Dada Kondke

Dada Kondke
Born Krishna Kondke
(1932-08-08)8 August 1932
Naigaum, near Lalbaug, Mumbai (Village-Ingavali, Tal-Bhor, Pune)
Died 14 March 1998(1998-03-14) (aged 65)
Rama Niwas, Shivaji Park, Mumbai
Other names Dada
Occupation Actor, director, lyricist, writer
Years active 1969–1997
Home town Ingavali, Tal-Bhor, Pune
Spouse(s) Nalini Kondke (1960–1967)

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 dialogues in movies.

Kondke was born into a family owning a grocery shop and owners of chawls in Morbaug area of Mumbai which were let out. His family members were also foreman handling millworkers of Bombay Dyeing.[1] 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).[2] Kondke was called "Dada", an honorific Marathi term meaning "elder brother", which led to his popular name Dada Kondke. He was credited with introducing the genre of sex comedy to Marathi cinema and Indian cinema.[3]

Early life

Kondke was a born to and raised in a family of cotton-mill workers in a chawl in Naigaon, near Lalbaug, Mumbai. His family originally hailed from the village of Ingavali which was in the erstwhile Bhor State near Pune. Kondke and his migrant family retained close connections to their rural roots. As a youngster, Kondke was a rough kid who later on took up job in a local grocery retail chain called Apna Bazaar. He lost most of his immediate family to unfortunate events and the grieving process changed him profoundly. These events made him focus more on the lighter side of life and make people laugh. Kondke started his entertainment career with a band and then worked as a stage actor. While working for the drama companies, Kondke toured throughout Maharashtra which helped him understand the local population's taste in entertainment.

Career

Stage career

Kondke was involved in cultural activities of Seva Dal, a Congress party volunteers organization, where he started working in dramas. During this period came in contact with various Marathi stage personalities including writer, Vasant Sabnis. Later, Kondke started his own theatre company, and approached Sabnis to compose a drama script for him. Sabnis appreciated Dada's performance in Khankhanpurcha Raja (literal translation, bankrupt king), and agreed to write a modern Marathi language Tamasha or loknatya (folk play) (Loknatya). The drama was named Vichha Majhi Puri Kara (literal translation, fulfill my wish). The drama went on to play over 1500 shows all over Maharashtra and made Dada a star.

Film career

Vichha Majhi Puri Kara brought Kondke into spotlight and in 1969, he debuted in Marathi movies through a role in Bhalji Pendharkar's movie Tambdi Maati which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi. He then turned producer with Songadya in 1971.[4] Songadya was based on a story written by Vasant Sabnis, and was directed by Govind Kulkarni. He cast himself as Namya, the simpleton who falls for the glamour of Kalavati (played by Usha Chavan) who is a dancer. Some of the other people who played major characters in this movie were Nilu Phule, Ganpat Patil, Sampat Nikam and Ratnamala. Kondke retained his team from Songadya and delivered his next hit Eakta Jeev Sadashiv.[5] Kondke's story-lines were always based on the simpleton engaged in lower level occupations. For example, Kondke portrayed himself as a Dhobi (Laundry Man) in Aali Angavar, Poor Farmer in Songadya, and a Police Constable in Pandu Havaldar. Kondke is known for using the same team of actors, technicians and playback singers to repeat the formula for success that he believed he had got from his debut film. Many of his movies, produced under the "Kamakshi Pictures" banner, had Usha Chavan as the lead actress, Rajesh Mujumdar as screen play writer (from Pandu Hawaldar onward), Raam Laxman as music director, Jayawant Kulkarni and later Mahendra Kapoor as the male playback singer, Usha Mangeshkar as the female playback singer, and Bal Mohite as the chief assistant. Kondke often employed the veteran actor-dancer, Bhagwan Dada in dancing sequences in his films Aali Angavar, Hyoch Navra Pahije, Bot Lavin Tithe Gudgulya, and Ram Ram Gangaram.

Filmography

Year Film Role Language Notes
1969 Tambdi Maati Marathi
1981 Ganimi Kawa Marathi
1971 Songadya Namya Marathi
1972 Ekta Jeev Sadashiv Marathi
1973 Andhala Marto Dola Marathi
1975 Pandu Hawaldar Marathi
1976 Tumcha Amacha Jamala Marathi
1977 Ram Ram Gangaram Gangaram Marathi
1977 Chandu Jamadar Gujarati
1978 Bot Lavin Tithe Gudgudalya Chhotu Marathi
1980 Hyoch Navra Pahije Gopi Marathi
1984 Tere Mere Beech Mein Gangaram Hindi
1986 Andheri Raat Mein Diya Tere Haath Mein Hindi
1987 Aalee Angawar Marathi
1988 Mukaa Ghya Mukaa Marathi
1989 Mala gheun chala Ganpa Marathi
1990 Palva Palvi Shirpya(Sripati) Marathi
1992 Yevu Kaa Gharaat Marathi
1994 Saasarche Dhotar Marathi
1995 Vajau Ka Marathi
2000 Le Chal Apne Sang Hindi (dedicated to the memory of) produced by Sunita Kondke

As a lyricist he wrote multiple songs on animals

  • "Manasa paras medhara bari" (meaning 'goats are much better than human beings') in film Eakta Jeev Sadashiv
  • "Labaad Landga Dhwang Kartay" (on the cunningness of foxes) in film Ekta Jeev Sadashiv
  • "Chalara vaghya" (dog) in film Tumcha Amcha Jamala
  • "Jodi bailachi khillari" (bullocks) in film Mala Gheun Chala
  • "Bakricha samdyasni laglay lala" (goat) in film Ram Ram Gangaram

Political career

Balasaheb Thackeray helped Kondke with screenings of "Songadya", a film full of sexual innuendos that many found objectionable. Thackeray's justification for supporting Kondke was that he was a Marathi "manoos" (man). In return, Kondke, with Gajanan Shirke, helped found the Chitrapat Shakha, Shiv Sena's culture police.[6] Dada Kondake was impressed with Balasaheb Thackeray's charisma and had toured Maharashtra to set up the roots of Shiv Sena, political party lead by Thackeray. Kondke was very active Shiv sainik and was able to influence many areas of rural Maharashtra due to his popularity and way of making fiery speeches to impress the masses.

Personal life

He was married to his wife Nalini but they later got divorced. He did not remarry. On September 30, 1997, Kondke suffered a heart attack at his residence Rama Niwas in Dadar, Mumbai. He was rushed to Shushrusha Nursing Home, where he was declared dead on admission. At the time, Kondke was working on the film Jaraa Dheer Dhara with Usha Chavan.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Dada Kondke award for best regional film introduced-Pune-Cities-The Times of India
  2. ↑ "Marathi cinema flies high, leaves big brother Bollywood in its growth trajectory | Latest News & Updates at Daily News & Analysis". dna. 2016-05-29. Retrieved 2016-05-30.
  3. ↑ http://www.punemirror.in/entertainment/unwind/Just-for-laughs/articleshow/51228800.cms
  4. ↑ Rediff On The Net, Movies:A journalist remembers Dada Kondke
  5. ↑ Gokulsing, K. Moti (Editor); Dissanayake, Wimal (Editor); Gangar, Amrit (Author) (2013). Routledge handbook of Indian cinemas. London: Routledge. pp. 82–83. ISBN 0415677742.
  6. ↑ "Sex, lies and a super-censor" (Sunday, Sep 15). The Hindu. 2002. Retrieved 20 February 2017.
  7. ↑ Rediff On The Net, Movies:A journalist remembers Dada Kondke
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