Shanta Gokhale | |
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 Shanta Gokhale in 2018 | |
| Born | 14 August 1939 Dahanu, Bombay Presidency, British India |
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| Nationality | Indian |
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| Children | Girish Shahane Renuka Shahane |
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| shantagokhale | |
Shanta Gokhale (born 14 August 1939) is an Indian writer, translator, journalist and theatre critic. She is best known for her works Rita Welinkar and Tya Varshi.
Born in Dahanu in Palghar district of Maharashtra, Gokhale's family moved to Shivaji Park neighbourhood in Mumbai in 1941 when her father, GG Gokahle, joined a newspaper, Searchlight. Her father later joined the Bennett and Coleman Group. [1] She did her schooling from Bombay Scottish School, Mahim. At the age of 15 she left for England where she did her B. A. (Hons) in English literature at Bristol University. Returning to India, at the age of 21, she did her M. A. (Hons) degree in English literature from University of Mumbai. Subsequently, she joined Xavier's Institute of Communication, Mumbai, where she studied Communications and Video Production. [2] [3]
Shanta Gokhale has previously worked as a part-time teacher at Elphinstone College, [4] and as a public relations executive at Glaxo Laboratories. [5]
Gokhale initially published stories, in both English and Marathi, in various publications, and eventually in the 1970s, she started publishing novels. She published her first book, Rita Welinkar, in Marathi (and later in English in the year 1995). She credits a letter from Nissim Ezekiel for encouraging her to write in Marathi. [6] She wrote the book while she still worked at Glaxo, formulating the ideas during her bus journeys and writing during her lunch breaks. [3] Her second book, Tya Varshi, was published seventeen years later, in 2008. [7] It was later translated and published by her in English as Crowfall, in 2013. [8] [9] In 2018, she released an anthology of her writings over the decades, titled The Engaged Observer, which was edited by her close friend, Jerry Pinto. [10] She planned to release her memoirs with the tentative title of Here’s Looking at You, Body in 2018. [11] It was later released as One Foot On The Ground: A Life Told Through The Body in 2019. [12] In March 2020, she released Shivaji Park: Dadar 28: History, Places, People, a book that traced the history of the Mumbai neighbourhood where she lives. [13]
She has written screenplays for several films and documentaries. She wrote the screenplay for the Hindi film, Haathi Ka Anda (2002) directed by Arun Khopkar for whom she has written many documentary scripts. She wrote the screenplay for the 2011 Marathi film, Ti Ani Itar, adapted from Manjula Padmanabhan’s 1986 play, Lights Out. [14] As an actor, she appeared in the parallel cinema classic, film, Ardh Satya (1983), directed by Govind Nihalani, and in a 13-part TV series directed by Amol Palekar.
Her daughter, Renuka Shahane, made her directorial debut adapting Gokhale's novel Rita Welinkar into a Marathi film, Rita (2009). It featured her (Shahane), Pallavi Joshi and Jackie Shroff in the cast. [15]
Gokhale has formerly been Arts Editor with The Times of India , Mumbai, and Sub-Editor at Femina . Hard-nosed journalism wasn't meant for her, as she didn't like to intrude on people's privacy or push for attention. [6] She has previously been a columnist for newspapers like The Sunday Times of India and The Independent , for tabloids like Mid-Day and Mumbai Mirror and for websites like Scroll.in . [4] [7]
Gokhale's journey into theatre began with her study of English literature and theatre, as part of her studies in London. Soon after returning to Bombay, she happened to become good friends with Satyadev Dubey. She would attend his theatre rehearsals and observe him directing plays, some of which were written by fresh new writers like Girish Karnad. This began her journey into understanding the processes of theatre making. [7] Later, she started writing plays like Avinash in 1988 (which was directed by Dubey), [4] Dip and Dop and Rosemary for Remembrance (which was premiered at the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in 2016). [5] In 2000, she published a critical study of Marathi theatre, Playwright at the Centre: Marathi Drama from 1843 to the Present. [16] She has also edited The Scenes We Made: An Oral History of Experimental Theatre in Mumbai. [5] She has edited the book, The Scenes We Made, about the theatre scene Between the mid-70s and early 90s at the Chabildas School in Dadar, Mumbai. [17] The book was released in 2015. [3]
As a translator she has worked on veteran actress Durga Khote's noted autobiography and has published translations of several plays by leading Marathi playwrights like Mahesh Elkunchwar, Vijay Tendulkar, G.P. Deshpande, and Satish Alekar. [6] She credits her mother for inspiring her to translate the wealth of Marathi literature. [4] Her work in translation began with C.T. Khanolkar’s play Avadhya, at the suggestion of her friend Satyadev Dubey while she was living in Visakhapatnam. [6] Some of her other translations include Em Ani Hoomrao (Jerry Pinto's novel, Em And The Big Hoom translated into Marathi), Begum Barve (Satish Alekar's Marathi play of the same name, translated into English), I, Durga Khote (Durga Khote's autobiography in Marathi, translated into English) and Guru Dutt: A Tragedy in Three Acts (her ex-husband Arun Khopkar's Marathi book on Guru Dutt, titled Guru Dutt: Teen Anki Shokantika, translated into English). [7] In 2018, she published Smritichitre: The Memoirs of a Spirited Wife, translated from the original Marathi version published by Lakshmibai Tilak in four parts between 1931 and 1936. [18]
Shanta Gokhale was married to Lt. Cdr. Vijaykumar Shahane, with whom she has two children, Girish Shahane, and noted film and television actress, Renuka Shahane. After their divorce, she was briefly married to noted filmmaker Arun Khopkar. She currently lives in Lalit Estate, Shivaji Park, Mumbai, with her two helpers, Alka Dhulap and Sanjay Pashte, and is neighbours with Jerry Pinto. [4] [19]
Over the years, Gokhale has served as a mentor for many, including poet Arundhathi Subramaniam. [20]
Vijay Dhondopant Tendulkar was an Indian playwright, movie and television writer, literary essayist, political journalist, and social commentator primarily in Marathi. His Marathi plays established him as a writer of plays with contemporary, unconventional themes. He is best known for his plays Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe (1967), Ghashiram Kotwal (1972), and Sakharam Binder (1972). Many of Tendulkar's plays derived inspiration from real-life incidents or social upheavals, which provide clear light on harsh realities. He has provided guidance to students studying "play writing" in US universities. Tendulkar was a dramatist and theatre personality in Maharashtra for over five decades.
Vijaya Mehta, is a noted Indian Marathi film and theatre director and also an actor in many films from the Parallel Cinema. She is a founder member of Mumbai-based theatre group, Rangayan with playwright Vijay Tendulkar, and actors Arvind Deshpande and Shriram Lagoo. She is most known for her acclaimed role in film Party (1984) and for her directorial ventures, Rao Saheb (1986) and Pestonjee (1988). As the founder member of theatre group, Rangayan, she became a leading figure in the experimental Marathi theatre of the 1960s.
Mahesh Elkunchwar is an Indian playwright and screenplay writer in Marathi language with more than 20 plays to his name, in addition to his theoretical writings, critical works, and his active work in India's Parallel Cinema as actor and screenwriter. Today along with Vijay Tendulkar, he is credited as one of the most influential and progressive playwrights not just in Marathi theatre, but also in Indian theatre. In 2014, he was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour in performing arts in India.
Durga Khote was an Indian actress, beginning as one of the foremost leading ladies of her time. She remained active in Hindi and Marathi cinema, as well as theatre, for over 50 years, starring in around 200 films and numerous theatre productions.
Renuka Shahane is an Indian actress who is widely known for her work in the Hindi and Marathi films and several television productions. She is best known as the co-presenter of the Doordarshan TV show Surabhi (1993–2001). She has received several awards and nominations including a Filmfare Award Marathi.
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 (1974), Mahapoor (1975), Atirekee (1990), Pidhijat (2003), Mickey ani Memsahib (1973), and Begum Barve (1979), all of which he also directed for the Academy. ‘’ Ek Divas Mathakade एकदिवस मठाकडे ‘’ (2012) and ‘’ ठकीशी संवाद Thakishi Samvad’’ (2024) these two recent plays were directed by Nipun Dharmadhikari and Anupam Barve respectively. Along with Mahesh Elkunchwar and Vijay Tendulkar he is considered among the most influential and progressive playwrights in modern Marathi and Indian theatre.
Gauri Deshpande was a novelist, short story writer, and poet from Maharashtra, India. She wrote in Marathi and English.
Amal Allana is an Indian theatre director, scenic designer and costume designer and presently she is in her second consecutive term as the Chairperson of National School of Drama, India's premier institute of Theatre training, she also runs the Dramatic Art and Design Academy (DADA), New Delhi, with her husband Nissar Allana, which they co-founded in 2000.
Marathi theatre is theatre in the Marathi language, mostly originating or based in the state of Maharashtra in India, and elsewhere with Marathi diaspora. Starting in the middle of the 19th century, it flourished in the 1950s and 1960s. Today, it continues to have a marked presence in the State of Maharashtra with a loyal audience base, when most theatre in other parts of India have had tough time facing the onslaught of cinema and television. Its repertoire ranges from musicals, humorous social plays, farces, historical plays like 'Vedat Marathe Veer Daudale Saat' by Bashir Momin Kavathekar, to experimental plays and serious drama of the 1970s onwards, by Vijay Tendulkar, P. L. Deshpande, Mahesh Elkunchwar and Satish Alekar, which have influenced theatre throughout India. In the post-independence era, Bengali theatre, and Marathi theatre have been at the forefront of innovations and significant dramaturgy in Indian theatre.
Suhasini Joshi, popularly known by her screen name Suhas Joshi, is a Marathi theater, film and television actress. She is also seen in many Bollywood films. She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for 2018 for Acting.
Daji Bhatawadekar, was an Indian theatre personality and film and television actor. He was credited with the revival of Sanskrit and Marathi theatre in India. A winner of the Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 1965, he was honoured by the Government of India in 1967, with the award of Padma Shri, the fourth highest Indian civilian award for his contributions to the society.
Highway is a 2015 Indian Marathi language road drama film produced by Vinay Vaman Ganu under Kharpoos Films banner and distributed by Arbhaat Films. Directed by Umesh Vinayak Kulkarni. The film marks Marathi debut of Bollywood actress Huma Qureshi and Tisca Chopra and newcomers Vrushali Kulkarni and Sameer Bhate. The film also debut of Bollywood music composer Amit Trivedi and singer Benny Dayal. The film has ensemble cast of Girish Kulkarni, Huma Qureshi, Renuka Shahane, Tisca Chopra, Mukta Barve, Sunil Barve, Nagraj Manjule, Shrikant Yadav, Kishor Kadam, Savita Prabhune, Vidhyadhar Joshi, Purva Pawar.
Rita is a Marathi language film directed by Renuka Shahane starring Pallavi Joshi, Jakie Shroff, Renuka Shahane, Dr. Mohan Agashe, Tushar Dalvi, Suhasini Mule, Sai Tamhankar, Makarand Deshpande, Medha Jambotkar, Tucha Vaidya, Rajashree Nikam. The film was released on 4 September 2009. It is based on the book, Rita Welingkar, written by Shahane's mother, Shanta Gokhale.
Manaswini Lata Ravindra is a Marathi playwright, screenwriter and director, known for writing the play Amar Photo Studio and also being one of the writers of the Marathi sitcom Dil Dosti Duniyadari. In 2016, she is a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar for her short story collection, Blogchya Aarshyapallyad.
Master Phoolmani is a 1999 Gujarati-language musical comedy play that was written by Chandrakant Shah and directed by Manoj Shah. The play was adapted from Satish Alekar's work Begum Barve (1979), which Chandrakant Shah rewrote from a Gujarati viewpoint to be more relatable to Gujarati audience. The play, which is one of Manoj Shah's best-known works, was first staged on 15 November 1999 at Horniman Circle Gardens, Mumbai. It was influenced by the Bhangavadi theatre style, and depicts the story of two out-of-work theatre actors who enter the fantasy of two aged bachelor clerks.
Mohit Ratnakar Takalkar is an Indian theatre director, filmmaker and film editor from Pune, Maharashtra. He co-founded the theatre company, Aasakta Kalamanch in 2003.
Me Shivaji Park is a 2018 Indian Marathi-language crime thriller film directed by Mahesh Manjrekar and produced by Gauri Pictures in association with Manjrekar Movies. The film starring Ashok Saraf, Vikram Gokhale, Shivaji Satam, Satish Alekar, Dilip Prabhavalkar in the leading roles. The film was theatrically released on 18 October 2018.
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