Aur Kaliyan) [in Hindi]&nbsp;– 1960: Story writer –
* फूल और कलियाँ (Phool Aur Kaliyan) [in Hindi]&amp;nbsp;– 1960: Story writer –
* सुंदर मी होणार (This novel was adopted to make Hindi movie Aaj Aur Kal [[Aaj Aur Kal (1963 film)|Aaj aur Kal]]) [in Hindi]&nbsp;– 1966: Story writer –
* सुंदर मी होणार (This novel was adopted to make Hindi movie {{Lang|hi-latn|[[Aaj Aur Kal (1963 film)|Aaj aur Kal]]}}) [in Hindi]&amp;nbsp;– 1966: Story writer –
* चिमणराव गुंड्याभाऊ (Chimanarao Gundyabhau)&nbsp;– : Narrator
* चिमणराव गुंड्याभाऊ (Chimanarao Gundyabhau)&amp;nbsp;– : Narrator
* एक होता विदूषक ([[Ek Hota Vidushak]])&nbsp;– 1993: Screenplay and Dialogues
* एक होता विदूषक ([[Ek Hota Vidushak]])&amp;nbsp;– 1993: Screenplay and Dialogues


==Awards and recognition==
==Awards and recognition==
[[File:Purushottam Laxman Deshpande 2002 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|Deshpande on a 2002 stamp of India]]
[[File:Purushottam Laxman Deshpande 2002 stamp of India.jpg|thumb|Deshpande on a 2002 stamp of India]]
* [[Punyabhushan]]&nbsp;– 1993
* [[Punyabhushan]]&amp;nbsp;– 1993
* [[Padma Bhushan]]&nbsp;– 1990<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf | title=Padma Awards | publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India | date=2015 | access-date=21 July 2015}}</ref>
* [[Padma Bhushan]]&amp;nbsp;– 1990&lt;ref name="Padma Awards"&gt;{{cite web | url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live | title=Padma Awards | publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India | date=2015 | access-date=21 July 2015}}&lt;/ref&gt;
* Maharashtra Gaurav (Bahurupi) Award&nbsp;
* Maharashtra Gaurav (Bahurupi) Award&amp;nbsp;
* [[Padma Shri]]&nbsp;– 1966<ref name="Padma Awards" />
* [[Padma Shri]]&amp;nbsp;– 1966&lt;ref name="Padma Awards" /&gt;
* [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] ([[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Marathi|Marathi for ''Vyakti Ani Valli'']])&nbsp;– 1965
* [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] ([[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Marathi|Marathi for ''Vyakti Ani Valli'']])&amp;nbsp;– 1965
* [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]&nbsp;– 1967
* [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]&amp;nbsp;– 1967
* [[List of Sangeet Natak Akademi fellows|Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship]]&nbsp;– 1979
* [[List of Sangeet Natak Akademi fellows|Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship]]&amp;nbsp;– 1979
* [[Maharashtra Bhushan Award]]&nbsp;– 1996
* [[Maharashtra Bhushan Award]]&amp;nbsp;– 1996
* [[Kalidas Samman]]&nbsp;– 1987
* [[Kalidas Samman]]&amp;nbsp;– 1987
* Honorary [[Doctor of Letters|Doctor of Literature]] Degrees from [[Rabindra Bharati University]] (1979), [[University of Pune]] (1980) and [[Tilak Maharashtra University]] (1993)
* Honorary [[Doctor of Letters|Doctor of Literature]] Degrees from [[Rabindra Bharati University]] (1979), [[University of Pune]] (1980) and [[Tilak Maharashtra University]] (1993)
* First interviewer to interview [[Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru]], the first Prime Minister of [[India]], for the then newly founded [[Doordarshan]].
* First interviewer to interview [[Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru]], the first Prime Minister of India, for the then newly founded [[Doordarshan]]
* The "P. L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy" was established by the Government of Maharashtra in [[Mumbai]] to honour his contributions to Marathi literature{{nbsp}}– 2002<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://pldkalaacademy.org/about.html|title=P.L.Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi, Mumbai|website=pldkalaacademy.org|access-date=1 November 2017}}</ref>
* The "P. L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy" was established by the Government of Maharashtra in [[Mumbai]] to honour his contributions to Marathi literature{{nbsp}}– 2002&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite web|url=http://pldkalaacademy.org/about.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629124557/http://www.pldkalaacademy.org/about.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=29 June 2014|title=P.L.Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi, Mumbai|website=pldkalaacademy.org|access-date=1 November 2017}}&lt;/ref&gt;
* A garden, ''[[Pu La Deshpande Garden|Pu. La. Deshpande Udyan]]'' (also known as "Pune-Okayama Friendship Garden"), in [[Pune]] was named after him in [[Memorialization|commemoration]].
* A garden, ''[[Pu La Deshpande Garden|Pu. La. Deshpande Udyan]]'' (also known as "Pune-Okayama Friendship Garden"), in [[Pune]] was named after him in [[Memorialization|commemoration]]
* On 8 November 2020 (his 101st birth anniversary), Google honoured him with a [[Google Doodle]].<ref name="The Indian Express">{{cite web |url =https://indianexpress.com/article/books-and-literature/google-doodle-purushottam-laxman-deshpande-7008244/lite/ | title= P.L. Deshpande | work= The Indian Express| date=8 November 2020 | access-date=9 November 2020}}</ref>
* On 8 November 2020 (his 101st birth anniversary), Google honoured him with a [[Google Doodle]]&lt;ref name="The Indian Express"&gt;{{cite web |url =https://indianexpress.com/article/books-and-literature/google-doodle-purushottam-laxman-deshpande-7008244/lite/ | title= P.L. Deshpande | work= The Indian Express| date=8 November 2020 | access-date=9 November 2020}}&lt;/ref&gt;
* A [[computer font]] titled ''PuLa 100'', which mimicked his handwriting, was made available in 2020.<ref>{{cite news |title=डिजिटल फॉन्टमधील पुलंच्या अक्षरलेखनाची जादू |url=https://www.loksatta.com/pune-news/literature-lovers-download-pula-deshpande-handwriting-in-digital-font-zws-70-2497124/ |access-date=14 June 2021 |work=[[Loksatta]] |date=June 12, 2021}}</ref>
* A [[computer font]] titled ''PuLa 100'', which mimicked his handwriting, was made available in 2020&lt;ref&gt;{{cite news |title=डिजिटल फॉन्टमधील पुलंच्या अक्षरलेखनाची जादू |url=https://www.loksatta.com/pune-news/literature-lovers-download-pula-deshpande-handwriting-in-digital-font-zws-70-2497124/ |access-date=14 June 2021 |work=[[Loksatta]] |date=June 12, 2021}}&lt;/ref&gt;


==Social work==
==Social work==
Pu La Deshpande donated and participated in several social and philanthropic causes.
Pu La Deshpande donated and participated in several social and philanthropic causes.


* Seed donation to [https://www.muktangan.org/ Muktangan Deaddiction and Rehabilitation Center]<ref name=MuktanganDeaddiction>{{cite news|last=Madaan|first=Neha|title=Pune: 19,000 addicts on the road to recovery|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-27/pune/29819836_1_deaddiction-internet-addiction-mukta-puntambekar|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103081658/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-27/pune/29819836_1_deaddiction-internet-addiction-mukta-puntambekar|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2013|access-date=8 November 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=27 July 2011}}</ref>
* Seed donation to Muktangan Deaddiction and Rehabilitation Center&lt;ref name=MuktanganDeaddiction&gt;{{cite news|last=Madaan|first=Neha|title=Pune: 19,000 addicts on the road to recovery|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-27/pune/29819836_1_deaddiction-internet-addiction-mukta-puntambekar|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103081658/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-07-27/pune/29819836_1_deaddiction-internet-addiction-mukta-puntambekar|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2013|access-date=8 November 2012|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|date=27 July 2011}}&lt;/ref&gt;
* Donation to IUCAA Muktangan Vidnyan Shodhika<ref name="iucaa">{{cite web|title=Pulastya&nbsp;– IUCAA's Children's Science Centre|url=http://www.iucaa.ernet.in/~scipop/Pulastya/index.html|publisher=SciPop IUCAA|access-date=8 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112152000/http://www.iucaa.ernet.in/~scipop/Pulastya/index.html|archive-date=12 November 2012}}</ref>
* Donation to IUCAA Muktangan Vidnyan Shodhika&lt;ref name="iucaa"&gt;{{cite web|title=Pulastya&amp;nbsp;– IUCAA's Children's Science Centre|url=http://www.iucaa.ernet.in/~scipop/Pulastya/index.html|publisher=SciPop IUCAA|access-date=8 November 2012|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121112152000/http://www.iucaa.ernet.in/~scipop/Pulastya/index.html|archive-date=12 November 2012}}&lt;/ref&gt;
* Donation to ''Neehar'', a hostel for the children of sex workers<ref name=indiainternational>{{cite web|title=P L Deshpande as a philanthropist|url=http://www.indiainternational.com/pulabahurupi80/pula9.html|access-date=8 November 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210223124/http://www.indiainternational.com/pulabahurupi80/pula9.html|archive-date=10 February 2012}}</ref>
* Donation to ''Neehar'', a hostel for the children of sex workers&lt;ref name=indiainternational&gt;{{cite web|title=P L Deshpande as a philanthropist|url=http://www.indiainternational.com/pulabahurupi80/pula9.html|access-date=8 November 2012|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210223124/http://www.indiainternational.com/pulabahurupi80/pula9.html|archive-date=10 February 2012}}&lt;/ref&gt;
* Donation for closed-door [[auditorium]] and an open theatre for the blind students at [[Baba Amte]]'s Anandvan<ref name=indiainternational />
* Donation for closed-door [[auditorium]] and an open theatre for the blind students at [[Baba Amte]]'s Anandvan&lt;ref name=indiainternational /&gt;
* Supporter of ''Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti'' (Committee for Eradication of blind Superstitions), promoting cultivation of scientific temperament
* Supporter of ''Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti'' (Committee for Eradication of blind Superstitions), promoting cultivation of scientific temperament


Pu. La. Deshpande's wife, Sunita Deshpande, donated Rs.25 lakhs to IUCAA towards Muktangan Vidnyan Shodhika, a building aptly named as "PULASTYA" (a name of a star and memory of PULA.)
Pu. La. Deshpande's wife, Sunita Deshpande, donated Rs.25 lakhs to IUCAA towards Muktangan Vidnyan Shodhika, a building aptly named as "PULASTYA" (a name of a star and memory of PULA.) After the demise of Sunita deshpande, the copyrights of most of Pu. La's books were given to IUCAA and the royalties received from Pu La's works is used to spread Science awareness among young kids by IUCAA.&lt;ref&gt;{{Cite web|date=9 September 2018|title=IUCAA has copyrights of Pu La's works, say his kin {{!}} Pune News|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/iucaa-has-copyrights-of-pu-las-works-say-his-kin/articleshow/65737037.cms|website=The Times of India|language=en}}&lt;/ref&gt;{{Verify source|date=August 2021}}
After the demise of Sunita deshpande, the copyrights of most of Pu. La's books were given to IUCAA and the royalties received from Pu La's works is used to spread Science awareness among young kids by IUCAA. [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/iucaa-has-copyrights-of-pu-las-works-say-his-kin/articleshow/65737037.cms]


==In popular culture==
==In popular culture==
===Films and television===
===Films and television===
*''Gola Berij'', a 2012 Indian Marathi-language film directed by Kshitij Zarapkar, presents a fictionaized account of his life.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gola Berij |url=https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/gola-berij/0-0-golaberij |website=[[ZEE5]]}}</ref>
*''Gola Berij'', a 2012 Indian Marathi-language film directed by Kshitij Zarapkar, presents a fictionaized account of his life.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web |title=Gola Berij |url=https://www.zee5.com/movies/details/gola-berij/0-0-golaberij |website=[[ZEE5]]}}&lt;/ref&gt;
*''[[Bhai: Vyakti Ki Valli]]'' is the movie released on 4 January 2019 on P L Deshpande directed by [[Mahesh Manjrekar]]. The movie was criticized by many for taking unnecessary cinematic liberty, defaming many well known, well respected, and prominent personalities along with Pu La himself; and distortion of facts from the descriptions in books by Pu La himself and Sunitabai's book Aahe Manohar Tari.<ref>{{cite news |title=Prabha Atre decries guru's portrayal in Pu La biopic |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/prabha-atre-decries-gurus-portrayal-in-pu-la-biopic/articleshow/67746790.cms |access-date=11 February 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=30 January 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
*''[[Bhai: Vyakti Ki Valli]]'' is the film released on 4 January 2019 on P L Deshpande directed by [[Mahesh Manjrekar]]. The film was criticized by many for taking cinematic liberty.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite news |title=Prabha Atre decries guru's portrayal in Pu La biopic |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/prabha-atre-decries-gurus-portrayal-in-pu-la-biopic/articleshow/67746790.cms |access-date=11 February 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=30 January 2019 |language=en}}&lt;/ref&gt; A sequel ''[[Bhai - Vyakti Ki Valli 2]]'' was released a month later.
*''[[Namune]]'', a television serial on [[Sony Sab]] based on Deshpande's literature, has the actor [[Sanjay Mone]] play the role of Deshpande. Along with Sanjay Mone, there are various actors from the Hindi and Marathi film industry.
*''[[Namune]]'', a television serial on [[Sony SAB]] based on Deshpande's literature, has the actor [[Sanjay Mone]] play the role of Deshpande. Along with Sanjay Mone, there are various actors from the Hindi and Marathi film industry.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web|url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/namune-to-bring-writer-p-l-deshpande-alive-on-small-screen-tv-snippets-118071400022_1.html|title='Namune' to bring writer P.L. Deshpande alive on small screen (TV Snippets)|agency=IANS|date=14 July 2018|via=Business Standard|access-date=23 October 2023|archive-date=3 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221003234402/https://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/namune-to-bring-writer-p-l-deshpande-alive-on-small-screen-tv-snippets-118071400022_1.html|url-status=live}}&lt;/ref&gt;


=== Documentaries ===
=== Documentaries ===
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCaZNkJGPAY Documentary on Pu. La. Deshpande]: This is a Govt. of India Films Division documentary, in which Pu La himself reveals his life journey. It was filmed on the occasion of his 60th birthday. There are two other documentaries made on Pu La:
Documentary on Pu. La. Deshpande:&lt;ref&gt;{{Citation|title=A Very Rare Documentary on Pu La Deshpande 60th Birthday {{!}} पु ल देशपांडे. अतिशय दुर्लभ चित्रफीत| date=16 July 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCaZNkJGPAY|language=en|access-date=2021-08-27}}&lt;/ref&gt; This is a Govt. of India Films Division documentary, in which Pu La himself reveals his life journey. It was filmed on the occasion of his 60th birthday. There are two other documentaries made on Pu La:
* One by [[Mukta Rajadhyakshya]] and [[Sudhir Moghe]] called Ya Sama Haa on his 75th birthday and
* One by [[Mukta Rajadhyakshya]] and [[Sudhir Moghe]] called Ya Sama Haa on his 75th birthday and
* Pu La Vruttant, made by Dr. [[Jabbar Patel]], in which Pu La himself talks about his life.
* Pu La Vruttant, made by [[Jabbar Patel]], in which Pu La himself talks about his life.


==See also==
==See also==
* [[List of Indian writers]]
* [[Pralhad Keshav Atre]]
* [[Pralhad Keshav Atre]]


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* {{iMDb name|1194308}}
* {{iMDb name|1194308}}
* {{Official website|http://puladeshpande.net}}
* {{Official website|http://puladeshpande.net}}
* [https://chandantripathi.com/dr-a-p-j-abdul-kalam-facts-in-hindi/ Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam facts in Hindi]
* [https://chandantripathi.com/sanjay-dutt-facts-in-hindi/]


{{s-start}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-bef|before= [[Gajanan Digambar Madgulkar]]}}
{{s-bef|before= [[Gajanan Digambar Madgulkar]]}}
{{s-ttl|title= [[Marathi Sahitya Sammelan|Marathi Sahitya Sammelan&nbsp;– President]]|years=1974 [[Ichalkaranji]]}}
{{s-ttl|title= [[Marathi Sahitya Sammelan|Marathi Sahitya Sammelan&amp;nbsp;– President]]|years=1974 [[Ichalkaranji]]}}
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{{s-aft|after=[[Durga Bhagwat]]}}
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[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award|Deshpande, P.L.]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award|Deshpande, P.L.]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in literature & education]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in arts]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Maharashtra Bhushan Award]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Maharashtra Bhushan Award]]
[[Category:Marathi people]]
[[Category:Marathi-language playback singers]]
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[[Category:20th-century Indian screenwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian screenwriters]]
[[Category:Indian humorists]]

Revision as of 09:47, 27 February 2026


Purushottam Laxman Deshpande
Deshpande, c. 1974
Born(1919-11-08)8 November 1919
Bombay, Bombay Presidency, British India
Died12 June 2000(2000-06-12) (aged 80)
Pune, Maharashtra, India
Other namesPu. La. Deshpande<br /> Bhai
OccupationWriter
Spouse(s)
(
m. 1946)
RelativesVaman Mangesh Dubhashi (maternal grandfather)<br />Satish Dubhashi (cousin brother)<br />Dinesh Thakur (nephew)
Websitepuladeshpande.net
Signature

Purushottam Laxman Deshpande (alternatively written as Pu La Deshpande; 8 November 1919 – 12 June 2000) was a Marathi writer and humorist from Maharashtra. He was also an accomplished film and stage actor, script writer, author, composer, musician, singer and orator. He was often referred to as "Maharashtra's beloved personality".<ref>"A documentary ode to Pu La Deshpande in Pune on June 12". The Hindustan Times. 10 June 2018.</ref><ref>"A cultural icon called PuLa who made Marathis laugh at themselves". The Times of India. 18 November 2018.</ref><ref>"Socially aware PuLa: A conversation tracing the late writer's service to society". 24 November 2018.</ref><ref name="Death Anniversary of P.L. Deshpande">"Death Anniversary of P.L. Deshpande". Mintage World -. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2021.</ref><ref>"Pu La Deshpande Park in Pune". www.punesite.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.</ref>

Deshpande's works have been translated into several languages including English and Kannada.<ref>"Two good: Couple of translators bring joy to Kannada, Marathi – Bangalore Mirror -". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 1 November 2017.</ref>

Early life

Purushottam Laxman Deshpande was born in Gamdevi Street, Chowpati, Mumbai in a Gaud Saraswat Brahmin (GSB)<ref>"Volume 14". Economic and Political Weekly. Sameeksha Trust: 1519. 1979. Deshpande a college graduate from a progressive Gaud Saraswat Brahmin community..</ref> family to Laxman Trimbak Deshpande and Laxmibai Laxman Deshpande.[citation needed] His maternal grandfather, Vaman Mangesh Dubhashi, was a Marathi poet and writer. He had translated Rabindranath Tagore's Gitanjali into Marathi, with the title, "Abhang Gitanjali".<ref name="biodictbook1">Chauhan, K.A. (1986). Ray, N.R. (ed.). DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY (Supplement) Volume I (A-D). Calcutta: N. R. Ray Director, Institute of Historical Studies. pp. 341–342. Retrieved 20 August 2017.</ref>

The family used to stay at Kenway House, Procter Road in the Grant Road locality in Mumbai. His family then moved to Jogeshwari. His first 8 years at the newly formed Saraswati Baug Colony are described in the story titled 'Balpanicha Kaal Sukhacha' or Bālpaṇicā Kāḷ Sukhācā (translation: the happy days of childhood) in his book Purchundi. The family then moved to Vile Parle.<ref name="pld-kala-bio">"P.L.Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi, Mumbai". pldkalaacademy.org. Archived from the original on 15 July 2016. Retrieved 1 November 2017.</ref>

Education

Deshpande studied at Parle Tilak Vidyalaya. He attended Ismail Yusuf College after high school and then Fergusson College in Pune for BA. Later, he attended Government Law College, Mumbai for LLB. He completed Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in 1950 and then a Master of Arts (MA) degree from Willingdon College, Sangli.<ref name="biodictbook1" /> He also took lessons in playing the harmonium from Dattopant Rajopadhye of Bhaskar Sangitalaya[citation needed].

Personal life

His first wife, Sundar Divadkar, died soon after their wedding. On 12 June 1946, Deshpande married his colleague, Sunita Thakur.<ref name="biodictbook1" /> She (Sunita Deshpande) was to go on to become an accomplished writer in her own right.<ref>"Author Deshpande passes away at 83 – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 November 2017.</ref> The couple did not have any children of their own. They raised Sunitabai's nephew, Dinesh Thakur as their own son. Pu La wrote on Dinesh in his book Gangot.

Professional life

Educator

Both Deshpande and his wife served as teachers in Orient High School, Mumbai. He also worked for some years as a college professor in Rani Parvati Devi College, Belgaum in Karnataka and Kirti College in Mumbai.

Television

He also worked for Doordarshan, the state-owned TV channel. He was the first person to interview the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, on Indian television. He was seconded to the BBC for a year-long training. After this, he spent some time in France and West Germany. It was this specific period and stays in these countries that his later travelogue "Apoorvai" was to be based upon. His other travelogues are "Poorvaranga" and "Jave Tyanchya Desha".<ref name="biodictbook1" /><ref name="pld-kala-bio" />

Film and music

Deshpande was a man of many talents. Apart from writing, the talents he used in filmmaking included writing screenplays, directing, acting, composing music, and singing. He was instrumental in establishing the iconic Bal Gandharva Ranga Mandir in Pune. He was a proficient in Hindustani classical music.He composed music for many marathi films of 1940s and '50s including 'Amaldar', 'Gulacha Ganapati', 'Ghardhani', 'Chokhamela', 'Dudhbhat', 'Dev Pavla', 'Devbappa', 'Navrabayako', 'Nave Birhad', 'Manache Paan' and 'Mothi Manase'.<ref name="biodictbook1"/><ref>Mishra, Garima (2015). "NFAI acquires handwritten script of Pu La Deshpande's 1953 film 'Gulacha Ganpati". Indian Express. No. November 20, 2015. The express group. Retrieved 11 July 2021.</ref> He was also the composer for many popular non-film songs in the "bhavegeet" genre sung by singers such as Jyotsna Bhole, Manik Varma and Asha Bhosale.

Death

Deshpande died in Pune, Maharashtra, on 12 June 2000, due to complications from Parkinson's disease. He was aged 80. He died on the couple's 54th wedding anniversary.<ref>PTI (12 June 2000). "Pu La Deshpande passes away". The Indian Express. Retrieved 26 December 2010.</ref><ref name="toi1">"Pu La Deshpande to come alive on silver screen – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 November 2017.</ref>

Bibliography

Main article: Purushottam Laxman Deshpande bibliography

Most of Deshpande's literary contributions are in the Marathi language.<ref name="pld-kala-bio" /> Although he wrote across several genres, he was particularly well known for his works of humor. He also adapted prominent works from other languages into screenplays - scripts - for films in the Marathi. Prominent examples include:

The Marathi book eka koliyane ( एका कोळीयानें ) is a translation ( भावानुवाद ) of earnest Hemingway's book old man and the sea.<ref name="BökerDetmers2006">Uwe Böker; Ines Detmers; Anna-Christina Giovanopoulos (2006). John Gay's The Beggar's Opera, 1728-2004: adaptations and re-writings. Rodopi. pp. 7, 26–27. ISBN 90-420-2113-6.</ref>

He referred to his adaptations as भावानुवाद (Bhawanuwad or paraphrasing) instead of as conventional "translation"s or "adaptation"s [citation needed].

Filmography

  • कुबेर (Kuber)&nbsp;– 1947: actor and playback singer
  • भाग्यरेखा (Bhagyarekha)&nbsp;– 1948: actor and playback singer
  • वंदेमातरम् (Wandemataram)&nbsp;– 1948: actor and playback singer
  • जागा भाड्याने देणे आहे (Jaga Bhadyane Dene ahe)&nbsp;– 1949: screenplay and dialogues
  • मानाचे पान (Manache Pan)&nbsp;– 1949: &nbsp;– story, screenplay, and dialogues; co-music director in collaboration with Ga Di Madgulkar
  • मोठी माणसे (Mothi Manase)&nbsp;– 1949: music director
  • गोकुळचा राजा (Gokulacha Raja)&nbsp;– 1950: Writer of Story, Screenplay, and Dialogues
  • जरा जपून (Jara Japoon)&nbsp;– 1950: Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues
  • जोहार मायबाप (Johar Maybap)&nbsp;– 1950: Actor
  • नवरा बायको (Nawara Bayako)&nbsp;– 1950: Music Director and Writer of Story, Screenplay, and Dialogues
  • ही वाट पंढरीची (Hi Wat Pandharichi)&nbsp;– 1950: Actor
  • पुढचे पाऊल (Pudhache Paool)&nbsp;– 1950: Actor and Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues in collaboration with Ga Di Madgulkar
  • वर पाहिजे (Var Pahije)&nbsp;– 1950: Actor and Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues in collaboration with Achyut Ranade
  • देव पावला (Dewa Pawala)&nbsp;– 1950: Music Director
  • दूध भात (Doodh Bhat)&nbsp;– 1952: Music Director and Writer of Story, Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics
  • घरधनी (Ghardhani)&nbsp;– 1952: Music Director and Writer of Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics
  • नवे बिर्हाड (Nawe Birhad)&nbsp;– 1952: Writer of Story and Screenplay
  • माईसाहेब (Maisaheb)&nbsp;– 1952: Music Director and Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues
  • संदेश (Sandesh) [in Hindi]&nbsp;– 1952: Writer of Story, Screenplay, and Dialogues (translated by Mir Asgar Ali)
  • देवबाप्पा (Dewabappa)&nbsp;– 1952: Music Director and Writer of Story, Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics
  • गुळाचा गणपती (Gulacha Ganapati)&nbsp;– 1953: Director, music director, actor, and Writer of Story, Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics<ref>"NFAI acquires handwritten script of Pu La Deshpande's 1953 film 'Gulacha Ganpati'". The Indian Express. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2017.</ref>
  • फूल और कलियाँ (Phool Aur Kaliyan) [in Hindi]&nbsp;– 1960: Story writer –
  • सुंदर मी होणार (This novel was adopted to make Hindi movie Aaj aur Kal) [in Hindi]&nbsp;– 1966: Story writer –
  • चिमणराव गुंड्याभाऊ (Chimanarao Gundyabhau)&nbsp;– : Narrator
  • एक होता विदूषक (Ek Hota Vidushak)&nbsp;– 1993: Screenplay and Dialogues

Awards and recognition

Deshpande on a 2002 stamp of India

Social work

Pu La Deshpande donated and participated in several social and philanthropic causes.

  • Seed donation to Muktangan Deaddiction and Rehabilitation Center<ref name=MuktanganDeaddiction>Madaan, Neha (27 July 2011). "Pune: 19,000 addicts on the road to recovery". The Times of India. Retrieved 8 November 2012.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)</ref>
  • Donation to IUCAA Muktangan Vidnyan Shodhika<ref name="iucaa">"Pulastya&nbsp;– IUCAA's Children's Science Centre". SciPop IUCAA. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2012.</ref>
  • Donation to Neehar, a hostel for the children of sex workers<ref name=indiainternational>"P L Deshpande as a philanthropist". Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2012.</ref>
  • Donation for closed-door auditorium and an open theatre for the blind students at Baba Amte's Anandvan<ref name=indiainternational />
  • Supporter of Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (Committee for Eradication of blind Superstitions), promoting cultivation of scientific temperament

Pu. La. Deshpande's wife, Sunita Deshpande, donated Rs.25 lakhs to IUCAA towards Muktangan Vidnyan Shodhika, a building aptly named as "PULASTYA" (a name of a star and memory of PULA.) After the demise of Sunita deshpande, the copyrights of most of Pu. La's books were given to IUCAA and the royalties received from Pu La's works is used to spread Science awareness among young kids by IUCAA.<ref>"IUCAA has copyrights of Pu La's works, say his kin | Pune News". The Times of India. 9 September 2018.</ref>[verification needed]

In popular culture

Films and television

Documentaries

Documentary on Pu. La. Deshpande:<ref>A Very Rare Documentary on Pu La Deshpande 60th Birthday | पु ल देशपांडे. अतिशय दुर्लभ चित्रफीत, 16 July 2014, retrieved 27 August 2021</ref> This is a Govt. of India Films Division documentary, in which Pu La himself reveals his life journey. It was filmed on the occasion of his 60th birthday. There are two other documentaries made on Pu La:

See also

References

External links

Preceded by
Gajanan Digambar Madgulkar 		Marathi Sahitya Sammelan&nbsp;– President
1974 Ichalkaranji 		Succeeded by
Durga Bhagwat
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