Veteran Marathi Actor Nilu Phule Passes Away... : www.MumbaiTheatreGuide.com

Veteran Marathi Actor Nilu Phule Passes Away...

July 16, 2009 6:07:07 PM IST
MTG editorial

Veteran actor Nilu Phule passed away on 13th July 2009. He was 79 and was suffering from esophageal cancer. He is survived by his wife, daughter and son in law.

He was the only actor perhaps in the history who blended creatively both Tamasha sensibilities of "Songadya" and of the modern politically committed "Urban" actor. He was a socialist through out his life. He was barely educated and worked as a gardner at the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune for many years. He was the most well read actor and very active politically though out his career, being a follower of Mahatma Jyotiba Phule.

He had acted in more than 200 Marathi films: Samna (1973) Sihasan, Jait Re Jait Directed by Jabbar Patel (all Silver Jubilee Hits). Popularly typecast as a villain, one of Nilu Phule�s best known characters on stage was Sakharam Binder of Vijay Tendulkar�s eponymous play. This 1972 production in which Phule acted, was at the centre of a raging controversy and is one of the earliest known productions to have battled with censorship.

His folk Plays with main roles include Pudhari Pahije (more than 1000 shows), Bin Biyanche Zaad (1000 shows) Vichha Mazi Purikara, Katha Akalechya Kandyachi (more than 1000 shows).

Phule also acted in Hindi films like Coolie, Saransh, Naram Garam, amongst others. He was a recipient of many awards and was also apparently involved with the promotion of folk artistes and traditional art forms.

*Part of this information is courtesy Dr. Satish Alekar.

read / post your comments

More on Theatre Update

- Top Theatre Plays to Watch in Mumbai This Week (new)
- Vijay Crishna, RIP
- Mumbai's Stage Spotlight: This Week's Top Performing Shows You Can't Miss!
- Delhi Gets A New Theatre Festival
- Prithvi Theatre Announces Rehnuma for the 42nd Memorial Concert
- META FINALISTS ANNOUNCED
- Ink to Impact Collection Launched
- Best Theatre Plays in Mumbai This Week (23rd Feb - 1st March 2026) - Don't Miss These Live Shows
- AADAAB, MAIN PREMCHAND HOON Completes 1010 Shows
- Top Performing Theatre Plays in Mumbai This Week (Audiences Can't Stop Talking)
- A WOMAN OR NOT TO BE: Adishakti Reimagines Hamlet Through a Feminist Lens
- Don't Miss These Mumbai Theatre Plays This Week (9 to 15 Feb)
- 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav Held Across 40 Cities
- A Powerful Week for Theatre Lover in Mumbai | Kala Ghoda Arts Festival Special (Feb 2 to 8)
- LAGNA - The Musical Brings a Contemporary Take on Gujarati Wedding Traditions to Mumbai

Theatre Update Archives

Discussion Board

Schedule