Early life in Nagpur
Purushottam Darwhekar studied in Nilcity High School,Career in Broadcasting and Drama
Darwhekar was Assistant Producer at Delhi Doordarshan from 1961 to 1963, before moving to MumbaiMarathi Theater
Darwhekar’s journey in theatre started when he lived in the Mahal area in Nagpur around 1947-48 timeframe - when he was very young and just out of college. He wrote his first kids’ play, a musical, titled Sampacha Vaar and produced it for the Ganapati Festival celebrations. He visited Morone’s Gaayan Shala (music school) to scout the lead for his first musical. He selected a 12 year old girl, Vimal Fulay, as one of the lead characters. The play was so popular that they performed continuously for 15 days at different venues. The following year, he wrote another musical titled Swargatil Kala Bazaar with the same lead character and it was a huge hit as well. He was called Madhudada by the children. Later everyone called him master. He was brilliant academically and also creatively gifted. He was very versatile and wrote the script, lyrics, music and directed the plays. At times he even stepped into character if someone was absent. A truly amazing personality who balanced his creative activities along with his academic pursuits. On 14 October 1950, Darwhekar established the drama company Ranjan Kala Mandir and presented his first play ‘Atombomb Va Adkitta’. Ranjan Kala Mandir became an institution, spreading to Nagpur, because of his efforts. Through this institution, he contributed to the progress of Marathi Theatre. As a Director he helped start the careers of many actors. The Child Plays of Mr. Purushottam Darwhekar: * Upashi Rakshas * Kabuli Vala * Paryancha Mahal * Morucha Mama * Naradachi Shendi * Abra-Ki-Dabra Darwhekar settled in Mumbai in 1973 and expanded the scope of his drama company. His entry in the Maharashtra State Drama Festival, Chandra Nabhicha Dhalala, bagged his company first prize. Darwhekar is remembered now for a musical play he wrote, " Katyar Kaljat Ghusali". The play ran during the 1960s, was revived later in 2011, and was optioned for a film. In 2015, the Marathi film " Katyar Kaljat Ghusali" was made by adapting his play. He was also the director of Vasant Kanetkar's historical play "Ithe Oshalala Mrityu."References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Darvhekar, Purushottam 1926 births 1999 deaths Marathi-language writers Writers from Mumbai Writers from Nagpur Indian theatre directors Indian male dramatists and playwrights Marathi people Marathi theatre 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights 20th-century Indian composers 20th-century Indian male writers Musicians from Nagpur Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award