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Pandu
Pandu with wife Kunti
Devanagari	पाण्‍डु
Sanskrit Transliteration	Pāṇḍu
Affiliation	King of Hastinapur
Abode	Hastinapur
Consort	Kunti, Madri

In the Mahābhārata epic, King Pandu (Sanskrit: पाण्‍डु Pāṇḍu ) is the son of Ambalika and Rishi Ved Vyasa. He is more popularly known as the father of the Pandavas and ruled Hastinapur.

Birth[link]

After Vichitravirya's death his mother Satyavati sent for her first born, Rishi Veda Vyasa. According to his mother's wishes, he visited both the wives of Vichitravirya to grant them a son. Ambalika was instructed by Satyavati to keep her eyes open lest she would bear a blind son like Ambika's (Dhritarashtra). She did keep her eyes open but she became pale after seeing the formidable form of the Sage. Therefore, Pandu was born pale.

Life[link]

Pandu was an excellent archer. He became the successor to his kingdom and was corronated Emperor of Hastinapur. Pandu later conquered the territories of Dasarnas, Kashi, Anga, Vanga, Kalinga, Magadha, etc. and thus re-established their superiority over all the kings and increasing his empire.

Pandu married Madri, daughter of the King of Madra, and Kunti, daughter of King Kuntibhoja of Vrishni. While hunting in a forest, (looking from a long distance, his vision partially obscured by plants and trees) Pandu mistook a sage (Rishi Kindama) and his wife for deer and shot an arrow at them, killing the conjugal couple. The dying sage placed a curse on Pandu. Since he had killed them in the midst of lovemaking, the curse was that were he to approach a woman with the intent of making love, he would die. Upset and seeking to repent his action, Pandu renounced his kingdom and lived as an ascetic with his wives.

Prince Pandu, in Wayang form

Childless at the time, Maharaja Pandu left his kingdom in the command of his elder brother, the blind Dhritrashtra, who was then crowned as king of Hastinapura. When Pandu expressed to Kunti his despair at the prospect of dying childless, Kunti used her boons given by Sage Durvasa to bear three sons—Yudhishtira (by Lord Dharma), Bhima (by Lord Vayu), and Arjuna (by Lord Indra). Also Kunti gave birth to Karna through Surya. She also gave her boons to Madri, who bore Nakula and Sahadeva, twins from the physicians to the gods, the Ashwini Kumaras twins. Thus the Pandavas of Pandu were born.

Death[link]

Pandu Shoots the Ascetic Kindama, Who Is Disguised as a Deer

After 15 years of celibacy, when Kunti and his sons were away, Pandu suddenly became strongly attracted to his wife Madri. Due to the aforementioned curse, he died after attempting to be intimate with her. Madri, out of repentance and grief, committed sati, burning herself alive on her husband's funeral pyre.

See also[link]

• Pandava
• The Pandeism of Godfrey Higgins

v t e Hindu deities and texts Gods Deva Ganesha Brahma Vishnu Shiva Rama Krishna Murugan Hanuman Indra Surya more Goddesses Adi parashakti Devi Saraswati Lakshmi Sati Parvati Durga Shakti Kali Sita Radha Mahavidya Navadurga Matrikas more Texts Vedas Upanishads Puranas Ramayana Mahabharata Bhagavad Gita more Hinduism Hindu mythology

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Jagapathi Babu ( pronunciation (help·info), Telugu: జగపతి బాబు) (born 12 February 1962) is an Indian actor in the Telugu film industry. He is the son of veteran producer-director V.B. Rajendra Prasad. Recently he received the Kala Bhushana award. This award was given by TSR Lalitha kala Parishat.^[1]

Career[link]

Jagapathi Babu (born Veeramachaneni Jagapathi Rao Chowdary) made his debut in Telugu Cinema with the movie Simha Swapnam in the year 1989. The movie, starring rebel star Krishnam Raju in the lead, was directed by his father. He has acted in about a dozen movies (playing lead roles in few), but was unable to build up his stardom.

He had his breakthrough in the form of Gaayam directed by Ram Gopal Varma in the year 1993. Since then, he has had several hits. He won the Nandi Award for Best Actor in 1996 for his role in the movie Maavi Chiguru directed by S V Krishna Reddy. Two years later, he won the Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film Anthapuram.

In 2000, he won the Nandi Best Actor Award for the second time for his performance in the movie Manoharam. Similarly, he bagged the Nandi Best Supporting Actor Award for the second time in the year 2007 for his role in the movie Lakshyam.

He was recently roped in to play a key role in the movie Jai Bolo Telangana.^[2][3]

Awards[link]

Nandi Awards

• 1990 - Nandi Special Jury Award - Adavilo Abhimanyudu
• 1993 - Nandi Award for Best Actor - Gaayam
• 1996 - Nandi Award for Best Actor - Maavi Chiguru
• 1996 - Nandi Special Jury Award - Sreekaram
• 1998 - Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actor - Anthapuram
• 2000 - Nandi Award for Best Actor - Manoharam
• 2007 - Nandi Award for Best Supporting Actor - Lakshyam

Filmfare Awards South

• Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award (Telugu) - Lakshyam

Filmography[link]

• Ninne Ninne (2012) (filming)
• Thaandavam (2012) as Police Officer
• Nandeeswarudu (2012) as Police Officer
• Black Money (2012) (Filming)
• Baburao Ninnodala (2012) - (Special appearance)
• Kshetram (2011) as Veera Narasimha Rayalu
• Key (2011)
• Nagaram Nidrapothunna Vela (2011)
• Chattam (2011) as Inspector Gowri Shankar
• Jai Bolo Telangana (2011)
• Gaayam 2 (2010) as Ram/Durga
• Sadhyam (2010) as Sandeep
• Maa Nanna Chiranjeevi (2010) as Chiranjeevulu
• Ninnu Kalisaka (2009) as himself (Special appearance)
• Pravarakhyudu (2009) as Sasi Kumar
• Bangaru Babu (2009)
• Adhineta (2009) as Suri
• Sidham (2009) as Daya
• Akasamantha (2008) as Sudhakar
• Raksha (2008) as Rajeev
• Homam (2008) as Mallikarjun
• Kathanayakudu (2008) as Balakrishna
• Nagaram (2008) as Choudhary
• Bhale Dongalu (2008) as Policeman Yugandhar
• Swagatam (2008) as K. K. Swagatham
• Lakshyam (2007) as ACP Bose
• Pellaina Kothalo (2006) as Veeramachaneni Hari
• Gopi - Goda Meedha Pilli (2006)
• Samanyudu (2006) as Chandra
• Brahmastram (2006) as Bangaram
• Madrasi (2005) Shiva
• Jagapathi (2005) as Jagapathi
• That is Paandu (2005)
• Pandhem (2005)
• Anukokunda Oka Roju (2005)
• Athade oka sainyam (2004)
• Pedababu (2004) as Pedababu
• Kushi Kushiga (2004)
• Kabaddi Kabaddi (2003) as Ram Babu
• Dham (2003) as Rushi
• Sandade Sandadi (2002)
• Nalo Vunna Prema
• Siva Rama Raju (2002) as Siva Rama Raju
• Hanuman Junction (2001) as Dasu
• Family Circus (2001)
• Samudram
• Moodu Mukkalata (2001) as Santhi Swaroop
• Choosodham Randi (2001)
• Sarduku Podam Randi (2001)
• Budget Padmanabham (2001)
• Manoharam (2000)
• Bachi
• Alludugaru vacharu
• Manasulo mata
• swapnalokam (1999)
• Ravoyi Chandamama (1999) (dubbed into Hindi as Sanam Tere Hain Hum (2000))
• Subhakankshalu (1998)
• Anthapuram (1998)
• Maavidakulu (1998)
• Aaha (1998)
• Dongata
• maavi chiguru
• Priya ragaalu
• Jabilamma pelli
• Pelli Peetalu
• Pelli pandiri
• Pelli Kanuka (1998)
• Maa Aavida Collector (1997)
• Oka Chinna Maata (1997)
• Maavichiguru (1996)
• Sreekaram (1996)
• Sankalpam
• Chilakapacha kapuram
• Subhamasthu (1995)
• Bhale bullodu
• Bhale pellam
• Ayanaku Iddaru (1995)
• Allari Premikudu (1994)
• Subha Lagnam (1994) as Jai
• Aasayam (1993) as Vijju
• Gaayam (1993) as Virendra
• Jailaru gari abbayi as Vinay
• Theerpu as Kabir Ali
• Jagannatakam
• Balarama Krishnulu (1992)
• Mother India (1992)
• Pillalu didina kapuram
• Peddarikam (1992)
• Ragulutunna Bharatam
• Adavilo Abhimanyudu
• Pandiri mancham
• Simha Swapnam (1989) (debut)

References[link]

Anjali Devi (Telugu: అంజలీదేవి)  pronunciation (help·info) (born 24 August 1927) is a veteran Telugu actress and producer. She is well known for her mythological role as Sita in Lava Kusha and roles in movies like Suvarna Sundari and Anarkali.

Biography[link]

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She hails from Peddapuram, East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh, India, and later settled in Chennai. She was a theater artist before entering into movies. Her film debut was as Lohitasya in Raja Harishchandra in 1936. Her first movie as heroine was Kashtajeevi by L. V. Prasad 1n 1940 but that movie was abandoned after three reels shooting.Later C.Pullayya found her given opportunity hevenly beauty Mohini in Gollabhama. With her expressions and looks, she became a star overnight in 1947. After that she never looked back. She eventually acted in more than 350 Telugu films^{[citation needed]} and also in a few Tamil and Kannada films as the heroine.

She married P. Adinarayana Rao, a music director, in 1940. They have two sons. Together they produced many Telugu films under the banner of Anjali Pictures. She acted in Lava Kusha, a milestone film and the first color film in the Telugu film industry in 1963. She acted in various roles like damsel, angel, dancer, demon, goddess, traditional woman and later in mother characters. Her granddaughter Saila Rao is also an actress.

Career[link]

As actress[link]

In 1936 she appeared in a minor role in Raja Harishchandra and then played the lead role in L. V. Prasad's Kashtajeevi. She is well known for playing Sita in Lava Kusha and her performances in films like Suvarna Sundari and Anarkali were also appreciated. She has acted in more than 350 films, which includes Telugu, Tamil and Kannada language films. Brundavanam (1992), Anna Vadina (1993) and Police Alludu (1994) were the last few films of her career. In Balaiah's Police Alludu and Anna Vadina she appeared alongside Brahmanandam.

As producer[link]

In 1955 she produced the film Anarkali, in which she herself played the lead role of Anarkali, with Akkineni Nageswara Rao as Salim. Then she produced V. Madhusudan Rao's Bhakta Tukaram and Chandipriya. Bollywood and Tollywood actress Jayapradha played the lead role in her film Chandipriya alongside Shobhan Babu and Chiranjeevi.

Awards[link]

• She received the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award in 2005 for her lifetime service to the Telugu film industry.
• She was conferred the Ramineni Award in 2006 in the fine arts category.
• She received the prestigious ANR National Award in 2008.

Filmography[link]

• Gollabhama
• Kashtajivi
• Chandipriya
• Bhale Krishnudu
• Sati Sakkubai
• Mayalamaari

Tamil movies[link]

• Annai Oru Alayam
• Adutha Veetu Penn
• Manalanae Mangayin Baghyam
• Sarvadhikari (with MGR)
• Kanavane Kankanda Theivam (with Gemini Ganesan)
• Penn (with Vyjayanthimala)
• Mangayarkarasi (with P. U. Chinnappa)
• Marmayogi (with MGR as hero)
• Eezai Uzavan
• Adiththan Kanavu (producer: T. R. Sundaram)
• Sorgavasal (as K.R. Ramasamy's sister "Thilagavathy")

As producer[link]

• Paradesi
• Suvarna Sundari
• Swarnamanjari
• Chandi Priya
• Sati Sakkubai
• Shirdi Sai Sathya Sai Divya Katha (television series)

See also[link]

• Krishnaveni
• Bhanumathi

References[link]

• Anjali Devi at Chakpak.com

External links[link]

• Anjali Devi at the Internet Movie Database
• Golden Nandi for Krishnaveni

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M.G. Ramachandran
Born	Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran (1917-01-17)17 January 1917 Nawalapitiya, British Ceylon
Died	24 December 1987(1987-12-24) (aged 70) Chennai, India
Other names	M. G. R., Puratchi Thalaivar, Makkal Thilagam
Occupation	Actor, Politician, Producer
Years active	1936-1978 (Actor) 1953-1987 (Politician)
Religion	Hindu
Spouse	Thangamani (deceased) Sathanandavathi (deceased) V. N. Janaki (died in 1996)
Awards	Bharat Ratna in 1988 (Posthumous)

This article contains Indic text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks or boxes, misplaced vowels or missing conjuncts instead of Indic text.

Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran (17 January 1917 – 24 December 1987), popularly known by his initials MGR, was an Indian film actor, director, producer, and politician who also served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu successively for three terms.

In his youth, MGR and his elder brother, M. G. Chakrapani became members of a drama troupe to support their family. Influenced by Gandhian ideals, MGR joined the Indian National Congress. After a few years of acting in plays, he made his film debut in the 1936 film Sathi Leelavathi in a supporting role. In the late 1940s he graduated to leading roles and for the next three decades dominated the Tamil film industry.^[1] He became a member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and rose rapidly through its ranks. He successfully used his popularity as a film hero to build a large political base. In 1972, he left the DMK to form his own party the Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK). In 1977 he became the chief minister of Tamil Nadu - the first film actor in India to become the chief minister of a state. He remained as chief minister till his death in 1987.

In Tamil Nadu, he has a reputation for philanthropism and is considered to be one of the greatest political leaders and actors of the state. He is idolized by his followers as Puratchi Thalaivar (lit. Revolutionary leader)^[2][3][4][4] MGR was posthumously honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.^[5]

Early life and background[link]

MGR was born in Nawalapitiya near Kandy, British Ceylon (present day Sri Lanka),^[6] to immigrant Malayali parents — Melakkath Gopala Menon and Maruthur Satyabhama. His family was originally from Vadavannur, Kollengode, Palakkad, Kerala. Melakkath Gopala Menon had been excommunicated (bhrasht) during a Smarthavicharam in 1903, regarding an allegation that dealt with an illicit relationship with a widowed Brahmin woman;^[7] and hence he left his family, and married Maruthur Satyabhama.^[8][9]

MGR was a Hindu and a devotee of Murugan, as is the common practice for Hindus in Sri Lanka.^[10] This was during his early days. Later, when he joined the DMK,a pro-rationalist party,he followed the rationalist ideology, though not appearing very aggressively atheistic.However,in later days after he founded his own party following his expulsion from the DMK, he seems to have shown some leaning towards religious faith. He had asked his followers to pray for the success of his AIADMK party.^[11]

His followers even prayed for him when it was determined that he had a kidney illness.^[12] After his demise, his wife opened up a temple in his name.

After his father's death, he joined a drama troupe called Original Boys. Later, he entered the world of cinema, becoming an actor, and later a director, producer, and editor. MGR married Bargavi also known as Thangamani who died early due to illness. He later married Sathanandavathi who also died soon due to Tuberculosis. M. G. R. married V. N. Janaki a former Tamil film actress as his third wife after the death of his second wife. Janaki divorced her husband Ganapati Bhat, to marry MGR.

Acting career[link]

Kamal Haasan filmed with M. G. Ramachandran

He made his film debut in 1935, in the film Sati Leelavati,^[13] directed by Ellis Dungan, an American born film director.^[14] Generally starring in romance or action films, MGR got his big breakthrough in the 1947 film Mandirikumaari, written by M. Karunanidhi. Soon he rose to superstardom in the 1954 blockbuster Malaikallan. He acted as hero in the Tamil film industry's first ever colour movie, the 1955 blockbuster Alibabavum 40 Thirudargalum. He rose to become the heart throb of millions of Indians with movies such as Anbe Vaa, Aayirathil Oruvan, Mahadevi, Panam Padaithavan, Ulagam Sutrum Vaalibhan, Adimai Penn, etc. He won the National Film Award for Best Actor for the film Rickshawkaran in 1972. His film Nadodi Mannan, released in 1958, was a Tamil version of the interpretation of the Prisoner of Zenda, was produced and directed by himself and released in 1956, ran to full houses. He began to act in many movies that appealed to the direct sentiments of the common man and the rich as well. His 1973 blockbuster Ulagam Sutrum Vaalibhan broke previous box office records. It was one of the few movies filmed abroad in those days. It was shot in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Japan. The DMK unsuccessfully tried to curtail that movie. His acting career ended in 1978 with his last movie, Madurai Meettu Sundara Pandian, which he acted when he was the Chief Minister of the state. He was among the "three biggest names" of Tamil cinema, the other two being Sivaji Ganesan and Gemini Ganesan.^[15]

MGR embracing Rajkumar during the latter's visit to Chennai

Political career[link]

MGR was a member of the Congress Party till 1953 and he used to wear Khādī. In 1953 MGR joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) with the help of M. Karunanidhi. He became a vocal Tamil and Dravidian nationalist and prominent member of the DMK] ("Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam" aka Dravidian Progressive Federation). He added glamour to the Dravidian movement which was sweeping Tamil Nadu. He became a member of the state Legislative Council in 1962. He was first elected to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly in 1967. After the death of his mentor, Annadurai, MGR became the treasurer of DMK in 1969 after Karunanidhi became the chief minister.

On 12 January 1967, he was shot in the neck by fellow actor M.R. Radha.Both had worked together in 25 films together.When MGR was acting in the film Kaavalkaran in 1967 opposite J. Jayalalithaa this incident happened. Petralthaan Pillaya was the last movie of MGR-MR Radha together, shooting which ended just few days before MGR was shot at.The bullet was permanently lodged in his neck and his voice damaged. Within hours of the shooting, some 50,000-odd fans had gathered at the hospital where MGR had been taken. People cried in the streets. For six weeks, he lay in the hospital as fans awaited each report of his health. He was visited by a steady stream of commoners and luminaries of film industry, polity and bureaucracy.From his hospital bed, he conducted his campaign for Madras Legislative Assembly. He won twice the number of votes polled by his Congress rival and the largest vote polled by any candidate for the Assembly.^[16]

MGR at a function in January (1968)

In 1972, DMK leader Karunanithi started to project his first son M.K.Muthu in a big way in film industry and also in politics. Understanding the tactics played by Karunanithi to corner him, MGR started to claim that corruption had grown within the party after the demise of Annadurai and in a public meeting asked for the financial details of the party to be publicised which enraged the leadership of DMK. Consequently, as expected, MGR was expelled from the party, and floated a new party named Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (ADMK), later renamed All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the only powerful opponent of the DMK. He mobilised the period between 1972-1977 to spread and preach his party ambition with films like Netru Indru Naalai(1974), Idhayakani(1975), Indru Pol Endrum Vazhga (1977) etc. He became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on the 30th of July 1977, remaining in office till his death in 1987. In 1979, members of his party Satyavani Muthu and Aravinda Bala Pajanor, became the first non-Congress politicians from Tamil Nadu to be ministers in the Union Cabinet. The AIADMK won every state assembly election as long as MGR was alive. Although Anna Durai as well as Karunanidhi had acted in stage plays in trivial roles, in their younger days, before becoming chief minister, MGR was the first popular film actor to be a Chief Minister in India.Though the Congress won by a small margin of votes with the DMK in the 1980 parliamentary elections, the AIADMK under MGR won the state elections the same year.This made the Congress to ally with the AIADMK in the 1984 elections.

MGR with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi after the Emergency was lifted in 1977

Once he became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, he placed great emphasis on social development, especially education. One of his most successful policies was the introduction of the "Midday Meal Scheme" introduced by the popular Congress Chief Minister and Kingmaker K Kamaraj to a nutritious Midday Meal Scheme in the Government-run and aided schools in Tamil Nadu, which encouraged underprivileged children to attend schools. This scheme was at a cost of Rs.100 crore and was imposed in 1982. A little more than 12000000 citizens of the state were benefited. He also introduced Women's Special buses. He introduced Liquor ban in the state and Preservation of old temples and historical monuments, ultimately increasing the state's tourist income. He set up a free school for the Cinema Technicians children in Kodambakkam called MGR Primary & Higher Secondary School which provided Free Mid-Day meals in the 1950s. He led the ADMK to victory in the 1984 assembly elections despite not taking part in the campaigning. At that time he was undergoing medical treatment in America and his images were broadcast in Tamil Nadu through cinema halls. This was an effective campaign tactic and ADMK won the elections, indicating the depth of his popular support. He won the election in a double landslide victory in 1984.He still holds the record of being the chief minister with the highest consistent longevity of more than a decade.

Member of Legislative Assembly[link]

Chief Minister[link]

Awards[link]

• Filmfare Best Actor Award for Enga Veettu Pillai^[17]
• Filmfare Best Film Award for Adimai Penn^[18]
• National Film Award for Best Actor for the film Rickshawkaran in 1972.
• Honorary doctorate received from University of Madras and The World University (Arizona).
• Bharat Ratna was conferred by the Government of India (posthumously) in 1988 for his reformation activities and support from Tamil Nadu.

Philanthropy[link]

He personally offered relief in disasters and calamities like fire, flood, drought, and cyclones. He was the first donor during the war with China in 1962, donating Rs. 75,000 to the war fund. He was the founder and editor of Thai weekly magazine and Anna daily newspaper in Tamil. He was the owner of Sathya Studios and Emgeeyar Pictures (willed to charity) which produced many of the films he acted in. He had gifted a golden sword weighing half a Kilogram to Mookambika temple in Kollur, Udupi district.^[19]

Death[link]

MGR's tomb and memorial at Marina beach, Chennai

In October 1984, MGR was diagnosed with kidney failure and rushed to the Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, United States for treatment, undergoing a kidney transplant. MGR died on December 24, 1987 after his prolonged illness. He was 70. His death sparked off a frenzy of looting and rioting all over the state of Tamil Nadu. Shops, movie theatres, buses and other public and private property became the target of violence let loose all over the state. The police had to resort issuing shoot-at-sight orders. Tamilians from Bangalore rushed to Madras in trains to see the mortal remains of MGR. Govt had announced free train facility for this visit. The violence during the funeral alone left 29 people dead and 47 police personnel badly wounded. [1],[2] This state of affairs continued for almost a month all over the state of Tamil Nadu. Around one million[3] people followed his remains, around 30 followers committed suicide and people had their heads tonsured. After his death, his political party, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, split between his wife Janaki Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa; they later merged in 1988. In 1989 Dr. M. G. R. Home and Higher Secondary School for the Speech and Hearing Impaired was established in the erstwhile Residence MGR Gardens, Ramapuram, in accordance with his will dated January 17, 1986. His official residence at 27, Arcot Street, T.Nagar is now MGR Memorial House and is open for public viewing. His film studio, Sathya Studios has been converted into a women's college.

Filmography[link]

As Actor[link]

As producer & director[link]

Gallery[link]

• 

  MGR with K. A. Mathiazhagan

• 

  MGR's Tomb on the Marina

• 

  Temple built for MGR's mother by MGR

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: M.G. Ramachandran

• M.G. Ramchandran: Jewel of the Masses
• The Hindu - Politics and Suicides in TN
• All about Dr MGR
• MGR Memorial Charitable Trust
• MGR web portal and Monthly magazine

v t e Bharat Ratna laureates Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan (1954) C. Rajagopalachari (1954) C. V. Raman (1954) Bhagwan Das (1955) Mokshagundam Visvesvarayya (1955) Jawaharlal Nehru (1955) Govind Ballabh Pant (1957) Dhondo Keshav Karve (1958) Bidhan Chandra Roy (1961) Purushottam Das Tandon (1961) Dr. Rajendra Prasad (1962) Dr. Zakir Hussain (1963) Pandurang Vaman Kane (1963) Lal Bahadur Shastri (1966) Indira Gandhi (1971) V. V. Giri (1975) K. Kamaraj (1976) Mother Teresa (1980) Acharya Vinoba Bhave (1983) Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan (1987) M. G. Ramachandran (1988) B. R. Ambedkar (1990) Nelson Mandela (1990) Rajiv Gandhi (1991) Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1991) Morarji Desai (1991) Abul Kalam Azad (1992) J. R. D. Tata (1992) Satyajit Ray (1992) A. P. J. Abdul Kalam (1997) Gulzarilal Nanda (1997) Aruna Asaf Ali (1997) M. S. Subbulakshmi (1998) Chidambaram Subramaniam (1998) Jayaprakash Narayan (1998) Ravi Shankar (1999) Amartya Sen (1999) Gopinath Bordoloi (1999) Lata Mangeshkar (2001) Bismillah Khan (2001) Bhimsen Joshi (2008)

Dada Kondke
Born	Krishna Kondke (1932-08-08)8 August 1932 Naigaum, near Lalbaug, Mumbai
Died	14 March 1998(1998-03-14) (aged 65) Dadar, Mumbai
Occupation	Film Actor

Krishna Kondke (August 8, 1932 - March 14, 1998), popularly known as Dada Kondke, was a Marathi actor and film producer. He was one of the most renowned personalities in Marathi film industry, famous for his double entendre dialogs in movies.

Dada Kondke was born in a mill-worker's family in Naigaon in central Mumbai^[1] on Gokulashtami day and hence was named Krishna.^{[citation needed]} Dada Kondke was entered in the Guinness Book of World Records for the highest number of films (nine) that achieved silver jubilee (running for 25 consecutive weeks). Krishna Kondke was called "Dada", an honorific Marathi term meaning "elder brother", which led to his popular name Dada Kondke.

Biography[link]

Dada Kondke was a born in a mill-worker's family in Naigaum, near Lalbaug, Mumbai. These workers were mostly migrants to the city of Mumbai looking for employment in the prospering cotton mills. This section of the society was well connected to their rural roots. Dada's movies targeted this section of the society. Tamasha and stage drama's have always played an important role in Marathi entertainment industry. Dada had started his entertainment career with a band and then as a stage actor. While working for drama Dada toured all over Maharashtra which helped him understand what entertainment meant to the local population. This learning can be seen in his movies which targeted the masses rather than any particular social class. DADA was a native of Ingavali in Bhor which is in Pune district of Maharashtra.

Early life[link]

Dada's early life was spent in chawls of Naigaum, a Marathi heartland of Mumbai. As a youngster Dada was a rough kid who later on took up job in a local grocery retail chain, Apna Bazaar. It was then that Dada lost most of his immediate family to unfortunate events. The recovery process changed Dada completely who decided to stay focused on the lighter side of life and make people around laugh. Dada became a member of a local band which earned him the nickname "Bandwale Dada" (literally translation, 'big brother who plays for the band').^[2]

Road to success[link]

It was during this time that Dada got involved in cultural activities of Seva Dal. He started working in drama's and came in contact with various drama related personalities one of who was Vasant Sabnis, a well known Marathi writer. Dada decided to play big and started his own drama company, and approached Sabnis to compose a drama script for him. Sabnis was impressed with Dada's personality and his [performance in "Khankhanpurcha Raja" (literal translation, Bankrupt king), and wrote a drama(Loknatya)[Loknatya is the another name of vagnatya because The Tamasha was banned in this time so it was named "loknatya."] entitled, "Vichha Majhi Puri Kara" (literal translation, Fulfill my desires), which was a turning point in Dada's life. The drama went on to play over 1500 shows and made Dada a star. The drama got Dada into spotlight and also gave him an entry into Marathi movies through a role in Bhalji Pendharkar's movie "Tambdi Maati". This was followed by a lead role in "Songadya" a block buster which turned Dada's world around. Dada kept on delivering one hit after the other. He retained his team from Songadya and delivered his next hit "Ekta jeev Sadashiv".^[2][3]

Featured songs[link]

As dada was lyricist he introduced song on animals e.g. "manasa paras medhra bari" means goats are much better than human being in film ekta Jiv Sada shiv "Chalara vaghya" for dog in "Tumcha amcha jamala" and "jodi Bailchi Khillari" for Bullock in "Mala Gheun Chala" and for goat "bakricha Samdyasni Laglay Lala" in Ram Ram Gangaram he otfen introduces appearance of Bhangwan dada in his song in films Aali Angavar, Hyoch navar Pahije, Bot lavin tithe gudgulya, Ram Ram Gangaram most of his song are inspiring like "Daulat hi teen lakhachi" in his era specially female viewer are much excited to go outside of maharashtra for honeymoon like kashmir shimla where he has advocated spiritual places like pandharpur, Jyotiba in this song

He portrayed himself as very common or poor character in films he acted as "Dhobi" (Laundry Man) in Aali angavar Poor Farmer in "Songadya" a Simple Havaldar in "Pandu Havaldar" he always framed his film which suit to mentality of Marathi people and always within psychological lines of Marthi custom and tradition.

Dada's team[link]

Dada Kondke's storylines were always based on the simpleton. He used same team of actors, technicians and playback singers to repeat the formula for success that he believed he had got from his debut film. Dada movies, produced under the "Kamakshi Pictures" banner, had the same set of people, which included Usha Chavan as the lead actress, Raam Laxman as his music director, initially Jayawant Kulkarni and then Mahendra Kapoor as the male, and Usha Mangeshkar as the female playback singer, and Bal Mohite as the chief assistant.

Death[link]

On March 14, 1998 at 3.30 am, at his residence Rama Niwas in Dadar, Mumbai Dada Kondke suffered a heart attack. He was rushed to Shushrusha Nursing Home, where he died. Dr Anil Wakankar, his physician-cum-friend, had given him a routine check-up only the previous day. He was working on the film Jaraa Dheer Dhara with Usha Chavan when the end came. A few months after his death, it came to light that he was surprisingly brought home when the doctors at Sushrusha decided to have a post mortem.

Marital status[link]

Dada was married to a woman named Nalini and was later divorced. In her divorce petition, Nalini stated that Dada and she never consummated their marriage and she had no contact whatsoever from 1967 onwards with him, whereas a girl named Tejaswini was born to her in 1969. Hence, Tejaswini is not Dada's daughter.^{[citation needed]}. However, another source says that while the daughter was his, he did not accept her in his lifetime.^[2]

Property disputes after death[link]

His will was said^{[by whom?]} to be fabricated. It bequeathed properties of not only Dada Kondke but also of Vijay Kondke, his brothers and mother.^{[citation needed]} The will also bequeaths properties of third persons not related to Kondke family.^{[citation needed]} Secondly, the will did not appoint any executors. The witness deposition is also against the will as not being the same one Dada had actually signed.^{[citation needed]}}

Film career[link]

Songadya (1971): Dada's first venture in movie production was based on a story written by Vasant Sabnis, and was directed by Govind Kulkarni. Dada cast himself as Namya, the simpleton who falls to the glamour of Kalavati (played by Usha Chavan) who is a dancer in Tamasha. Namya's mother gets annoyed on knowing his visits to Tamasha and throws him out of house. Kalavati provides shelter to Dada and starts his career at Tamasha. The movie was a big hit and made Dada's simpleton image a huge success. Dada kept his simpleton image intact all the following movies. Even though the movie was big hit the movie, it's screening in Mumbai took a controversial turn when the owner of Kohinoor Theater in Dadar decided to screen Dev Anand's Teen Deviyan in spite of Dada booking the theater 4 weeks in advance. Dada then approached Shiv Sena supremo, Balasaheb Thackeray for help. Soon Shiv Sainiks gathered and started protesting outside the theater. Eventually Songadya was released in Kohinoor and was a big hit. Some of the other people, who played major characters in this movie, were Nilu Phule, Ganpat Patil, Sampat Nikam and Ratnamala.

Partial filmography[link]

References[link]

1. ^ Dada Kondke award for best regional film introduced-Pune-Cities-The Times of India
2. ^ ^{a b c} Dada Kondke : End of an era
3. ^ Rediff On The Net, Movies:A journalist remembers Dada Kondke

External links[link]

• Dada Kondke at the Internet Movie Database
• The comic spirit
• State institutes Dada Kondke award
• Now even Kondke's book raises controversy
• Dada Kondke: End of an era
• Dada's Songs Direct Download
• Dada Kondke pictures
• Dada's Video Songs
• Dada's Superhit Songs
• More pictures of Dada Kondke from Marathi movies