Journalism of Courage
Following Nilu Phules demise,a cross-section of society pays tribute to the noted actor and devoted social worker
A great actor,a gem of a person and a man who always kept his word that,in a nutshell,was Nilu Phule. Nilubhau was not only an actor but also a thinker,who respected socialist ideology and was active in various movements. Noted actors,directors and social activists remember Nilu Phule as an actor par excellence,a stellar human being and a devoted social worker.
Sadashiv Amrapurkar,actor
I got the opportunity to work with Nilubhau for many years in theatre,cinema and even on the social front. In fact,he was the one who developed a sense of social commitment in many actors,including me. We used to roam across the state doing drama shows for Samajik Krutadnyata Nidhi,a fund raised for supporting volunteers in various social movements.
Baba Adhav,social activist
Nilu was a friend of the masses. He never felt awkward to mix with the common people even after his stardom. He never expected anything from anybody. He had even refused a prestigious award like the Punyabhushan,albeit with dignity.
Jabbar Patel,director
As an actor,Nilu Phule was great in understanding the nuances of a character. His role in Saamna was a good example of that. He was a great social commentator and had a grasp of political developments in the last five decades. It is rare to find actors with such sensibilities. With the death of Nilu Phule,an era has come to an end.
Usha Chavan,actor
I worked with him in Marathi films like Choricha Mamla,Sonarane Tochale Kaan and Thapadya. I could learn a lot of things from him. I have lost a good partner and a great human being.
Mangesh Tendulkar,cartoonist
Nilubhau was a thorough gentleman. Even though he used to play the role of a villain and do rape scenes in most of the films,in real life,he was very shy. While talking to women,he could not even look into their eyes. I always keep wondering how such a person can play a role like Sakharam Binder.
Satish Alekar,playwright
Nilu Phule has a very important place in post- Independence Marathi theatre. He was equally fluent in folk theatre as well as modern Marathi theatre. Nilu Phule to Marathi theatre was what Utpal Dutt was for Bengali theatre. His socialist background did reflect in his acting. He was a great actor who followed the tradition of Mahatma Phule and the ideology of Ram Manohar Lohia in real life.
Atul Pethe,director
Nilu Phule brought the typical rural essence to the urban theatre scene,through plays like Katha Aklechya Kandyachi. If the role had socio-political angles,he used to perform it with precision,owing to his socialist background. He freed Marathi theatre of Brahmanism by bringing in simplicity and a communicative style of folk theatre.
Mahesh Tilekar,director
He played the lead role in my film Gav Tasa Changala last year,after a gap of 12 years. He was a wonderful person and a man who always kept his promises to producers. His last appearance was in my soon-to-be released film Ladigodi. I was fortunate to have worked with him.
Amol Palekar,actor
It is our ingratitude that we couldnt realise the potential of an actor like Nilu Phule. In 1970s,when loud acting defined Marathi theatre,Nilu Phules controlled acting brought about a welcome change. For young actors,his performances in Sakharam Binder and Katha Aklechya Kandyachi were like lessons in acting. Interestingly,he never came into the spotlight despite deserving it. He used to take cognisance of new experiments in Marathi theatre. He helped downtrodden people wholeheartedly. I think he was a greater human being than an actor.
Dr Shriram Lagoo,actor
If someone has to complie a list of world-class actors,Nilu Phules name will definitely feature in it. He had firm opinions about politics too,which was rare to see in an actor. It was,however,unfortunate that he got stereotypical roles in Marathi movies. But it was a drawback of the films,not his. He,however,used to perform his best in all the roles he essayed. I remember that the role of Sakharam had first come to me. I liked the script but I refused the role,as it did not suit me. I suggested Nilus name to producer Kamlakar Sarang. Nilubahu agreed to do the role and the rest,as they say,is history.
