Satish Alekar

Satish Vasant Alekar (born 30 January 1949) is a Marathi playwright, actor, and theatre director. A founder member of the Theatre Academy of Pune, and most known for his plays ''Mahanirvan'' (1974), ''Mahapoor'' (1975), ''Atirekee'' (1990), ''Pidhijat'' (2003), ''Mickey ani Memsahib'' (1973), and ''Begum Barve'' (1979), all of which he also directed for the Academy. ''Ek Divas Mathakade'' (2012) and '' Thakishi Samvad'' (2024) these two recent plays were directed by Nipun Dharmadhikari and Anupam Barve respectively. Along with Mahesh Elkunchwar and Vijay Tendulkar, he is considered among the most influential and progressive playwrights in modern Marathi and Indian theatre.

He has also remained the head of Centre for Performing Arts, University of Pune (1996–2009), which he founded, after forgoing the Directorship of NSD and previously remained an adjunct professor at various universities in US, at the Duke University, Durhum, NC (1994), Performance Studies, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University as a Fulbright Scholar (2003), and Dept. Theatre and Film Studies, University of Georgia, Athens, GA (2005).

He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Playwriting (Marathi) in 1994, by Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama. He received the Padma Shri award in January 2012.
After his retirement Satish Alekar was nominated by Savitribai Phule Pune University as Distinguished Professor on the campus from 2013 till September 2022. He is still on the visiting faculty of the SPPune University and the National School of Drama in Delhi.
Recently he is also known for his screen acting in Marathi and Hindi feature films. He is seen in the character roles of films like ''Ventilator'' (2016).

Early life and education

Alekar was born in Delhi, India. He but grew up in Pune, Maharashtra in a Marathi Brahmin family. He attended the Marathi medium school New English School, Ramanbag which was established by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. After high school, he attended Fergusson College for his undergraduate Bsc degree in sciences. He received his master's degree in biochemistry from University of Pune in 1972.

Career

Theatre

Alekar gained his first stage experience as an actor in a college play. Impressed by his performance, director Bhalba Kelkar, who had set up the Progressive Dramatic Association, invited him to join it. Alekar wrote and directed his first one-act play ''Jhulta Pool'' in 1969. He became a part of a young circle that Jabbar Patel had started within the Progressive Dramatic Association.

This group split with the parent body in 1973 and set up ''Theater Academy'' in Pune. The split was over Vijay Tendulkar's play '' Ghashiram Kotwal''. The senior members decided against its premiere in 1972, and Patel's group decided to produce it under the auspices of its own Theater Academy. Alekar assisted Patel in the direction of Ghashiram Kotwal, and the group has since mounted over 35 plays by him and manage to establish its foothold in experimental Marathi theatre.

Alekar conceived of and implemented Playwrights Development Scheme and Regional Theater Group Development. The Ford Foundation for Theater Academy, Pune supported these programs from 1985 to 1994.

Alekar has collaborated in several international play translation projects. The Tisch School of Arts at New York University invited him in 2003 to teach a course on Indian Theatre. The Department of Theater and Films Studies, University of Georgia invited him in 2005 to direct an English production of his play ''Begum Barve''.

The Holy Cow Performing Arts Group in Edinburgh, Scotland performed an English version of Alekar's ''Micky and Memsahib'' on 27 and 28 August 2009 at Riddle's Court at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

Other employment

After obtaining his master's degree, Alekar worked as a research officer in biochemistry at the government-run B. J. Medical College, Pune.

From July 1996 to January 2009, he worked as a professor and the head of the Center for Performing Arts (Lalit Kala Kendra) at University of Pune. He was working as the honorary director for a program supported by Ratan Tata Trust at the University of Pune from 2009 to 2011. From 2013 to 2022 he was nominated by University of Pune as distinguished professor on the campus.

Plays

Original Marathi plays written since 1973

* Micki Aani Memsaheb मिकी आणि मेमसाहेब (1973)*
* Mahanirvan महानिर्वाण (1974)*
* Mahapoor महापूर (1975)
* Begum Barve बेगम बर्वे (1979)*
* Shanwar Raviwar शनवार रविवार (1982)*
* Dusra Samana दुसरा सामना (1987)
* Atireki अतिरेकी (1990)*
* Pidhijat पिढीजात (2003)*
* Ek Divas Mathakade एक दिवस मठाकडे (2012)
* ''Thakishi Sanvad'' ''ठकीशी संवाद'' (2020), written during COVID-19 lockdown (March–July 2020), to be produced in 2022-23
* Mahapoor (1975), dir. Mohan Gokhale for Theatre Academy, Pune
* Dusra Samna (1987), dir. Waman Kendre for Kala Vaibhav, Mumbai
* Ek Divas Mathakade (2012), dir. Nipun Dharmadhikari for Natak Company, Pune

* Plays directed by Alekar for Theatre Academy, Pune

=Original Marathi one-act plays

=
* Memory मेमरी (1969)
* Bhajan भजन (1969)
* Ek Zulta Pool एक झुलता पूल (1971)
* Dar Koni Ughadat Naahi दर कोणी उघडत नाही (1979)
* Bus Stop बस स्टॅाप (1980)

=Adapted/translated one-act plays and plays

=
* Judge जज्ज (1968)
* Yamuche Rahasya यमुचे रहस्य (1976)
* Bhint भिंत (1980)
* Valan वळण (1980)
* Pralay प्रलय (1985), Marathi version of Gunther Grass's German play ''The Flood''
* Alshi Uttarvalyachi Gosht आळशी अत्तरवाल्याची गोष्ट (1999)
* Nashibvan Baiche Don नशीबवान बाईचे दोन (1999)
* Supari सुपारी (2002)
* Karmaachari कर्मचारी (2009)

Alekar started writing at the age of 19 as a chemistry graduation, though most of his early works were short plays. Many of his plays are set around Pune Brahmin society, highlighting their narrow mindedness and subsequently he ventured into small-town politics with ''Doosra Samna'' (1989). ''Mahanirvan'' (1973) (The Dread Departure) finds black humour through Hindu death rites in Brahmins and its overt seriousness is today Alekar's best-known early work and has since been performed in Bengali, Hindi, Dongri, Konkani and Gujarati. It was originally a one-act play and he had later expanded it at Patel's insistence. It was first staged on 22 November 1974 at the Bharat Natya Mandir, by the Theatre Academy, Pune and was revived in 1999 for its 25th anniversary, and was performed at the same venue, with most of the original cast intact.

''Mickey Ani Memsaheb'' (1974) was his first full-length script. With the exception of his ''Mahapoor'' (1975), he directed all of his own plays. Alekar's ''Begum Barve'' (1979) is regarded as a classic of contemporary Marathi theatre. It deals with the eponymous female impersonator's memories and fantasies. After his musical company closed down, a minor singer-actor starts selling incense sticks on the street and gets exploited by his employer. One day his fantasies get enmeshed with those of a pair of clerks who were his regular customers, and those fantasies get almost fulfilled. The play staged in Rajasthani, Punjabi, Gujarati, Bengali, Konkani, Tamil and Kannada. In 2009, 30 years after its first production, the play returned to Mumbai with its original cast of Chandrakant Kale, and Mohan Aghashe.

Alekar's other plays are ''Bhajan'', ''Bhinta'', ''Walan'', ''Shanivar-Ravivar'' (1982), ''Dusra Samna'' (1987), and ''Atireki'' (1990). The first three are one-act plays. ''Atireki'' is marked by irony, wit, and tangential take-offs from absurd premises. In January 2011 a book of short plays translated/adapted into Marathi by Satish Alekar published by M/s Neelkanth Prakashan, Pune under the title "Adharit Ekankika".

In 2022, all of Alekar's plays, including short plays in Marathi, were published as a new edition by the Popular Prakashan, Mumbai.

Acting reading performance

''Aparichit Pu La (अपरिचित पु.लं.)'' (2018) was a 90 minute acting reading programme on the lesser-known writings of the writer, performer P. L. Deshpande पु.ल.देशपांडे (1919–2000) produced by Shabda Vedh, Pune (शब्द वेध,पुणे) to mark the birth centenary of the writer, and conceived by Chandrakant Kale. The cast included Satish Alekar, Chandrakant Kale and Girish Kulkarni. The first show was performed in Pulotsav on 22 November 2018 at Balgamdharva Ranga Mandir, Pune. Performances were also staged in Pune, Solapur, Ratnagiri and Mumbai.

Film scripts

Alekar scripted the National Film Award, winning Marathi feature film '' Jait Re Jait'' in 1977, directed by Jabbar Patel. Later he directed the 13-part Hindi TV serial ''Dekho Magar Pyarse'' for Doordarshan in 1985. He scripted the dialogues for the Marathi feature film ''Katha Don Ganpatravanchi'' in 1995–96.

Writing for Marathi newspaper

Alekar wrote a fortnightly column in Marathi for the Sunday edition of Loksatta ''Gaganika'' from January toDecember 2015. The column was based on his career in the performing Arts since 1965. The column was popular, and the book ''Gaganika'', based on the column, was published on 30 April 2017 by M/s Rajahans Prakashan, Pune.

Awards and recognition

Some of Alekar's plays have been translated and produced in Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Dogri, Gujarati, Rajasthani, Punjabi, and Konkani. His plays have been included in the National Anthologies published in 2000–01 by the National School of Drama and Sahitya Akademi, Delhi.

Alekar is the recipient of several national and state awards for his contribution to the field of Theater and Literature.

* In 1974 his collection of short plays ''Zulta Pool (झुलता पूल)'' received best collection of short plays award from Ministry of Culture, Govt. of Maharashtra.
* In 1975 he received Late Ram Ganesh Gadkari award from the State of Maharashtra for his play ''Mahanirvan (महानिर्वाण)''.
* He received Nandikar Sanman at Calcutta in 1992.
* He received fellowships from the Asian Cultural Council, New York in 1983 to study theatre in the US, and from the Ford Foundation to study Theatre of South Asia in 1988.
* He received in 1994 a Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for playwriting from Sangeet Natak Akademi, Delhi (संगीत नाटक अकादमी, दिल्ली).
* Received State Award Best Actor in Comedy Role for the Marathi film ''Katha Don Ganpatravanchi (कथा दोन गणपतरावांची)'', dir. Arun Khopkar (1997)
* Received Vi Va Shirwadkar award (Poet Kusumagraj) for playwriting by Natya Parishad, Nasik in 2007
* Received Lifetime Achievement felicitation (जीवन गौरव) by Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad, Mumbai in Feb 2012
* He received the award Padamshree" (पद्मश्री) conferred by the President of India in January 2012.
* In December 2013 Alekar received the Balaraj Sahani Memorial Award (बलराज सहानी स्मृती पुरस्कार) in Pune for his contribution over last 40 years as a playwright, director and actor.
* In 2014 he was awarded Poet and Playwright Aarati Prabhu Award (कवि आरती प्रभू) by Baba Vardam Theatres, Kudal, Dist. Sindhudurg.
* 2017 Tanveer Sanman (तन्वीर सन्मान) national award for the lifetime contribution to the field of Theatre constituted by veteran actor Dr. Shriram Lagoo through Rupavedh Pratisthan, Pune. Award function was held in Pune on 9 December 2017.
* 2018 book ''Gaganika (गगनिका)'' received Advt Tryambakrao Shirole award for best non fiction (उत्कृष्ट ललित गद्य) by Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad, Pune
* 2022 Natavarya Prabhakar Panshikar Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar for the year 2021-22 by the State Government of Maharashtra highest Cultural Life Achievement Award.
* 2022 Vishnudas Bhave Medal award by Natyavidyamandir Samitee, Sangli
* 2023 Thespo Life Achievement Award at the hands of Utkarsh Mujumdar in the presence of Nassiruddin Shash, Ratna Pathak Shah and Atul Kuma during Thespo@25 Theatre Fest in Mumbai on December 10, 2023
* 2024 Kantai Jeevan Gourav Award (Life Achievement Award) for 2023 by Bhavarlal Jsin Foundation, Jalgao at a ceremony held on January 16, 2024 in Jalgaon
* 2024 Bhavanrao Lomte Smruti Rajya Puraskar 2024, Ambejogai at a function held in Ambejogai by Yeshvantrao Chavan Smruti Samiti, Ambejogai on September 21
* 2025 Janasthan Puraskar by Kusumagraj Pratisthan, Nasik at a functon in Nasik on Marh 10, 2025.

''Natakkar Satish Alekar'' (Playwright Satish Alekar), a 90-minute film by Atul Pethe about Alekar's life, and work was released in 2008.

Works

* ''The dread departure'' (Mahanirvan), tr. by Gauri Deshpande. Seagull Books, 1989. .
*
* ''Collected Plays of Satish Alekar''. OUP, Delhi 2010,
* ''Two Plays by Satish Alekar'' (''The Grant Exit'' - a new translation of Marathi play ''Mahanirvan'' of 1974 and ''A Conversion with Dolly'' - translation of a new Marathi play, ''Thakishi Samvad'' of 2023); both translations by Shanta Gokhale, published by Seagull Books, Kolkata (2023)

''Collected Plays of Satish Alekar''
* Satish Alekar all plays in Marathi. A set of nine books in Marathi published by Popular Prakashan Mumbai in 2022.

Personal life

Alekar belongs to City of Pune. His parents, the late Usha and Vasant Alekar were freedom fighters, both involved in India's 1942 movement.

Alekar married Anita (Abhyankar) in 1976. They have a son, Mikin. Anita died in 2007. He has one younger brother Sudhir and one sister Bharati. Presently he is living in Pune with his son Mikin.

Acting in plays

* 1971: as young man in short play ''Ek Zulta Poolv'', directed by himself for Intercollegiate Short Play Competition
* 1974: as the son "Nana" in play ''Mahanirvanvm'' directed by himself for Theatre Academy, Pune in more than 100 shows
* 1979: as Javadekar in play ''Begum Barve'', directed by himself for Theatre Academy, Pune
* 1982: short play ''Boat Futli'', directed by Samar Nakhate for Theatre Academy, Pune
* 1980: as husband in ''Shanwar Raviwar'', directed by himself for Theatre Academy, Pune

Acting in Hindi films (character roles)

* ''Ye Kahani Nahi (1984)'', dir. Biplav Rai Chowdhary
* ''Devi Ahilya (2002)'', dir. Nachiket Patwardhan
* ''Dumkata (2007)'', dir. Amol Palekar
* ''Aiyaa (2012)'', dir. Sachin Kundalkar
* ''Dekh Tamasha Desk'' (2014), dir. Feroz Abbas Khan
* ''Thackeray'', biopic on Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray (2018) as Jayprakash Narayan, dir. Abhijit Panse (released on 23 Jan 2019)
* ''83 (2019)'', a film on the Indian Cricket Team's win in the 1983 World Cup as Sheshrao Wankhede, dir. Kabir Khan, produced by Vishnuvardhan Induri and Madhu Mantena Varma (released on December 24, 2021, all over)
* ''The Suspect'' (2022) as Dayanand Bharadvaj, Police Commissioner, dir. Samir Karnik, Maverick Pictures, Mumbai

Acting in Marathi films/web series (character roles)

* ''Aakrit'' (1981), dir. Amol Palekar
* ''Umbartha'' (1982), dir. Jabbar Patel
* '' Dhyas Parva'' (2001), dir Amol Palekar
* ''Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar'' (1991), dir. Jabbar Patel
* ''Ek Hota Vidushak'' (1992), dir. Jabbar Patel
* ''Katha Don Ganpatravaanchee'' (1996), dir. Arun Khopkar (role of Judge which was awarded for Best Actor (Comedy), Govt. of Maharashtra)
* ''Kadachit'' (2007), as a neurosurgeon, dir. Chandrakant Kulkarni
* ''Chintoo'' (2012), as Colonel Kaka, dir. Shrirang Godbole
* ''Chintoo 2 (Khajinyachi Chittarkatha)'' (2013), as Colonel Kaka, dir. Shrirang Godbole
* ''Hovoon Jaudyaa- We Are On! ''(2013), dir. Amol Palekar
* ''Mhais'' (2013), dir. Shekhar Naik
* ''Aajachaa Diwas Maazaa'' (2013), dir. Chandrakant Kulkarni
* ''Yeshwantrao Chavan – Katha Eka Vadalachi'' (2014), dir. Jabbar Patel
* ''Deul Band'' (2015), dir. Praveen Tarade
* ''Welcome Zindagi'' (2015), dir. Umesh Ghadge
* ''High Way-Ek Selfie Aar Paar'' (2015), dir. Umesh Kulkarni
* ''Rajwade and Sons as Rajwade'' (2015), dir. Sachin Kundalkar
* ''audyana Balasaheb!'' (2015), dir. Girish Kulkarni (released in October 2016 through Zee Cinema)
* ''Ventilator'' (2016) as Bhau, dir. Rajesh Mapuskar, produced by Priyanka Chopra, world premiere on 23 Oct 2016 during MAMI Festival in Mumbai (National Awardee film)
* ''Chi. Va. Chi. Sou. Ka'' (2017) as Bhudargadkar, dir. Paresh Mokashi, produced by Zee Cinema (released on 19 May 2017)
* ''Mala Kahich Problem Naahi'' as Father (2017) dir. Sameer Vidhwans, produced by Filmy Keeda Entertainment, Mumbai (released on 11 August 2017)
* ''Mee Shivaji Park'' (2017) as Satish Joshi, dir. Mahesh Waman Manjrekar, produced by Gouri Films, Pune (released on 18 October 2018)
* ''Thackeray'' (2018), biopic on Balasaheb Thackeray (Hindi/Marathi) as Jayprakash Narayan, Dir Abhijit Panse, produced by Raut'Ters Entertainment (released on 23 Jan 2019)
* ''Bhai: Vyakti ki Valli Part I'' (2018), biopic (made in two parts) on Pu La Deshpande as Ramakant Deshpande Dir Mahesh Manjrekar, produced by the Great Maratha Entertainment (released on 4 Jan 2019)
* ''Bhai: Vyakti ki Valli Part II'' (2018), biopic on Pu La Deshpande as Ramakant Deshpande Dir Mahesh Manjrekar, produced by The Great Maratha Entertainment (released on 8 Feb 2019)
* ''Smile Please'' (2019) as Appa Joshi (father), dir. by Vikrum Phadnis, produced by Nisha Shah and Sanika Gandhi (released on 19 July 2019), streaming on Prime Video
* ''Panchak'' (2019) as Bal Kaka, dir. Jayant Jathar and Rahul Awate, produced by RnM Films (by Shriram Nene and Madhuri Dixit) (selected in the competition for Marathi feature in 21st Pune International Film Festival (released on January 5, 2024 through PVR)
* ''Pet-Puran'' (2021) as Lt. Col. Jarasandh Wagh (Ret'd.), web series for Sony Liv, dir. Dyanesh Zoting (Season I, released on SonyLIV - May 6, 2022), season II scheduled for 2023
* ''Ek Don Teen Char - एक दोन तीन चार'' (2022) as Dr. Vivek Joshi Marathi film by Varun Narvekar, Produced by Jio Studios (released on July 19, 2024)
* ''Kalsutra- कालसूत्र'' (2022), web series as Shriram Bidari, Kanha Production, dir. by Bhimrao Mude,produbced by Manjiri Subodh Bhave for Jio Studio

Acting in TV commercials and short films

Products:
* TV Cable Co.: Tata Sky (2010)
* Car: Honda Ameze (2013) for Appostophe, Mumbai
* Cell Phone Company: Idea - Telephone Exchange (2013) for Chrome Pictures, Mumbai
* New York Life Insurance (2012)
* Online Purchase: SNAPDEAL (2016) for Chrome Pictures, Mumbai
* Fiama Di Willis Body Wash (2018) for Apostrophe Films, Mumbai, dir. Kaushik Sarkar
* Reunion Episode 3 Language: Marathi (2018), pickle brand presented by Ravetkar Group, Pune Dir Varun Narvekar (short film)
* maateech swapna मातीचं स्वप्न (2018), short film in Marathi for Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale (चितळे बंधू), produced by Multimedia Tools, Pune, dir. Varun Narvekar
* Reunion for Ravetkar Group (2018): three minute short film made about the awareness for early treatment of brain stroke made by Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune
* रुची पालट/Fusion Food/ Chitale Bandhoo (2019): for Chitale Bandhoo, Pune
* Cotten King Brand- Just Strech Your Limits (2020), dir. Varun Narvekar
* Red Label Tea (2021) ad film for Hindustan Unilever, dir. Gajraj Rao for Code Red Films, Mumbai
* Short film "Fala" (फळा - तिमिरातून तेजाकडे 2021), produced by Kc Productions, dir. Mangesh Jagtap
* Short film "Ravivar Sakal" - 2024 (रविवार सकाळ) 30 minutes, Aadi Nirrmite, dir. Bansidhar Kinkar, cast - Satish Alekar, Gauri Deshpande and Aroh Velankar
* Short film "Dada aani Sakharam" 2024 (दादा आणि सखाराम), dir. Yogesh Deshpande, produced by Roadlife
* Chaha, Bakarwadi aani To चहा, बाकरवडी आणि तो (2024), Chitale Bandhu brand film, dir. Varun Narvekar

References

*
*
*
*
* ''Collected Plays of Satish Alekar''. OUP, Delhi 2009, \
* "Mahanirvan: Sameeksha aani Sansmarne" (a volume of critiques in Marathi on the play, edited by Dr. Rekha Inmadar-Sane published by M/s Rajhans Prakashan, Pune, I Edition Dec 1999, II Edition March 2008, , Pages: 254, Price Rs.250/-)
*"Begum Barve Vishayee" (about the play Begum Barve) Edited by Dr. Rekha Inamdar-Sane published in June 2010 by M/s Rajhans Prakashan, Pune, Pages 169, Price: Rs. 200/- The book has nine articles analysing the text and the performance written by well-known theatre scholars.

External links

Satish Alekar website


at ''Little magazine''

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alekar, Satish
Indian theatre directors
Indian male dramatists and playwrights
Marathi-language writers
1949 births
Living people
Indian male stage actors
Academic staff of Savitribai Phule Pune University
Asian Cultural Council grantees
Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Male actors in Marathi theatre
Dramatists and playwrights from Delhi
Tisch School of the Arts faculty
Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts
20th-century Indian male actors
Male actors from Delhi
20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights