Nilu Phule
Encyclopedia
Nilu Phule (died 13 July 2009) was an India
n actor known for his roles in the Marathi language
movies and Marathi theatre. Nilu Phule had acted in around 250 Marathi and Hindi
movies during his film career.
Phule was also a social worker, and was associated with Rashtra Seva Dal.
Phule's first job was that of a gardener at the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune
, aged 17. He used to get a salary of Rs. 80 per month, out of which, he used to donate Rs. 10 to the Rashtriya Seva Dal, a social organization he was involved with. He wanted to pursue his gardening career forward, but due to lack of financial support, he could not start his own plant nursery. During this time, at the age of 20, Nilu was inspired by Rabindranath Tagore
's writings and went on to write a drama, Udyan. His composing for the drama Yedya Gabalache Kam Nahi during the 1957 Lok Sabha elections garnered him fame.
Nilu often played villains; most notably his portrayal of Sakharam Binder
, an exploiter of women for sexual desires. Some of his notable film roles include: a power-drunk politician in Mahesh Bhatt
's Saaransh
, a political journalist in Jabbar Patel
's Sinhasan, and a sugar tycoon in Jabbar Patel's Saamna.
One of Phule's most notable theatrical performances include his role as the eponymous hero of Vijay Tendulkar
's Sakharam Binder
(first staged in 1972). Kamlakar Sarang, who directed the first production of the play in 1972, was apprehensive of Phule's reticence. However, he was convinced that Phule would be fit for the role, when Vijay Tendulkar reminded him of Phule's aggressive performance as a minister in another play, Katha Aklechya Kandyachi.
According to Phule, his acting style was influenced by Hollywood films like A Double Life
, Gone With The Wind
and Roman Holiday
.
. He is survived by his wife, Rajani Phule, and their daughter, Gargi Phule Thatte.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n actor known for his roles in the Marathi language
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
movies and Marathi theatre. Nilu Phule had acted in around 250 Marathi and Hindi
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
movies during his film career.
Phule was also a social worker, and was associated with Rashtra Seva Dal.
Early life
Nilu Phule was born in either 1930 or 1931 (depending on the source) in Pune as Nilkanth Krushnaji Phule to the clan of the noted social worker Jyotiba Phule.Phule's first job was that of a gardener at the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune
Armed Forces Medical College, Pune
The Armed Forces Medical College is a premier medical college in India.It is among the top 3 medical colleges in the country. It is located in Pune Cantonment in Pune in the state of Maharashtra. The college is managed by the Indian Armed Forces....
, aged 17. He used to get a salary of Rs. 80 per month, out of which, he used to donate Rs. 10 to the Rashtriya Seva Dal, a social organization he was involved with. He wanted to pursue his gardening career forward, but due to lack of financial support, he could not start his own plant nursery. During this time, at the age of 20, Nilu was inspired by Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore , sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali polymath who reshaped his region's literature and music. Author of Gitanjali and its "profoundly sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse", he became the first non-European Nobel laureate by earning the 1913 Prize in Literature...
's writings and went on to write a drama, Udyan. His composing for the drama Yedya Gabalache Kam Nahi during the 1957 Lok Sabha elections garnered him fame.
Acting career
Nilu Phule began his theatrical career with the Marathi folk performances (loknatya). His first professional drama was Katha Akalecha Kandyachi, which went on to have over 2000 shows. It was based on this success that he was offered his first movie Ek Gaav Baara Bhanagadi, by Anant Mane in 1968.Nilu often played villains; most notably his portrayal of Sakharam Binder
Sakharam Binder
Sakharam Binder is a play by Marathi playwright Vijay Tendulkar and was first performed in 1972. It was banned in India in 1974. It was produced and directed by Kamlakar Sarang.-Synopsis:...
, an exploiter of women for sexual desires. Some of his notable film roles include: a power-drunk politician in Mahesh Bhatt
Mahesh Bhatt
Mahesh Bhatt , is a prominent Indian film director, producer and screenwriter.Bhatt's early directional career consisted of acclaimed films, such as Arth, Saaransh, Janam, Naam and Zakhm....
's Saaransh
Saaransh
Saaransh is a 1984 Bollywood film starring Anupam Kher, Rohini Hattangadi and Soni Razdan. The film marked the screen debut of Anupam Kher. It was nominated for India's official entry for the 1985 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film...
, a political journalist in Jabbar Patel
Jabbar Patel
Dr. Jabbar Patel is a theatre and film director of India. His production of the play Vijay Tendulkar's play Ghashiram Kotwal, in 1973 is considered a classic in Modern Indian Theatre....
's Sinhasan, and a sugar tycoon in Jabbar Patel's Saamna.
One of Phule's most notable theatrical performances include his role as the eponymous hero of Vijay Tendulkar
Vijay Tendulkar
Vijay Tendulkar was a leading Indian playwright, movie and television writer, literary essayist, political journalist, and social commentator primarily in Marāthi...
's Sakharam Binder
Sakharam Binder
Sakharam Binder is a play by Marathi playwright Vijay Tendulkar and was first performed in 1972. It was banned in India in 1974. It was produced and directed by Kamlakar Sarang.-Synopsis:...
(first staged in 1972). Kamlakar Sarang, who directed the first production of the play in 1972, was apprehensive of Phule's reticence. However, he was convinced that Phule would be fit for the role, when Vijay Tendulkar reminded him of Phule's aggressive performance as a minister in another play, Katha Aklechya Kandyachi.
According to Phule, his acting style was influenced by Hollywood films like A Double Life
A Double Life
A Double Life is a 1947 film noir which tells the story of an actor whose mind becomes affected by the character he portrays. The movie starred Ronald Colman and Signe Hasso...
, Gone With The Wind
Gone with the Wind
The slaves depicted in Gone with the Wind are primarily loyal house servants, such as Mammy, Pork and Uncle Peter, and these slaves stay on with their masters even after the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 sets them free...
and Roman Holiday
Roman Holiday
Roman Holiday is a 1953 romantic comedy directed and produced by William Wyler and starring Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn. It was written by John Dighton and Dalton Trumbo, though with Trumbo on the Hollywood blacklist, he did not receive a credit; instead, Ian McLellan Hunter fronted for him...
.
Death
Nilu Phule died on 13 July 2009, aged 78, from esophageal cancerEsophageal cancer
Esophageal cancer is malignancy of the esophagus. There are various subtypes, primarily squamous cell cancer and adenocarcinoma . Squamous cell cancer arises from the cells that line the upper part of the esophagus...
. He is survived by his wife, Rajani Phule, and their daughter, Gargi Phule Thatte.
Awards
- Sangeet Natak Akademi AwardSangeet Natak Akademi AwardSangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar is an award given by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance & Drama. It is the highest Indian recognition given to practicing artists. The award consists since 2003 of Rs. 50,000, a citation, an angavastram , and a tamrapatra...
(1991), by the President of IndiaPresident of IndiaThe President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India, as well as the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces. President of India is also the formal head of all the three branches of Indian Democracy - Legislature, Executive and Judiciary... - Maharastra State Award for Haat lavin tithe sone (1973)
- Maharastra State Award for Saamna (1974)
- Maharastra State Award for Choricha Mamla (1975)
- Kala Gaurav Puraskar
Partial Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Ganane Ghungroo Haravale | |||
| 1974 | Samna Samna (film) Samna is a 1974 Marathi language crime drama directed by Jabbar Patel. It was entered into the 25th Berlin International Film Festival.-Cast:* Mohan Agashe - Maruti Kamble* Anant Audkar* Shivaji Bhosle* Sanjivani Bidkar - Mrs... |
Hindurao Dhonde Patil | ||
| 1975 | Dhoti Lota Aur Chowpatty | |||
| 1975 | Varaat | |||
| 1977 | Jait Re Jait | |||
| 1977 | Naav Motha Lakshan Khota | |||
| 1978 | Sarvasakshi | |||
| 1978 | Sasurvasheen | |||
| 1979 | Do Ladke Dono Kadke | Champa's husband | ||
| 1979 | Aaitya Bilavar Nagoba | Bhujangrao | ||
| 1979 | Meri Biwi Ki Shaadi | Fernandes | ||
| 1980 | Bhalu | |||
| 1980 | Kadaklakshmi | |||
| 1980 | Sau Din Saas Ke | Khubchand (Lalla Ji) | ||
| 1980 | Sinhasan | Digu Tipnis | ||
| 1981 | Shama | Barrister | ||
| 1981 | Naram Garam Naram Garam Naram Garam is a 1981 Bollywood film directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. The movie was produced by Subhash Gupta and Uday Narayan Singh and had music by R.D.Burman. It reprises many actors and actresses from the 1979 hit Gol Maal with the same names... |
Guruji | (Special appearance) | |
| 1982 | Galli Te Dilli | |||
| 1982 | Bhujang | |||
| 1982 | Ramnagari | |||
| 1983 | Coolie Coolie (1983 film) Coolie is a 1983 Indian Bollywood film directed by Manmohan Desai. The film starsAmitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Rati Agnihotri, Kader Khan, Suresh Oberoi and Puneet Issar... |
Nathu Mama | ||
| 1983 | Woh 7 Din | Maya's maternal grandfather | ||
| 1983 | Baiko Asavi Ashi | |||
| 1983 | Zara Si Zindagi | Jaggu (Kusum's father) | ||
| 1984 | Saaransh Saaransh Saaransh is a 1984 Bollywood film starring Anupam Kher, Rohini Hattangadi and Soni Razdan. The film marked the screen debut of Anupam Kher. It was nominated for India's official entry for the 1985 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film... |
Gajanan Chitre | ||
| 1984 | Mashaal Mashaal Mashaal is a 1984 Bollywood film. Produced and directed by Yash Chopra it stars Dilip Kumar, Anil Kapoor, Waheeda Rehman, Rati Agnihotri, Nilu Phule, Iftekhar, Saeed Jaffery, Gulshan Grover, Alok Nath, Madan Puri and Amrish Puri... |
Vithal Rao | ||
| 1984 | Zakhmi Sher | Lala (Anandi's father) | ||
| 1985 | Haqeeqat | Rickshaw driver | ||
| 1986 | Kaanch Ki Deewar | Lakhsmi Singh | ||
| 1986 | Bijli | Niluba - Sonar | ||
| 1986 | Insaaf Ki Awaaz | Balwant Azaad | ||
| 1986 | Maa Beti | Raghunandan | ||
| 1987 | Hirasat | |||
| 1987 | Jaago Hua Savera | |||
| 1987 | Mohre Mohre Mohre is a 1987 Indian Hindi movie directed by Raghuvir Kul. The film starred Madhuri Dixit opposite Nana Patekar, an art cinema veteran. The pair later worked together in Vinod Chopra's Parinda and his own directorial debut, Prahaar... |
Social Worker | ||
| 1987 | Sutradhar | |||
| 1988 | Kabzaa | Mandar Bhagawat | ||
| 1988 | Tamacha | Jwala Pratap Singh | ||
| 1988 | Aurat Teri Yehi Kahani | Thakur | ||
| 1988 | Mazha Pati Karodpati | Laxmikant Kuber | ||
| 1989 | Oonch Neech Beech | |||
| 1989 | Prem Pratigyaa | Mohan 'Dadhu' Rao | ||
| 1989 | Maalmasala | |||
| 1990 | Disha Disha Disha was a 1990 Hindi directed by Sai Paranjpye, based on the plight of immigrant workers in urban India, and starring Shabana Azmi, Nana Patekar, Om Puri in lead roles.... |
Dashrath 'Dadji' Mandre | ||
| 1992 | Ek Hota Vidushak | |||
| 1992 | Zunz Tujhi Majhi | Bapujirao 'Nagoji' Nagvekar | ||
| 1995 | Limited Manuski | Jyotshi Archarya | ||
| 1998 | Ghar Bazar | Kishan Murari | ||
| 2007 | Kadachit | |||
| 2009 | Goshta Choti Dongraevadhi | |||
| 2009 | Gaav Tasa Chaangla |