Amol Palekar
Amol Palekar (born 24 November 1944) is an Indian actor, director and producer of Hindi and Marathi cinema.[3]
Amol Palekar | |
|---|---|
 Palekar in 2016 | |
| Born | 24 November 1944[1] |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1971–present |
| Spouses | |
| Parents |
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| Awards | Filmfare Best Actor Award: 1979: Gol Maal |
| Website | amolpalekar.com |
| Signature | |
 | |
Early life and education
Palekar was born to Kamlakar and Suhasini Palekar in a marathi speaking middle-class family in Mumbai. He had three sisters called Neelon, Rekha and Unnati. His father worked in the General Post Office and his mother worked in a private company.[4] Palekar studied fine arts at the Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai, and commenced his artistic career as a painter. As a painter, he had seven one-man exhibitions and participated in many group shows.[5]
Acting Career
Although he trained in fine arts, Palekar is better known as a stage and film actor. He has been active in the avant garde theatre in India in Marathi and Hindi theatre as an actor, director and producer since 1967. His contribution to the modern Indian theatre is often overshadowed by his popularity as a lead actor in Hindi films.
As a film actor, he was most prominent in the 1970s. His image as a "boy next door" contrasted with the larger-than-life heroes prevalent at that time in Indian cinema. He received one Filmfare award and six State awards as Best Actor. His performances in regional language films in Marathi, Bengali, Malayalam and Kannada fetched him critical acclaim as well. He decided not to act after 1986 in order to concentrate on filmmaking.
As a director, he is known for the sensitive portrayal of women, selection of classic stories from Indian literature, and perceptive handling of progressive issues. He has directed several television serials on the national network such as Kachchi Dhoop, Mrignayani, Naquab, Paool Khuna and Krishna Kali.
Theatre career
Palekar began in Marathi experimental theatre with Satyadev Dubey, and later started his own group, Aniket, in 1972. As a theatre actor, he was part of popular plays like Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe, Hayavadana and Adhe Adhure.[6] Following a performance on stage at the National Centre for the Performing Arts (India) (NCPA) in 1994, he returned to theatre after a gap of 25 years with the suspenseful play, Kusur (The Mistake).[7] This play is directed by him and he also plays the lead role.[8]
Movie career
Palekar made his debut in 1971 with the Marathi film Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe directed by Satyadev Dubey, which started the New Cinema Movement in Marathi.[9] In 1974 he was cast as an actor by Basu Chatterjee in Rajnigandha, and in the surprise low-budget hit, Chhoti Si Baat. This led to many other such roles in "middle-class" comedies, mostly alternative. These were mostly directed by Chatterjee or Hrishikesh Mukherjee and included films such as Gol Maal and Naram Garam. He won the Filmfare Best Actor Award for Gol Maal.
He is noted for his image of the "middle-class everyman" who struggles to get a job (Gol Maal), his own flat (Gharonda), a girlfriend/wife (Baaton Baaton Mein), and appreciation from his boss.
In 1979, he was paired with a sixteen-year-old Sridevi in Solva Saawan, which was her debut Hindi movie as a heroine. Amol played the role of an intellectually disabled man, a character played by Kamal Haasan in the original Tamil movie.
In 1982 he played the role of Ravi in the Malayalam movie Olangal. He turned to directing with the Marathi film Aakriet. He showed his capabilities as a director with movies such as Thodasa Roomani Ho Jaayen and Paheli. Thodasa Roomani Ho Jaayen has become a part of management courses and study pertaining to human behaviour.[10] Paheli was India's official entry for Best Foreign Film at the 2006 Oscars. The movie, however, did not make it to the final nominations.
He has also given his voice to an HIV/AIDS education animated software tutorial created by the nonprofit organization TeachAids.[11] He is willing to act once again if he is given a challenging role.[12]
Personal life
He married Sandhya Gokhale after his divorce from his first wife, Chitra.[13][14][2] Palekar regards himself as an agnostic atheist.[15]
In February 2022, Palekar was hospitalized in Pune for COVID-19 related complications.[16]
Filmography
As an actor
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Bajiraocha Beta | Marathi film | |
| 1971 | Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe | Marathi film | |
| 1974 | Rajnigandha | Sanjay | |
| 1975 | Jeevana Jyoti | Sanjay | Telugu film |
| 1976 | Chhoti Si Baat | Arun Pradeep | Nominated: Filmfare Award for Best Actor |
| Chitchor | Vinod | ||
| 1977 | Gharaonda | Sudip | |
| Bhumika | Keshav Dalvi | ||
| Agar... If | Anil Aggarwal | ||
| Taxi Taxie | Dev/Hero | ||
| Tuch Maazi Raani | Marathi film | ||
| Kanneshwara Rama | Chenneera | Kannada film | |
| 1978 | Damaad | Sharad Mazgaonkar | |
| Safed Jhoot | Amol 'Ramu' Palekar | ||
| 1979 | Baaton Baaton Mein | Tony Braganza | |
| Gol Maal | Ram Prasad Sharma / Lakshman Prasad Sharma (Lucky) | Filmfare Award for Best Actor | |
| Do Ladke Dono Kadke | Hari | ||
| Meri Biwi Ki Shaadi | Bhagwant Kumar Bartendu "Bhagu" | ||
| Solva Sawan | |||
| Bin Baap Ka Beta | |||
| Mother | Marathi film | ||
| Jeena Yahan | Dinesh | ||
| 1980 | Aanchal | Kishan Lal | |
| Apne Paraye | Chandranath | ||
| 1981 | Naram Garam | Ram Eshwar Prasad | |
| Sameera | |||
| Akriet | Mukutrao Shinde | Marathi film | |
| Kalankini | Bengali film | ||
| Agni Pareeksha | Alok Choudhary / Ramesh Khanna | ||
| Chehre Pe Chehra | Peter | ||
| Plot No. 5 | |||
| 1982 | Jeevan Dhaara | Anand Bhatnagar | |
| Olangal | Ravi Chattan | Malayalam film | |
| Ramnagari | |||
| Spandan | |||
| Shriman Shrimati | Madhu Gupta | ||
| 1983 | Rang Birangi | Ajay Sharma | |
| Ashray | |||
| Pyaasi Aankhen | |||
| Chena Achena | Bengali film | ||
| 1984 | Tarang | Rahul | |
| Aadmi Aur Aurat | Tapan Sinha | TV movie | |
| Prarthana | |||
| Sringara Masa | Kannada film | ||
| Mr. X | Amar | Voice dubbed by other artist | |
| 1985 | Khamosh | Amol Palekar | |
| Jhoothi | Inspector Kamal Nath | ||
| Ankahee | Devkinandan Chaturvedi 'Nandu' | ||
| Abasheshe | Bengali film | ||
| 1986 | Baat Ban Jaye | Yeshwant Rao Bhonsle | |
| 1994 | Teesra Kaun? | C. K. Kadam | |
| 2001 | Aks | The Defence Minister | |
| 2009 | Samaantar | Keshav Vaze | Marathi film |
| 2021 | 200 – Halla Ho | Justice Vitthal Daangle | Hindi ZEE5 film |
| 2023 | Gulmohar | ||
As a director
- Aakreit (Unimaginable in Marathi) – 1981
- Ankahee (Unspoken) – 1985
- Thodasa Rumani Ho Jaye – 1990
- Bangarwadi – 1995
- Daayraa (The Square Circle) – 1996
- Anahat (Forever)
- Kairee (Raw mango) – 2001
- Dhyaas Parva (Kal Kaa Aadmi in Hindi) – 2001 (based on Raghunath Karve's life, won the National Award for Best Film on Family Welfare)[17]
- Paheli (Riddle) – 2005 (India's official entry to the 78th Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film)
- Quest (English) – 2006 (won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in English)
- Dumkata (2007)
- Samaantar (Marathi) – 2009
- ...And Once Again – 2010
- Dhoosar (Marathi) – 2011 (won the Maharashtra State Film Award)
Feature films in other regional languages
- Mother (Bengali) (with Sharmila Tagore & Dipankar Dey)
- Kalankini (Bengali) (with Mamata Shankar – directed by Dhiren Ganguly)
- Chena Achena (Bengali) (with Tanuja & Soumitra Chatterjee)
- Kanneshwara Rama (Kannada) (with Anant Nag & Shabana Azmi – directed by M.S. Sathyu)
- Paper Boats (Kannada & English) (with Deepa – directed by Pattabhirama Reddy)
- Olangal (Malayalam) (with Poornima Jayaram & Ambika – directed by Balu Mahendra)
TV serials
- Kachchi Dhoop – 1987
- Naqab – 1988
- Paoolkhuna – 1993
- Mrignayanee – 1991
- Kareena Kareena – 2004
- AA Bail Mujhe Maar – 1987
- Ek Nayi Ummeed-Roshni – 2015
Awards
| Award | Film | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Feature Film in Marathi | Bangarwadi | 1995 | Won |
| Special Jury Award (Feature Film) | Daayraa | 1996 | Won |
| Best Film on Other Social Issues | Kairee | 1999 | Won |
| Best Film on Family Welfare | Dhyaas Parva | 2000 | Won |
| Best Feature Film in English | Quest | 2006 | Won |
| Best Actor | Chhoti Si Baat | 1977 | Nominated |
| Gol Maal | 1980 | Won | |
| Best Actor | Akriet | 1981 | Won |
Reality television shows
References
- "'आपल्यातीलच एक' थोडासा रुमानी झाला तेव्हा A correct reference about his birthday from marathi language newspaper loksatta news, janeman is confirmed person with him to be 24 November, 2014 during Marathi language wikipedia workshop". Archived from the original on 20 June 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2012.
- "Amol Palekar: Baaton Baaton Mein". The Times of India. 19 October 2003. Archived from the original on 13 September 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Paheli is a simple, loveable film". Rediff.com. 21 June 2005. Archived from the original on 10 October 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
- "Amol Palekar: Baaton Baaton Mein - The Times of India". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 13 September 2010. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
- "Painting is like 'ghar wapsi' for me: Amol Palekar". FilmyKeeday. Archived from the original on 30 April 2019. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- Sharma, Devesh (27 March 2020). "Top Bollywood actors who started life on stage". filmfare.com. Archived from the original on 29 March 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- Singh, Deepali (14 December 2019). "Palekar's latest challenge". Livemint. Archived from the original on 15 December 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- "Theatre review: Kusur (The Mistake) - Times of India". The Times of India. 29 November 2019. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- "Amol Palekar's debut". The Times of India. 4 May 2013. Archived from the original on 20 December 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- "Thoda Sa Roomani Ho Jaaye : Movie Review | kanikaspeaks". Archived from the original on 11 April 2014. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
- "Star touch to animated film on HIV/AIDS". The New Indian Express. 27 November 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
- "Amol Palekar: Can return to screen if role is challenging". 17 November 2013. NDTV. Archived from the original on 11 October 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2013.
- Archived 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine.
- "Amol Palekar is back in action, this time with an English language ..." The Indian Express. 2 August 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2010.
- "Atheism is the religion for these filmi folk". The Times of India. The Times Group. Archived from the original on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
- "Veteran actor Amol Palekar hospitalized due to Covid complications". Tribune India. 11 February 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- "Focus". pib.nic.in. Archived from the original on 11 March 2007. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
- "Shahid Kapoor calls Amol Palekar 'OG middle class good guy', says: 'It was a privilege to have him on Farzi'". Hindustan Times. 5 February 2023. Retrieved 11 February 2023.
