An actor, director, lyricist, writer, and singer, Dada Kondke was a renowned figure in the Marathi film industry, known for his unique style of comedy and his contribution to the genre of slapstick humor. Recently, 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).
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Willum Skeener
Dada Kondke was born as “Krishna Kondke” and brought up in a Koli family of cotton-mill workers in a chawl in Naigaon, near Lalbaug, Mumbai. Kondke was called “Dada,” an honorific Marathi term meaning “elder brother,” which led to his popular name, Dada Kondke.
Kondke was interested in cultural activities from a young age and actively participated in cultural activities with Seva Dal, a cultural volunteers’ organisation, where he began his journey in the world of dramas.
It was the time he comes in contact with many Marathi stage personalities, including writer Vasant Sabnis and when Kondke started his own theatre company, Sabnis agreed to write a modern Marathi language Tamasha or Loknatya, “Vichha Majhi Puri Kara,” for him. The play went on to stage over 1500 shows all across Maharashtra, turning Dada into a star.
He made his film debut with Bhalji Pendharkar’s Marathi movie “Tambdi Maati,” which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi. The turned producer with the film “Songadya” (1971), which was adapted from a story penned by Vasant Sabnis and directed by Govind Kulkarni. He took on the role of Namya, the naive character smitten by the allure of Kalavati (portrayed by Usha Chavan), a dancer. It was followed by Eakta Jeev Sadashiv (1972).
Kondke’s narratives consistently featured characters engaged in modest occupations and from poor strata of life; for instance, he depicted himself as a Dhobi (laundryman) in “Aali Angavar (1980),” a poor farmer in “Songadya,” and a police constable in “Pandu Havaldar (1975).”
His films often contained a mix of humour, music, and dance that resonated with the working-class audience, making him a household name in Maharashtra. He made his first Hindi film, Tere Mere Beech Mein, in 1984, followed by Khol De Meri Zuban (1985), Andheri Raat Mein Diya Tere Haath Mein (1986), Aage Ki Soch (1988) and Le Chal Apne Sang (2000).
Some of his other famous films include “Ram Ram Gangaram,” “Bot Lavin Tithe Gudgulya,” “Aali Angavar,” “Hyoch Navra Pahije,” and “Ram Ram Gangaram.” He also wrote some of his songs, like “Manasa paras medhara bari” and “Chalara Vaghya.”.
Kondke’s work was characterised by its simplicity and relatability, which made him immensely popular among the masses. He had a knack for capturing the essence of Marathi culture in his performances, which often included witty one-liners and double entendres that left audiences in splits.
Despite facing criticism for the adult content in his movies, Kondke remained unfazed and continued to produce hits that dominated the box office. His legacy lives on through his films, which continue to entertain generations of viewers.
Kondke is known for often repeating the same team of artists in his films, which consists of leading lady Usha Chavan, screenplay writer Rajesh Mujumdar, music director Raam Laxman, singers Jayawant Kulkarni, Mahendra Kapoor, and Usha Mangeshkar, and Bhagawan Dada in special dance sequences.
Dada Kondke’s life was as colourful as his films and credited with introducing the genre of sex comedy to Marathi and Indian cinema. He rose from humble beginnings to become one of the most iconic figures in Marathi cinema. His dedication to his craft and his ability to connect with the common man made him a legend in his own right.
Dada Kondke died on 14 March 1998 after suffering a massive heart attack. Dada Kondke was married to Nalini but they later got divorced. He did not remarry, although he was in a long-term relationship with Neela Kadwadkar.
