Satish Alekar


Satish Vasant Alekar is a Marathi playwright, actor, and theatre director. A founder member of the Theatre Academy of Pune, and most known for his plays Mahanirvan, Mahapoor, Atirekee, Pidhijat, Mickey ani Memsahib, and Begum Barve, all of which he also directed for the Academy. Today, along with Mahesh Elkunchwar and Vijay Tendulkar he is one of the most influential and progressive playwrights not just in modern Marathi theatre, but also larger modern Indian theatre.
He has also remained the head of Centre for Performing Arts, University of Pune, 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, Performance Studies, Tisch School of the Arts, New York University as a Fulbright Scholar. and Dept. Theatre and Film Studies, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Playwriting in 1994, by Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama. He received the award "Padamshree" conferred by the President of India in January 2012.
Since 2013 Satish Alekar is nominated by Savitribai Phule Pune University as Distinguished Professor on the campus.
Recently he is also known for his screen acting both in Marathi and Hindi feature films. He is seen in the character roles of award winning films like Ventilator.

Early life and education

Alekar was born in Delhi, India, but grew up in Pune, a center of Marathi culture in Maharashtra. He studied in Marathi medium school 'New English School', Ramanbag which was established in 1880 by Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Further he went to Fergusson College and completed his BSc He received his master's degree in biochemistry from University of Pune in 1972

Career

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 during 1985–1994.
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 in Edinburgh Fringe Festival '09.
During July 1996 – January 2009, Alekar worked as a professor and the Head of the Center for Performing Arts at University of Pune. Previously he was a research officer in Biochemistry at the government-run B. J. Medical College, Pune.He was working as the Honorary Director for a program supported by Ratan Tata Trust at the University of Pune during 2009–2011. In September 2013 University of Pune honoured Satish Alekar by nominating him as Distinguished Professor on the campus. University of Pune is the first state University in India to nominate Distinguished Professors on the campus.

Plays

List of original Marathi मराठी plays written since 1973

  1. Micki Aani Memsaheb मिकी आणि मेमसाहेब *
  2. Mahanirvan महानिर्वाण *
  3. Mahapoor महापूर
  4. Begum Barve बेगम बर्वे *
  5. Shanwar Raviwar शनवार रविवार *
  6. Dusra Samana दुसरा सामना
  7. Atireki अतिरेकी *
  8. Pidhijat पिढीजात *
  9. Ek Divas Mathakade एक दिवस मठाकडे
  10. Thakishi Sanvad' ठकीशी संवाद New Play written during Covod 19 lockdown to be produced in 2021-22
* Plays directed by Satish Alekar for Theatre Academy, Pune.
  1. Mahapoor Directed by Mohan Gokhale for Theatre Academy, Pune
  2. Dusra Samna Directed by Waman Kendre for Kala Vaibhav, Mumbai
  3. Em Divas Mathakade Directed by Nipun Dharmadhikari for Natak Company, Pune
    List of original Marathi मराठी one-act plays
  4. Memory मेमरी
  5. Bhajan भजन
  6. Ek Zulta Pool एक झुलता पूल *
  7. Dar Koni Ughadat Naahi दर कोणी उघडत नाही
  8. Bus Stop बस स्टॅाप
    List of adapted/translated one-act plays
  9. Judge जज्ज
  10. Yamuche Rahasya यमुचे रहस्य
  11. Bhint भिंत *
  12. Valan वळण*
  13. Alshi Uttarvalyachi Gosht आळशी अत्तरवाल्याची गोष्ट **
  14. Nashibvan Baiche Don नशीबवान बाईचे दोन **
  15. Supari सुपारी
  16. Karmaachari कर्मचारी
** Directed by Satish Alekar for Lalit Kala Kendra ललित कला केंद्र
* Directed for Theatre Academy, Pune
Alekar started writing at the age of 19 as a chemistry graduation, though most of his early work 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. Mahanirvan 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 was his first full-length script. With the exception of his Mahapoor, he directed all of his own plays. Alekar's Begum Barve 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, Dusra Samna, and Atireki. 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".
Two Crtique published on plays Mahanirvan and Begum Barve in Marathi:
1) "Mahanirvan: Sameeksha aani Sansmarne" The volume first published in 1999 to mark the 25th year run of the production of the play produced by Theatre Academy, Pune directed by Satish Alekar. Volume included 90 pages of the extensive interview of the playwright Satish Alekar.
2) "Begum Barve Vishayee" Edited by Dr. Rekha Inamdar-Sane published in June 2010 by M/s Rajhans Prakashan, Pune,
Pages 169, Price: Rs. 200/- The books has nine articles analysing the text and the performance written by well-known theatre scholars.

Acting Reading Performance

Aparichit Pu La , a 90 mints acting reading programme on the lesser known writings of the legendary writer, performer P. L. Deshpande पु.ल.देशपांडे produced by Shabda Vedh,Pune to mark the birth centenary of the writer, conceived by Chandrakant Kale, cast: Satish Alekar, Chandrakant Kale and Girish Kulkarni. First show was performed in Pulotsav on November 22, 2018 at Balgamdharva Ranga Mandir, Pune. Since opening of the show in November 2018, performances were 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, and later he directed a 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

Written a fortnightly column in Marathi for Sunday edition of Loksatta 'Gaganika' January–December 2015. Column is based on Satish Alekar's journey in to Performing Arts since 1965. The coloumn became popular and now the book "Gaganika"

Awards and recognition

Some of Alekar's plays have been translated and produced in Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Dogri, Kannada, 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.
Natakkar Satish Alekar'', a 90-minute film by Atul Pethe about Alekar's life and work was released in 2008.

Works

  1. Ye Kahani Nahi Dir. Biplav Rai Chowdhary
  2. Dumkata Dir. Amol Palekar
  3. Aiyaa Dir. Sachin Kundalkar
  4. Dekh Tamasha Desk Dir. Feroz Abbas Khan
  5. Thackeray- A biopic on Shiv Sena Founder Balasaheb Thackeray as Jayprakash Narayan Dir by Abhijit Panse
  6. '83 a film on Indian Cricket Team's win in 1983 World Cup as Sheshrao Wankhede, Dir Kabir Khan, Produced by Vishnuvardhan Induri and Madhu Mantena Varma

    Acting in Marathi films (character roles)

  7. Aakrit Dir. Amol Palekar
  8. Umbartha Dir. Jabbar Patel
  9. Dhyas Parva Dir Amol Palekar
  10. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Dir. Jabbar Patel
  11. Ek Hota Vidushak Dir. Jabbar Patel
  12. Katha Don Ganpatravaanchee Dir. Arun Khopkar
  13. Kadachit as a Neurosurgeon Dir. Chandrakant Kulkarni
  14. Chintoo, as Colonel Kaka, Dir.Shrirang Godbole
  15. Chintoo 2 as Colonel Kaka 2013 Dir.Shrirang Godbole
  16. Hovoon Jaudyaa- We Are On! Dir. Amol Palekar
  17. Mhais Dir. Shekhar Naik
  18. Aajachaa Diwas Maazaa Dir. Chandrakant Kulkarni
  19. Yeshwantrao Chavan – Katha Eka Vadalachi Dir. Jabbar Patel
  20. Deul Band Dir. Praveen Tarade
  21. Welcome Zindagi Dir. Umesh Ghadge
  22. High Way Dir: Umesh Kulkarni
  23. Rajwade and Sons as Rajwade Dir. Sachin Kundalkar
  24. Jaudyana Balasaheb! Dir. Girish Kulkarni
  25. Ventilator Movie as Bhau, Dir. Rajesh Mapuskar, Produced by Priyanka Chopra, World Premier on Oct 23, 2016 during MAMI Festival in Mumbai
  26. Chi. Va. Chi. Sou. Ka as Bhudargadkar, Dir. Paresh Mokashi, Produced by Zee Cinema
  27. Mala Kahich Problem Naahi as Father Dir. Sameer Vidhwans, Produced by Filmy Keeda Entertainment, Mumbai
  28. Mee Shivaji Park as Satish Joshi, Dir. Mahesh Waman Manjrekar, Produced by Gouri Films, Pune
  29. Thackeray Biopic film on Balasaheb Thackeray as Jayprakash Narayan, Dir Abhijit Panse, Produced by Raut'Ters Entertainment
  30. Bhai: Vyakti ki Valli Part I a Biopic on Pu La Deshpande as Ramakant Deshpande Dir Mahesh Manjrekar Produced by The Great Maratha Entertainment
  31. Bhai: Vyakti ki Valli Part II a Biopic on Pu La Deshpande as Ramakant Deshpande Dir Mahesh Manjrekar Produced by The Great Maratha Entertainment
  32. Smile Please as Appa Joshi, Directed by Vikrum Phadnis Produced by Nisha Shah and Sanika Gandhi. streaming on Prime Video
  33. " Panchak " 2019) as Bal Kaka. Directed by Jayant Jathar, Produced by RnM Films to be leased soon.

    Acting in TV commercials and Short Films

Products:
  1. TV Cable Co.: Tata Sky
  2. Car: Honda Ameze for Appostophe, Mumbai
  3. Cell Phone Company:Idea -Telephone Exchange for Chrome Pictures, Mumbai
  4. New York Life Insurance
  5. Online Purchase : SNAPDEAL for Chrome Pictures,Mumbai
  6. Fiama Di Willis Body Wash for Apostrophe Films, Mumbai Dir Kaushik Sarkar Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WZyvU0n68k
  7. Reunion Episode 3 Language: Marathi Pickle Brand Presented by Ravetkar Group, Pune Dir Varun Narvekar Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5uzHiMeMAc
  8. maateech swapna मातीचं स्वप्न a short film in Marathi for Chitale Bandhu Mithaiwale , Produced by Multimedia Tools,Pune Directed by Varun Narvekar
  9. Retake : A three minutes short film made about the awareness for early treatment in Brain Stroke made by Ruby Hall Clinic, Pune Link: https://we.tl/b-rK1ziDEpDH
  10. रुची पालट/Fusion Food/ Chitale Bandhoo : for Chitale Bandhoo, Pune Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vnnp5zq0zY