Dada Kondke
Encyclopedia
Krishna Kondke 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
dialogs in movies.
Dada Kondke was born in a mill-worker's family in Naigaon in central Mumbai
on Gokulashtami day and hence was named Krishna
. Even though it is popularly believed that 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), no such entry exists. Krishna Kondke was called "Dada", an honorific Marathi term meaning "elder brother", which led to his popular name Dada Kondke.
and stage drama's have always played an important role in Marathi entertainment industry. Dada had started his entertainment career with a band and then as a stage actor. While working for drama Dada toured all over Maharashtra which helped him understand what entertainment meant to the local population. This learning can be seen in his movies which targeted the masses rather than any particular social class. DADA was a native of Ingavali in Bhor which is in Pune district of Maharashtra.
, a well known Marathi writer. Dada decided to play big and started his own drama company, and approached Sabnis to compose a drama script for him. Sabnis was impressed with Dada's personality and his performance in "Khankhanpurcha Raja" (literal translation, Bankrupt king), and wrote a drama entitled, "Vichha Majhi Puri Kara" (literal translation, Fulfill my desires), which was a turning point in Dada's life. The drama went on to play over 1500 shows and made Dada a star. The drama got Dada into spotlight and also gave him an entry into Marathi movies through a role in Bhalji Pendharkar's movie "Tambdi Maati". This was followed by a lead role in "Songadya" a block buster which turned Dada's world around. Dada kept on delivering one hit after the other. He retained his team from Songadya and delivered his next hit "Ekta jeev Sadashiv".
as the lead actress, Raam Laxman
as his music director, initially Jayawant Kulkarni and then Mahendra Kapoor
as the male, and Usha Mangeshkar
as the female playback singer, and Bal Mohite as the chief assistant.
, Mumbai Dada Kondke suffered a heart attack. He was rushed to Shushrusha Nursing Home, a stone’s throw away from his residence, where he breathed his last. Dr Anil Wakankar, his physician-cum-friend, had given him a routine check-up only the previous day. He was working on a film Jaraa Dheer Dhara with Usha Chavan
when the end came. A few months after his death it came to light that he was surprisingly brought home when the doctors at Sushrusha decided to have a post mortem. Unconfirmed reports are that his domestic help and two local politicians were present at the time of his death
.
decided to screen Dev Anand
's Teen Deviyan in spite of Dada booking the theater 4 weeks in advance. Dada then approached Shiv Sena
supremo, Balasaheb Thackeray for help. Soon Shiv Sainiks gathered and started protesting outside the theater. Eventually Songadya was released in Kohinoor and was a big hit. Some of the other people, who played major characters in this movie, were Nilu Phule
, Ganpat Patil
, Sampat Nikam and Ratnamala.
Marathi cinema
Marathi cinema refers to films produced in the Marathi language in the state of Maharashtra, India. It is the oldest and pioneer film industry in India...
actor and film producer. He was one of the most renowned personalities in Marathi film industry, famous for his double entendre
Double entendre
A double entendre or adianoeta is a figure of speech in which a spoken phrase is devised to be understood in either of two ways. Often the first meaning is straightforward, while the second meaning is less so: often risqué or ironic....
dialogs in movies.
Dada Kondke was born in a mill-worker's family in Naigaon in central Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
on Gokulashtami day and hence was named Krishna
Krishna
Krishna is a central figure of Hinduism and is traditionally attributed the authorship of the Bhagavad Gita. He is the supreme Being and considered in some monotheistic traditions as an Avatar of Vishnu...
. Even though it is popularly believed that 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), no such entry exists. Krishna Kondke was called "Dada", an honorific Marathi term meaning "elder brother", which led to his popular name Dada Kondke.
Biography
Dada Kondke was a born in a mill-worker's family in Naigaum, near Lalbaug, Mumbai. These workers were mostly migrants to the city of Mumbai looking for employment in the prospering cotton mills. This section of the society was well connected to their rural roots. Dada's movies targeted this section of the society. TamashaTamasha
Tamasha is a traditional Marathi folk art form. often with singing and dancing, widely performed by local or travelling theatre groups within the state of Maharashtra, India. It has also been the subject of several Marathi films...
and stage drama's have always played an important role in Marathi entertainment industry. Dada had started his entertainment career with a band and then as a stage actor. While working for drama Dada toured all over Maharashtra which helped him understand what entertainment meant to the local population. This learning can be seen in his movies which targeted the masses rather than any particular social class. DADA was a native of Ingavali in Bhor which is in Pune district of Maharashtra.
Early life
Dada's early life was spent in chawls of Naigaum, a Marathi heartland of Mumbai. As a youngster Dada was a rough kid who later on took up job in a local grocery retail chain, Apna Bazaar. It was then that Dada lost most of his immediate family to unfortunate events. The recovery process changed Dada completely who decided to stay focused on the lighter side of life and make people around laugh. Dada became a member of a local band which earned him the nickname "Bandwale Dada" (literally translation, 'big brother who plays for the band'). .Road to success
It was during this time that Dada got involved in cultural activities of Seva Dal. He started working in drama's and came in contact with various drama related personalities one of who was Vasant SabnisVasant Sabnis
Vasant Sabnis was a Marathi writer from Maharastra, India.Sabnis was born on December 6, 1923. He received his high school education in Pandharpur and college education in Pune...
, a well known Marathi writer. Dada decided to play big and started his own drama company, and approached Sabnis to compose a drama script for him. Sabnis was impressed with Dada's personality and his performance in "Khankhanpurcha Raja" (literal translation, Bankrupt king), and wrote a drama entitled, "Vichha Majhi Puri Kara" (literal translation, Fulfill my desires), which was a turning point in Dada's life. The drama went on to play over 1500 shows and made Dada a star. The drama got Dada into spotlight and also gave him an entry into Marathi movies through a role in Bhalji Pendharkar's movie "Tambdi Maati". This was followed by a lead role in "Songadya" a block buster which turned Dada's world around. Dada kept on delivering one hit after the other. He retained his team from Songadya and delivered his next hit "Ekta jeev Sadashiv".
Dada's team
Dada Kondke's storylines were always based on the simpleton. He used same team of actors, technicians and playback singers to repeat the formula for success that he believed he had got from his debut film. Dada movies, produced under the "Kamakshi Pictures" banner, had the same set of people, which included Usha ChavanUsha Chavan
Usha Chavan was an Indian movie actress from the 1970s and 1980s. She was the leading lady of the Marathi comedy actor Dada Kondke, in many of his greatly popular Marathi movies.- External links :* **...
as the lead actress, Raam Laxman
Raam Laxman
Raamlaxman Marathiis an Indian pianist and accordionist and was part of an orchestra called the Amar - Vijay Orchestra. Vijay Patil paired with Raam....
as his music director, initially Jayawant Kulkarni and then Mahendra Kapoor
Mahendra Kapoor
Mahendra Kapoor was an Indian playback singer.In a career spanning five decades, his repertoire extended to 25,000 songs in various regional languages, including memorable hits like ‘Chalo ek baar phir se Ajnabi ban jayen hum dono’ Gumrah, ‘Neele gagan ke taale’ Hamraaz, and in various...
as the male, and Usha Mangeshkar
Usha Mangeshkar
Usha Mangeshkar is an Indian singer who has recorded many Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati songs soundtracks.She is daughter of Pandit Deenanath Mangeshkar & Shevanti . She is the younger sister of singers, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle and elder to her music-director brother Hridaynath Mangeshkar...
as the female playback singer, and Bal Mohite as the chief assistant.
Death
On March 14, 1998 at 3.30 am, at his residence Rama Niwas in DadarDadar
Dadar is a place in Mumbai, and is also a railway station on both the Western and Central lines of the Mumbai Suburban Railway network. Dadar is situated in the heart of Mumbai, and Dadar station is the only railway station common to both the Central and Western lines...
, Mumbai Dada Kondke suffered a heart attack. He was rushed to Shushrusha Nursing Home, a stone’s throw away from his residence, where he breathed his last. Dr Anil Wakankar, his physician-cum-friend, had given him a routine check-up only the previous day. He was working on a film Jaraa Dheer Dhara with Usha Chavan
Usha Chavan
Usha Chavan was an Indian movie actress from the 1970s and 1980s. She was the leading lady of the Marathi comedy actor Dada Kondke, in many of his greatly popular Marathi movies.- External links :* **...
when the end came. A few months after his death it came to light that he was surprisingly brought home when the doctors at Sushrusha decided to have a post mortem. Unconfirmed reports are that his domestic help and two local politicians were present at the time of his death
Controversies
Dada's life has been full of controversies ranging from his stance on censorship in films, his relationship with political parties , and his personal life; controversy surrounded him even after his death.Marital status
Dada was married to a woman named Nalini and was later divorced. In her divorce petition, Nalini stated that Dada and she never consummated their marriage and she had no contact whatsoever from 1967 onwards with him, whereas a girl named Tejaswini was born to her in 1969. Hence, Tejaswini is not Dada's daughter.. However, another source says that while the daughter was his, he did not accept her in his lifetime..
Post death property disputes
His will was said to be fabricated. It bequeathed properties of not only Dada Kondke but also of Vijay Kondke, his brothers and mother. The Will also bequeaths properties of third persons not related to Kondke family. Secondly, the will did not appoint any executors. The witness deposition is also against the will as not being the same one Dada had actually signed.}Film career
Songadya (1971): Dada's first venture in movie production was based on a story written by Vasant Sabnis, and was directed by Govind Kulkarni. Dada cast himself as Namya, the simpleton who falls to the glamour of Kalavati (played by Usha Chavan) who is a dancer in Tamasha. Namya's mother gets annoyed on knowing his visits to Tamasha and throws him out of house. Kalavati provides shelter to Dada and starts his career at Tamasha. The movie was a big hit and made Dada's simpleton image a huge success. Dada kept his simpleton image intact all the following movies. Even though the movie was big hit the movie, it's screening in Mumbai took a controversial turn when the owner of Kohinoor Theater in DadarDadar
Dadar is a place in Mumbai, and is also a railway station on both the Western and Central lines of the Mumbai Suburban Railway network. Dadar is situated in the heart of Mumbai, and Dadar station is the only railway station common to both the Central and Western lines...
decided to screen Dev Anand
Dev Anand
Dharam Dev Anand , better known as Dev Anand , is an Indian Hindi Cinema actor, director and film producer. Dev is the second of three brothers who were active in Hindi Cinema. His brothers are Chetan Anand and Vijay Anand. Their sister, Sheel Kanta Kapur, is the mother of renowned Hindi and...
's Teen Deviyan in spite of Dada booking the theater 4 weeks in advance. Dada then approached Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena , is a political party in India founded on 19 June 1966 by Balasaheb Thackeray. It is currently headed by Thackeray's son, Uddhav Thackeray...
supremo, Balasaheb Thackeray for help. Soon Shiv Sainiks gathered and started protesting outside the theater. Eventually Songadya was released in Kohinoor and was a big hit. Some of the other people, who played major characters in this movie, were Nilu Phule
Nilu Phule
Nilu Phule was an Indian 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....
, Ganpat Patil
Ganpat Patil
Ganpat Patil , was a notable actor in Marathi movies and drama. He was nicknamed Nachya, a traditional character in Marathi Tamasha's and Lavani's, due to his portrayal of this character.-Early life:...
, Sampat Nikam and Ratnamala.
Partial Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | Tambdi Maati | ||
| 1981 | Ganimi Kawa | ||
| 1971 | Songadya | ||
| 1972 | Eakta Jeev Sadashiv | ||
| 1973 | Andhala Marto Dola | ||
| 1975 | Pandu Hawaldar | ||
| 1976 | Tumch Amach Jama | ||
| 1977 | Ram Ram Gangaram | ||
| 1978 | Bot Lavin Tithe Gudgudalya | ||
| 1980 | Hyoch Navra Pahije | ||
| 1987 | Aalee Angawar | ||
| 1988 | Muka Ghya Muka | ||
| 1990 | Palva Palvi | ||
| 1992 | Yevu Kaa Gharaat | ||
| 1994 | Sasarche Dhotar | ||
| 1984 | Tere Mere Beech Mein | Hindi | |
| 1985 | Andheri Ratme Diya Tere Hathme | Hindi | |
| 1986 | Khol De Meri Juban | Hindi | |
| 1989 | Aage Ki Soch Aage Ki Soch Aage Badho is 1988 Hindi language movie directed by Dada Kondke and starring Shakti Kapoor, Dada Kondke, Huma Khan, Raza Murad, and Satish Shah.... |
Hindi | |
| 1977 | Chandu Jamadar | Gujarati | |
| 2000 | Le Chal Apne Sang | (dedicated to the memory of)- produced by Sunita Kondke |