Purushottam Laxman Deshpande: Difference between revisions

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{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| other_names = Pu. La. Deshpande<br /> Bhai
| other_names = Pu. La. Deshpande<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    = Deshpande, {{c.|1974}}
Line 14: Line 14:
| occupation  = Writer
| occupation  = Writer
| spouse      = {{marriage|[[Sunita Deshpande]]|1946}}
| spouse      = {{marriage|[[Sunita Deshpande]]|1946}}
| relatives  = [[Vaman Mangesh Dubhashi]] (maternal grandfather)&lt;br /&gt;[[Satish Dubhashi]] (cousin brother)&lt;br /&gt;[[Dinesh Thakur (mathematician)|Dinesh Thakur]] (nephew)
| relatives  = [[Vaman Mangesh Dubhashi]] (maternal grandfather)<br />[[Satish Dubhashi]] (cousin brother)<br />[[Dinesh Thakur (mathematician)|Dinesh Thakur]] (nephew)
| signature  = PL-D-sign.png
| signature  = PL-D-sign.png
| website    = {{URL|puladeshpande.net/}}
| website    = {{URL|puladeshpande.net/}}
}}
}}


'''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;
'''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".<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 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 }}</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|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}}</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;
Deshpande's works have been translated into several languages including 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>


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


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;
Purushottam Laxman Deshpande was born in Gamdevi Street, Chowpati, [[Mumbai]] in a [[Gaud Saraswat Brahmin]] (GSB)<ref>{{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}}</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 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}}</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;
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]].<ref name="pld-kala-bio">{{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}}</ref>


== Education ==
== 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]].&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}}.
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 [[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]].&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.
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" /> She (Sunita Deshpande) 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 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 ==
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===Television===
===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;
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" />


===Film and music===
===Film and music===
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  
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'.<ref name="biodictbook1"/><ref>{{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}}</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]].
"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 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;
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>{{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>


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
{{Main|Purushottam Laxman Deshpande bibliography}}
{{Main|Purushottam Laxman Deshpande bibliography}}
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:
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:
* 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]]''.
* Teen paishyacha tamasha based on [[The Threepenny Opera]] (Die Dreigroschenoper) by [[Bertolt Brecht]]
* 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;
The Marathi book eka koliyane ( एका कोळीयानें ) is a translation ( भावानुवाद ) of earnest Hemingway's book old man and the sea.<ref name="BökerDetmers2006">{{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}}</ref>


He referred to his adaptations as भावानुवाद (''Bhawanuwad'' or paraphrasing) instead of as conventional "translation"s or "adaptation"s {{Citation needed|date=September 2017}}.
He referred to his adaptations as भावानुवाद (''Bhawanuwad'' or paraphrasing) instead of as conventional "translation"s or "adaptation"s {{Citation needed|date=September 2017}}.
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* संदेश (Sandesh) [in Hindi]&amp;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)&amp;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)&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;
* गुळाचा गणपती (Gulacha Ganapati)&amp;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>
* फूल और कलियाँ (Phool Aur Kaliyan) [in Hindi]&amp;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 {{Lang|hi-latn|[[Aaj Aur Kal (1963 film)|Aaj aur Kal]]}}) [in Hindi]&amp;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 –
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[[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]]&amp;nbsp;– 1993
* [[Punyabhushan]]&amp;nbsp;– 1993
* [[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;
* [[Padma Bhushan]]&amp;nbsp;– 1990<ref name="Padma Awards">{{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}}</ref>
* Maharashtra Gaurav (Bahurupi) Award&amp;nbsp;
* Maharashtra Gaurav (Bahurupi) Award&amp;nbsp;
* [[Padma Shri]]&amp;nbsp;– 1966&lt;ref name="Padma Awards" /&gt;
* [[Padma Shri]]&amp;nbsp;– 1966<ref name="Padma Awards" />
* [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] ([[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Marathi|Marathi for ''Vyakti Ani Valli'']])&amp;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]]&amp;nbsp;– 1967
* [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]]&amp;nbsp;– 1967
Line 101: Line 101:
* 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&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;
* 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|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}}</ref>
* 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]]&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;
* 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>
* 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;
* 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>


==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 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;
* Seed donation to 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>
* 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 IUCAA Muktangan Vidnyan Shodhika<ref name="iucaa">{{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}}</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 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=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210223124/http://www.indiainternational.com/pulabahurupi80/pula9.html|archive-date=10 February 2012}}</ref>
* Donation for closed-door [[auditorium]] and an open theatre for the blind students at [[Baba Amte]]'s Anandvan&lt;ref name=indiainternational /&gt;
* 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
* 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.&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}}
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>{{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}}</ref>{{Verify source|date=August 2021}}


==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.&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;
*''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>
*''[[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.
*''[[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.<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> 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.&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;
*''[[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.<ref>{{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}}</ref>


=== Documentaries ===
=== Documentaries ===
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:
Documentary on Pu. La. Deshpande:<ref>{{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}}</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:
* 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 [[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.

Latest revision as of 10:53, 22 March 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
Bhai
OccupationWriter
Spouse(s)
(
m. 1946)
RelativesVaman Mangesh Dubhashi (maternal grandfather)
Satish Dubhashi (cousin brother)
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".[1][2][3][4][5]

Deshpande's works have been translated into several languages including English and Kannada.[6]

Early life[edit | edit source]

Purushottam Laxman Deshpande was born in Gamdevi Street, Chowpati, Mumbai in a Gaud Saraswat Brahmin (GSB)[7] 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".[8]

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.[9]

Education[edit | edit source]

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.[8] He also took lessons in playing the harmonium from Dattopant Rajopadhye of Bhaskar Sangitalaya[citation needed].

Personal life[edit | edit source]

His first wife, Sundar Divadkar, died soon after their wedding. On 12 June 1946, Deshpande married his colleague, Sunita Thakur.[8] She (Sunita Deshpande) was to go on to become an accomplished writer in her own right.[10] 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[edit | edit source]

Educator[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

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".[8][9]

Film and music[edit | edit source]

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'.[8][11] 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[edit | edit source]

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.[12][13]

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

Main article: Purushottam Laxman Deshpande bibliography

Most of Deshpande's literary contributions are in the Marathi language.[9] 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.[14]

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

Filmography[edit | edit source]

  • 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[15]
  • 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[edit | edit source]

Deshpande on a 2002 stamp of India

Social work[edit | edit source]

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

  • Seed donation to Muktangan Deaddiction and Rehabilitation Center[20]
  • Donation to IUCAA Muktangan Vidnyan Shodhika[21]
  • Donation to Neehar, a hostel for the children of sex workers[22]
  • Donation for closed-door auditorium and an open theatre for the blind students at Baba Amte's Anandvan[22]
  • 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.[23][verification needed]

In popular culture[edit | edit source]

Films and television[edit | edit source]

  • Gola Berij, a 2012 Indian Marathi-language film directed by Kshitij Zarapkar, presents a fictionaized account of his life.[24]
  • 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.[25] 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.[26]

Documentaries[edit | edit source]

Documentary on Pu. La. Deshpande:[27] 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[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "A documentary ode to Pu La Deshpande in Pune on June 12". The Hindustan Times. 10 June 2018.
  2. ↑ "A cultural icon called PuLa who made Marathis laugh at themselves". The Times of India. 18 November 2018.
  3. ↑ "Socially aware PuLa: A conversation tracing the late writer's service to society". 24 November 2018.
  4. ↑ "Death Anniversary of P.L. Deshpande". Mintage World -. 12 June 2019. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  5. ↑ "Pu La Deshpande Park in Pune". www.punesite.com. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  6. ↑ "Two good: Couple of translators bring joy to Kannada, Marathi – Bangalore Mirror -". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  7. ↑ "Volume 14". Economic and Political Weekly. Sameeksha Trust: 1519. 1979. Deshpande a college graduate from a progressive Gaud Saraswat Brahmin community..
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 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.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "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.
  10. ↑ "Author Deshpande passes away at 83 – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  11. ↑ 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.
  12. ↑ PTI (12 June 2000). "Pu La Deshpande passes away". The Indian Express. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  13. ↑ "Pu La Deshpande to come alive on silver screen – Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  14. ↑ 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.
  15. ↑ "NFAI acquires handwritten script of Pu La Deshpande's 1953 film 'Gulacha Ganpati'". The Indian Express. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  17. ↑ "P.L.Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi, Mumbai". pldkalaacademy.org. Archived from the original on 29 June 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
  18. ↑ "P.L. Deshpande". The Indian Express. 8 November 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  19. ↑ "डिजिटल फॉन्टमधील पुलंच्या अक्षरलेखनाची जादू". Loksatta. 12 June 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2021.
  20. ↑ 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)
  21. ↑ "Pulastya&nbsp;– IUCAA's Children's Science Centre". SciPop IUCAA. Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 "P L Deshpande as a philanthropist". Archived from the original on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  23. ↑ "IUCAA has copyrights of Pu La's works, say his kin | Pune News". The Times of India. 9 September 2018.
  24. ↑ "Gola Berij". ZEE5.
  25. ↑ "Prabha Atre decries guru's portrayal in Pu La biopic". The Times of India. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  26. ↑ "'Namune' to bring writer P.L. Deshpande alive on small screen (TV Snippets)". IANS. 14 July 2018. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2023 – via Business Standard.
  27. ↑ A Very Rare Documentary on Pu La Deshpande 60th Birthday | पु ल देशपांडे. अतिशय दुर्लभ चित्रफीत, 16 July 2014, retrieved 27 August 2021

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