5/31/2019 Purushottam Laxman Deshpande - Wikipedia

Purushottam Laxman Deshpande

Purushottam Lakshman Deshpande[1][2] (alternatively written
Purushottam Laxman
Purushottam Laxman Deshpande;[3][4] 8 November 1919 – 12 June
Deshpande
2000[5]), popularly known by his initials ("Pu. La.") or as P. L.
Deshpande, was a Marathi writer and humorist from Maharashtra, India.
He was also an accomplished film and stage actor, script writer, author,
composer, musician (he played the harmonium), singer and orator. He was
often referred to as "Maharashtra's beloved personality".[6]

Deshpande's works have been translated into several languages including

English and Kannada.[7]

Contents
Biography
Early life
Education
Personal life
Professional life
Accomplishments
Death
Bibliography at Vadodara, Gujarat
Filmography
Born 8 November 1919
Awards and recognition Mumbai
Social work
Died 12 June 2000
Movie (aged 80)
Documentary Pune
See also
Nationality Indian
References
Other names Purushottam
External links
Lakshman
Deshpande
P. L. Deshpande
Biography Pu. La.
Bhai

Early life Education MA, LLB

Purushottam was born in Gamdevi Area (Kurpal Hemraj Chawl) in Occupation Writer, actor,
Mumbai in a Gaud Saraswat Brahmin[8] family to Laxman Trimbak composer, film and
Deshpande and Laxmibai Laxman Deshpande. His maternal grandfather, television producer,
Vaman Mangesh Dubhashi, was a poet and connoisseur of literature. He film director, music
had translated Rabindranath Tagore's Gitanjali into Marathi under the title director
"Abhang Gitanjali".[9] Spouse(s) Sunita Deshpande
Relatives Vaman Mangesh
Dubhashi (maternal

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The family used to stay at Kenway house (opposite Robert Money School), grandfather)
Proctor road, Grant Road. His family then moved to Jogeshwari within Satish Dubhashi
Mumbai where he stayed at the newly formed Saraswati Baug Colony until (cousin brother)
the age of 8 years. His first 8 years and Saraswati Baug is described in the Website puladeshpande.net
story titled "Balpanicha Kaal Sukhacha" (translation: the happy days of (http://puladeshpand
childhood) in his book Purchundi. The family then moved to Vile Parle.[10] e.net/)

Education
Deshpande studied at Parle Tilak Vidyalaya.He attended Ismail Yusuf College after high school and then Government
law college for LLB. Later he attended Fergusson College in Pune and obtained his Bachelors in Arts, (BA) in 1950 and
then obtained his Masters in Arts (MA) from Willingdon college,sangli[9] He also took lessons in playing harmonium
from Dattopant Rajopadhye of Bhaskar Sangitalaya.

Personal life
His first wife (the former Ms. Sundar Divadkar from a family in Karjat) died soon after the wedding in the early 1940s.
On 12 June 1946, Deshpande married his colleague, Sunita Thakur.[9] Thakur was to go on to become an accomplished
writer in her own right.[11] The couple did not have any children, they loved their nephew, Dinesh Thakur like their
own son.

Professional life
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, Karnataka and Kirti College, Mumbai. He also worked for
newly founded Doordarshan, the state owned Indian TV. 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 which he spent
some time in France and in West Germany. It was this specific period and stays in these countries that his later
travelogue "Apoorvai" was to be based upon. His other travelogue include ”’’ Poorvaranga" and Jave Tyanchya
Desha.[9][10]

Accomplishments
Pu La Deshpande was a proficient Hindustani classical musician. He went on to gain fame as an author, screenplay
writer, actor, director, music director and singer. He participated in several philanthropist activities[9][10]

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.[12][5] sunita died after PL
despande in 2009.

Bibliography
Most of Deshpande's literary contributions are deeply rooted in Marathi language.[10] Although he wrote across
several genres, he was particularly well-known for his humorist literature. He produced several original works and also
adapted of prominent works from other languages into Marathi. Prominent examples include the 1952 film अंमलदार
(Ammaldar, based on Nikolai Gogol's Inspector General), the 1962 book काय वा े ल ते होईल (Kay Wattel Te Hoeel.
Based on translation of Helen and George Papashvily's script of Anything Can Happen) etc. He referred to his
adaptations as भावानुवाद (Bhawanuwad or paraphrasing) instead of the conventional "translation" or "adaptation".

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Filmography
कुबेर (Kuber) – 1947: actor and playback singer
भा रे षा (Bhagyaresha) – 1948: actor and playback singer
वंदेमातरम् (Wandemataram) – 1948: actor and playback singer
जागा भा ाने दे णे आहे (Jaga Bhadyane Dene ahe) – 1949: screenplay and dialogues
मानाचे पान (Manache Pan) – 1949: – story, screenplay, and dialogues; co-music director in collaboration with Ga
Di Madgulkar
मोठी माणसे (Mothi Manase) – 1949: music director
गोकुळचा राजा (Gokulacha Raja) – 1950: Writer of Story, Screenplay, and Dialogues
जरा जपून (Jara Japoon) – 1950: Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues
जोहार मायबाप (Johar Maybap) – 1950: Actor
नवरा बायको (Nawara Bayako) – 1950: Music Director and Writer of Story, Screenplay, and Dialogues
ही वाट पंढरीची (Hi Wat Pandharichi) – 1950: Actor
पुढचे पाऊल (Pudhache Paool) – 1950: Actor and Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues in collaboration with Ga Di
Madgulkar
वर पािहजे (War Pahije) – 1950: Actor and Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues in collaboration with Achyut Ranade
दे व पावला (Dewa Pawala) – 1950: Music Director
दू ध भात (Doodh Bhat) – 1952: Music Director and Writer of Story, Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics
घरधनी (Ghardhani) – 1952: Music Director and Writer of Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics
नवे िबहाड (Nawe Birhad) – 1952: Writer of Story and Screenplay
माईसाहे ब (Maisaheb) – 1952: Music Director and Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues
संदेश (Sandesh) [in Hindi] – 1952: Writer of Story, Screenplay, and Dialogues (translated by Mir Asgar Ali)
दे वबा ा (Dewabappa) – 1952: Music Director and Writer of Story, Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics
गुळाचा गणपती (Gulacha Ganapati) – 1953: Director, Music Director, actor, and Writer of Story, Screenplay,
Dialogues, and Lyrics[13]
फूल और किलयाँ (Phool Aur Kaliyan) [in Hindi] – 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] – 1966: Story writer –
िचमणराव गुं ाभाऊ (Chimanarao Gundyabhau) – : Narrator
एक होता िवदू षक (Ek Hota Vidushak) – 1993: Screenplay and Dialogues

Awards and recognition

Punyabhushan – 1993
Padma Bhushan – 1990[14]
Maharashtra Gaurav (Bahurupi) Award
Padma Shri – 1966[14]
Sahitya Akademi Award (Marathi for Vyakti Ani Valli) – 1965
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award – 1967
Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship – 1979
Maharashtra Bhushan Award – 1996
Kalidas Samman – 1987
Honorary Doctor of Literature Degrees from Rabindra Bharati
University (1979), University of Pune (1980) and Tilak Maharashtra
University (1993) Deshpande on a 2002 stamp of
First interviewer to interview Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime India
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 – 2002[15]
A garden, Pu. La. Deshpande Udyan (also known as "Pune-Okayama Friendship Garden"), in Pune was named
after him in commemoration.

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

Seed donation to Muktangan Deaddiction and Rehabilitation Center[16]

Donation to IUCAA Muktangan Vidnyan Shodhika[17]
Donation to Neehar, a hostel for the children of prostitutes[18]
Donation for closed-door auditorium and an open theatre for the blind students at Baba Amte's Anandvan[18]
Supporter of Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (Committee for Eradication of blind Superstitions), promoting
cultivation of scientific temperament

Movie
Bhai: Vyakti Ki Valli is the movie released on 4 January 2019 on P L Deshpande directed by Mahesh Manjrekar.[19]
The lead role of Deshpande is done by Sagar Deshmukh . 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. [1] (h
ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzG8n3oLjrY) [2] (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/pu-las-kin-str
ongly-object-to-manjrekars-2-part-biopic/articleshow/68339044.cms) [3] (https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-n
ews/veteran-classical-singer-prabha-atre-discontent-with-pu-la-biopic/story-ggdQW1rMuXIbhSc07hiIHK.html) [4]
(http://epaper.lokprabha.com/m5/2048110/Lokprabha/08-03-2019#issue/21/1) [5] (https://timesofindia.indiatime
s.com/city/pune/prabha-atre-decries-gurus-portrayal-in-pu-la-biopic/articleshow/67746790.cms)

Documentary
Documentary on Pu. La. Deshpande (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCaZNkJGPAY) - This is a Films Division
documentary in which Pu. La. himself reveals his life journey. It was filmed on 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 Pu La Vruttant, made by Dr. Jabbar Patel, in which Pu La himself talked about his life.

See also
Pralhad Keshav Atre

References
1. "A documentary ode to Pu La Deshpande in Pune on June 12" (https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/a-do
cumentary-ode-to-pu-la-deshpande-in-pune-on-june-12/story-NoO6GjKPktxXy3tc0rPiSP.html). The Hindustan
Times. 10 June 2018.
2. "A cultural icon called PuLa who made Marathis laugh at themselves - Times of India" (https://timesofindia.indiati
mes.com/city/mumbai/a-cultural-icon-called-pula-who-made-marathis-laugh-at-themselves/articleshow/66674448.
cms). The Times of India.
3. " 'Bhai: Vyakti Ki Valli' trailer: Sagar Deshmukh takes you on rollercoaster ride of humour as he brings PL
Deshpande's life on celluloid - Times of India" (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/marathi/movies/n
ews/bhai-vyakti-ki-valli-trailer-sagar-deshmukh-takes-you-on-rollercoaster-ride-of-humour-as-he-brings-pl-deshpa
ndes-life-on-celluloid/articleshow/67072745.cms). The Times of India.
4. "Socially aware PuLa: A conversation tracing the late writer's service to society" (https://indianexpress.com/article/
cities/pune/socially-aware-pula-a-conversation-tracing-the-late-writers-service-to-society-5462199/). 24 November
2018.
5. "Pu La Deshpande to come alive on silver screen – Times of India" (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/s
potlight/Pu-La-Deshpande-to-come-alive-on-silver-screen/articleshow/19538608.cms). The Times of India.
Retrieved 1 November 2017.
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6. "Pu La Deshpande Park in Pune" (http://www.punesite.com/pu-la-deshpande-park-in-pune.html).

www.punesite.com. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
7. "Two good: Couple of translators bring joy to Kannada, Marathi – Bangalore Mirror -" (http://bangaloremirror.indiati
mes.com/bangalore/cover-story/bangalore/cover-story/two-good-couple-of-translators-bring-joy-to-kannada-marat
hi/articleshow/59303271.cms). Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
8. "Economic and Political Weekly, Volume 14" (https://books.google.com/books?id=NauwAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA1519&
sig=ACfU3U13hVjLDWPjg3Gp7ZWkJ9q299zLww&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=deshpande). Sameeksha Trust.
1979: 1519. "Deshpande a college graduate from a progressive Gaud Saraswat Brahmin community.."
9. Chauhan, K.A. Author); Ray, N.R. (Editor) (1986). DICTIONARY OF NATIONAL BIOGRAPHY (Supplement)
Volume I (A-D) (https://archive.org/stream/in.ernet.dli.2015.100392/2015.100392.Dictionary-Of-National-Biograph
y-Supplement-Vol-1a-d1986_djvu.txt). Calcutta: N. R. Ray Director, Institute of Historical Studies. pp. 341–342.
Retrieved 20 August 2017.
10. "P.L.Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi, Mumbai" (http://pldkalaacadem
y.org/p_l_deshpande.html). pldkalaacademy.org. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
11. "Author Deshpande passes away at 83 – Times of India" (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Author-De
shpande-passes-away-at-83/articleshow/5207987.cms). The Times of India. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
12. PTI (12 June 2000). "Pu La Deshpande passes away" (http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/20000613/ifr13022.ht
ml). Indian Express. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
13. "NFAI acquires handwritten script of Pu La Deshpande's 1953 film 'Gulacha Ganpati' " (http://indianexpress.com/a
rticle/entertainment/nfai-acquires-handwritten-script-of-pu-la-deshpandes-1953-film-gulacha-ganpati/). The Indian
Express. 20 November 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
14. "Padma Awards" (http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf) (PDF). Ministry of Home
Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
15. "P.L.Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, Ravindra Natya Mandir, Prabhadevi, Mumbai" (http://pldkalaacadem
y.org/about.html). pldkalaacademy.org. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
16. Madaan, Neha (27 July 2011). "Pune: 19,000 addicts on the road to recovery" (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatim
es.com/2011-07-27/pune/29819836_1_deaddiction-internet-addiction-mukta-puntambekar). The Times of India –
Pune. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
17. "Pulastya – IUCAA's Children's Science Centre" (https://web.archive.org/web/20121112152000/http://www.iucaa.e
rnet.in/~scipop/Pulastya/index.html). SciPop IUCAA. Archived from the original (http://www.iucaa.ernet.in/~scipop/
Pulastya/index.html) on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
18. "P L Deshpande as a philanthropist" (https://web.archive.org/web/20120210223124/http://www.indiainternational.c
om/pulabahurupi80/pula9.html). Archived from the original (http://www.indiainternational.com/pulabahurupi80/pula
9.html) on 10 February 2012. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
19. 'Bhai: Vyakti Ki Valli' trailer: (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/67072745.cms)Sagar Deshmukh takes
you on rollercoaster ride of humour as he brings PL Deshpande's life on celluloid, Nitesh Poojari, December 13,
2018

External links
Purushottam Laxman Deshpande (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1194308/) on IMDb
Official website (http://puladeshpande.net)

Preceded by Marathi Sahitya Sammelan –

Succeeded by
Gajanan Digambar President
Durga Bhagwat
Madgulkar 1974 Ichalkaranji

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