Purushottam Laxman Deshpande
Purushottam Laxman Deshpande, popularly known by his initials or as P. L. Deshpande, 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".
Deshpande's works have been translated into several languages including English and Kannada.
Early life
Purushottam Laxman Deshpande was born in Gamdevi Street, Chowpati, Mumbai in a Gaud Saraswat Brahmin family to Laxman Trimbak Deshpande and Laxmibai Laxman Deshpande. 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".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 in his book Purchundi. The family then moved to Vile Parle.
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 degree in 1950 and then a Master of Arts degree from Willingdon College, Sangli. He also took lessons in playing the harmonium from Dattopant Rajopadhye of Bhaskar Sangitalaya.Personal life
His first wife, Sundar Divadkar, died soon after their wedding. On 12 June 1946, Deshpande married his colleague, Sunita Thakur. She was to go on to become an accomplished writer in her own right. 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
Books
1."Vyakti Ani Valli" :This book is a collection of character sketches, portraying various eccentric personalities from Deshpande's life. Each character is brought to life with humor and wit, reflecting the diverse and colorful spectrum of human nature.
2."Batatyachi Chaal" :
A humorous depiction of life in a chawl in Mumbai, the book captures the quirky and endearing lives of its inhabitants, illustrating their daily struggles and camaraderie with a comedic touch.
3."Apoorvai" :
This is a travelogue recounting Deshpande's experiences in Europe. Written with his characteristic humor, the book offers insightful and amusing observations about European culture and lifestyle.
4."Asa Mi Asami" :
A satirical autobiography, this novel presents the life of a common man through a series of humorous episodes, highlighting the absurdities and ironies of middle-class existence in India.
5."Ti Phulrani" :
An adaptation of George Bernard Shaw's play "Pygmalion," this Marathi play tells the story of a flower girl who is transformed into a refined lady under the guidance of a professor. It retains the original's critique of social class distinctions while adding Deshpande's unique comedic flair.
6."Jave Tyanchya Desha" :
Another travelogue, this book describes Deshpande's visit to various countries, filled with humorous anecdotes and reflections on the cultural differences he encounters.
7."Guna Gaiin Awadi" :
A collection of essays that blend humor with philosophical insights, showcasing Deshpande's ability to find comedy in everyday situations while pondering deeper meanings.
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".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'. 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.Filmography
- कुबेर – 1947: actor and playback singer
- भाग्यरेखा – 1948: actor and playback singer
- वंदेमातरम् – 1948: actor and playback singer
- जागा भाड्याने देणे आहे – 1949: screenplay and dialogues
- मानाचे पान – 1949: – story, screenplay, and dialogues; co-music director in collaboration with Ga Di Madgulkar
- मोठी माणसे – 1949: music director
- गोकुळचा राजा – 1950: Writer of Story, Screenplay, and Dialogues
- जरा जपून – 1950: Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues
- जोहार मायबाप – 1950: Actor
- नवरा बायको – 1950: Music Director and Writer of Story, Screenplay, and Dialogues
- ही वाट पंढरीची – 1950: Actor
- पुढचे पाऊल – 1950: Actor and Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues in collaboration with Ga Di Madgulkar
- वर पाहिजे – 1950: Actor and Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues in collaboration with Achyut Ranade
- देव पावला – 1950: Music Director
- दूध भात – 1952: Music Director and Writer of Story, Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics
- घरधनी – 1952: Music Director and Writer of Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics
- नवे बिर्हाड – 1952: Writer of Story and Screenplay
- माईसाहेब – 1952: Music Director and Writer of Screenplay and Dialogues
- संदेश – 1952: Writer of Story, Screenplay, and Dialogues
- देवबाप्पा – 1952: Music Director and Writer of Story, Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics
- गुळाचा गणपती – 1953: Director, music director, actor, and Writer of Story, Screenplay, Dialogues, and Lyrics
- फूल और कलियाँ – 1960: Story writer –
- सुंदर मी होणार – 1966: Story writer –
- चिमणराव गुंड्याभाऊ – : Narrator
- एक होता विदूषक – 1993: Screenplay and Dialogues
Awards and recognition
- Punyabhushan – 1993
- Padma Bhushan – 1990
- Maharashtra Gaurav Award
- Padma Shri – 1966
- Sahitya Akademi Award – 1965
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award – 1967
- List of [Sangeet Natak Akademi fellows|Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship] – 1979
- Maharashtra Bhushan Award – 1996
- Kalidas Samman – 1987
- Honorary Doctor of Literature Degrees from Rabindra Bharati University, University of Pune and Tilak Maharashtra University
- 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– 2002
- A garden, Pu. La. Deshpande Udyan, in Pune was named after him in commemoration
- On 8 November 2020, Google honoured him with a Google Doodle
- A computer font titled PuLa 100, which mimicked his handwriting, was made available in 2020
Social work
- Seed donation to Muktangan Deaddiction and Rehabilitation Center
- Donation to IUCAA Muktangan Vidnyan Shodhika
- Donation to Neehar, a hostel for the children of sex workers
- Donation for closed-door auditorium and an open theatre for the blind students at Baba Amte's Anandvan
- Supporter of Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, promoting cultivation of scientific temperament
In popular culture
Films and television
- Gola Berij, a 2012 Indian Marathi-language film directed by Kshitij Zarapkar, presents a fictionaized account of his life.
- 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. 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.
Documentaries
- 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.
Books Written By Pu La Deshpande