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Pu La was a colossus of Marathi literature

Noted litterateur Purushottam Laxman Deshpande, popularly known as Pu La, enriched Marathi literature for over five decades through ceaseless writing, travelogues, plays, cinema, music and one-man-shows.

Born on November 8, 1919, in Bombay, where he received primary schooling, the versatile and talented figure moved to Pune to complete education from Fergusson College and later secured a Master's degree from Wellingdon College at Sangli.

He began his career as a teacher at Orient High School, Bombay, in 1945, and later taught Marathi at Rani Parvatibai College in Belgaum. He also had a brief stint as a professor in Bombay College and Mahatma Gandhi Vidya Mandir at Malegaon.

Deshpande, an avid writer, took over as chief of the drama division of All India Radio in 1955 and three years later received a UNESCO scholarship for a mass media education course in London. On his return he worked as a drama producer with Delhi Radio for over 10 years.

He took a lead in bringing works of great writers from across the globe in Marathi. These include works of Ernest Hemmingway, Bertolt Brecht, Nikolai Gogol, George Bernard Shaw and Sopholes. A treasure-trove of talent, translation works by him won accolades from Marathi readers.

His Eka Koliyane was a translation of Hemmingway's The Old Man and the Sea, while Ammaldar was a translation of Gogol's The Government Inspector. Similarly, Teen Paishacha Tamasha was a translation of Brecht's Three Penny Opera. He also gave readers Raja Oedipus, which was a translation of ancient Greek dramatist Sophocles' work. Tee Phoolrani was based on Shaw's Pygmallion.

Among various plays written by Pu La are Tuka Mhane Ata, Bhagyawan, Tuja Aahe Tujhapashi and Sunder Mee Honar, which will remain unforgettable. In Tuka Mhane Ata, he had projected Sant Tukaram in a revolutionary way.

This was followed by a veritable treat of dramas and humourous one-man shows. Soon came Bhagyawan and then Mothe Mase, Chote Mase, Aamhi Latike Na Boloo, Vitthal To Ala Ala, Tujhe Ahe Tujpashi, and Ek Jhunj Varyaashi and plays for children Vayam Motham Khotam and Nave Gokul.

Tuje Ahe Tujpashi, Pu La's play, was hugely popular. It focuses on diametrically opposite approaches to life, inherent contradictions in human nature and fun that such a situation creates.

Deshpande's contribution to Marathi literature was so complete that there was no field where he had failed to leave a lasting impression. One-act plays were yet another area where his writing acumen was acknowledged and appreciated. Yet, the great writer's penchant lay in making readers laugh by portraying subtle nuances of life in a humourous way.

Deshpande was at his humourous best in Khogirbharti, Batatyachi Chaal, Golaberij, Asa Me Asamee and several others.

An avid traveller, he recorded his experiences in travelogues like Apoorvai, Purvarang, and Jave Tyancha Desha.

He developed a special liking for Bengali and was particularly attracted to writings of laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

A versatile personality to the hilt, Deshpande left a lasting impact not just with his pen, but in the celluloid world too -- not just as a story, screenplay or dialogue writer, but as an actor, director, producer and a musician.

Gulacha Ganpati, Ammaldar, Buber, Bhagyarekha and Vande Mataram are just a few films which brought to the fore his acting acumen.

He was also a good musician who composed music for films like Dev Pavla, Dudh Bhat, Ammaldar and Ghardhani.

Pu La was awarded the Padmashree in 1966 in recognition of his contribution to literature. Among other honours bestowed upon him are the Sangeet Natak Akademy Award in 1967 for his plays and the Sahitya Academy Award.

He presided over the Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan at Ichalkaranji in 1974.

He was awarded the Maharashtra Bhooshan Award by the Maharashtra Government during the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance rule. But his acceptance speech criticising Sena chief Bal Thackeray sparked off a controversy.

UNI

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Playwright P L Deshpande is dead

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