Satish Vasant Alekar, better known as Satish Alekar, is an Indian actor, theater director and playwright, primarily in Marathi Film and theater industry jobs. His best known works include the Marathi dramas Mahanirvan (1974), Mahapoor (1975), Atirekee (1990), Pidhijat (2003), Micky ani Memsahib (1973 (1979) and Begum Barve (1979).
Wiki/Biography
Satish Alekar was born in Delhi on Sunday, January 30, 1949 (age 72; as of 2021). His zodiac sign is Aquarius. When he was a few months old, his family moved to Pune (where he grew up), the center of Maratha culture in Maharashtra. He studied at Deccan Education Society (DES) New English School in Ramanbaug, Pune and went to Ferguson College, Pune for his bachelor’s degree. After graduation, Satish enrolled in Pune University to pursue a master’s degree in biochemistry. Aleka first appeared on stage when he was in college. Later, he joined the theater troupe and actively participated in drama performances. Director Bhalba Kelkar discovered him in one of his plays and was impressed by his performance and invited him to join his (Kelkar) Progressive Theater Society.
appearance
Height (approximately): 5′8″
Hair color: Semi-bald (salt and pepper)
Eye color: aqua
family
Parents and siblings
Not much is known about his parents.
wife and children
Satish married Anita Alekar on February 22, 1976. His wife died on March 13, 2007. The couple has a son named Mikin.
Profession
teaching
Satish Alekar served as Professor of Biochemistry at BJ Medical College, Pune from 1972 to 1996. In 1996, he joined Lalit Kala Kendra, University of Pune as Professor and Director of Center for Performing Arts. He worked there for approximately 13 years, resigning in 2009. He was subsequently appointed as Honorary Director of Pune University for a project supported by Ratan Tata Trust from 2009 to 2011. The university nominated him as an honorary trustee of the University of Pune in recognition of his contributions. In September 2013, the “Outstanding Professor (Performing Arts)” appeared on campus. Many of his students are working in the film and television industry in Mumbai (as of 2021).
playwright
In 1973, Satish composed the play “Micki Aani Memsaheb”, which was well received by the audience. Alekha later wrote and directed Mahanirvan. Mahanirvan, staged in 1974, is a black comedy that tells the story of a deceased man and how his family performs his last rites. The play became an instant hit.
Satish Alekar’s play Mahanirvan
In 1975, he wrote the play Mahapoor. Thereafter, he wrote the plays Begum Barve (1979), Shanwar Raviwar (1982), Dusra Samana (1987), Atireki (1990), Ek Divas Mathakade (2012) and Takish ·Sangwad” (2020).
Mrs Buff
His one-act plays in Marathi include Memory (1969), Bhajan (1969), Ek Zulta Pool (1971), Dar Koni Ughadat Naahi (1979) and Bus Stop (1980). He also adapted several one-act plays, including Judge (1968), Valan (1980), Alshi Uttarvalyachi Gosht (1999), Nashibvan Baiche Don (1999), Supari (2002), and Karmaachari” (2009).
acting
drama
Satish started his career as a theater artist in 1971 with the Marathi play “Ek Zulta Pool”. He plays a young man in the play. He next acted in the Marathi dramas Mahanirvan (1974), Begum Barve (1979), Shanwar Raviwar (1980) and Boat Futli (1982).
Pictures from Satish Alekar’s play Mahanirvan
hindi movies
Satish made his Hindi film debut in 1984 in a supporting role in the film Ye Kahani Nahi. He subsequently acted in Hindi films such as “Dumkata” (2007), “Aiyaa” (2012), “Dekh Tamasha Desk” (2014) and “Thackeray” (2019).
Satish Alekar in Aiya
In 2021, he starred in the Hindi sports film “83”. He plays the role of BR. Sheshrao Wankhede in the movie.
Marathi movies and web series
He made his Marathi film debut in 1981 with the film Aakrit. He went on to star in many Marathi films such as ‘Umbartha’ (1982), ‘Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’ (1991), ‘Ek Hota Vidushak’ (1992), ‘Dhyas Parva’ (2001), ‘Kadachit ‘ (2007), ‘Chintoo’ (2012), ‘Aajachaa Diwas Maazaa’ (2013) and ‘Welcome’ Zindagi (2015).
In 2019, he played the role of Appa Joshi in the web series Smile Please. He has since appeared in Marathi web series “Panchak” (2019) and “Pet-Puran” (2021).
Satish Alekha “Please Smile”
TV advertisement
Satish Alekar has appeared in many TV commercials for popular brands such as Tata Sky, Honda Amaze, New York Life Insurance, Red Label Tea, Snapdeal and Fiama Di Willis Body Wash.
Other jobs
In 1977, Alekha wrote the screenplay for the Marathi feature film Jait Re Jait. The film, directed by Jabbar Patel, won the Marathi National Award for Best Feature Film. Satish also scripted the dialogues for the Marathi feature film “Katha Don Ganpatravanchi” (1996). Alekha also directed a Hindi television series “Dekho Magar Pyar Se” for Doordarshan in 1985. In 1989, Alekha published Fear of Departure, an English translation of his Marathi play Mahanirvan. Translation by Gauri Deshpande.
After this, he launched a book titled “Begum Barve” (2003). This book is the English translation of his Marathi play “Begum Barve”, translated by Shanta Gokhale.
In 2009, Oxford University Press, Delhi published an English translation of his plays as “The Collected Dramas of Satish Alekha”.
In 2015, Aleka wrote a fortnightly Marathi column, Gagnika, for the Sunday edition of Loksatta. The column is based on Satish’s journey as a performing artist since 1965. The column is very popular among readers. Due to the popularity of the column, Aleka launched a book titled “Gagnika” on April 30, 2017. In 2018, he was part of “Aparichit Pu La”, a 90-minute performance reading program on the lesser-known works of popular Indian author PL Deshpande.
Awards, Honors and Achievements
- The short series “Zurtachi” won the Ministry of Culture Award for Best Short Series. Maharashtra, 1974.
- In 1975, his play Mahanirvan was awarded the Late Ram Ganesh Gadkari Award by the State of Maharashtra.
- In 1983, Aleka received a scholarship from the Asian Cultural Council in New York to study drama in the United States.
- In 1988, he received a Ford Foundation Fellowship to study South Asian theater.
- In 1992, Satish hosted Nandika Sanman in Kolkata.
- In 1994, Satish received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Screenwriting from the Sangeet Natak Akademi, Delhi.
- In 1997, he won the National Award for Best Actor in a Comedy for the Marathi film Katha Don Ganpatravanchi.
- In 2007, Satish was awarded the Vi Va Shirwadkar Award for Screenplay by Natya Parishad in Nasik.
- In 2012, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad, Mumbai.
- In 2012, Satish was awarded the title of “Padama Shree” by the then President of India Pratibha Patil.
- In 2013, he received the Balaraj Sahani Memorial Award for his contributions as an actor, director and playwright over more than 40 years.
- Alekar was awarded the Aarati Prabhu Award by Baba Vardam Theaters in Kudar district. Sindhudug, 2014.
- Satish was awarded Tanveer Sanman in 2017. Tanveer Sanman is a prestigious award in recognition of lifelong contribution to the field of theatre, established by Dr. Shriram Lagoo through Rupavedh Pratisthan, Pune.
Satish Alekar hosts Tanveer Sanman
- In 2018, he won the Advt Tryambakrao Shirole Award for Best Non-Fiction for his book “Gaganika” published by Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad, Pune.
Favorites
- Screenwriters: Vijay Tendulkar, Girish Karnad, Mohan Rakesh, Badal Sirkar
Facts/Trivia
- Alekar enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family in her free time.
- Satish’s plays have been translated into many different languages such as Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Dogri, Kannada, Gujarati, Rajasthani, Punjabi and Konkani.
- In 2001, Alekha’s plays were included in national anthologies by the National School of Drama and Delhi Sahitya Academy.
- In 2003, Aleka was invited to teach Indian theater courses at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.
- In 2005, the Department of Theater and Film Studies at the University of Georgia invited Satish to direct the English version of his Marathi play Begum Barve.
- In 2008, Atul Pethe made a 90-minute film on the life of Satish Alekar titled “Natakkar Satish Alekar (Playwright Satish Alekar)”.
- Satish wrote the script in his native Marathi.
- He has collaborated on many international theater translation projects.
- In 2009, Holy Cow Performing Arts performed an English version of his play Micky And Memsahib during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival at Riddle’s Court in Edinburgh, Scotland.
- Alekha’s play “Mahanviran” is considered one of the classics of the Indian stage and has been performed for over 400 performances in 47 years.
- In an interview, when asked why he turned down the directorship at the National School of Drama in Delhi and chose to work at Lalit Kala Kendra in Pune, Satish said:
Well, Lalit Kalakendra’s job was more challenging, mainly because there was no art department in Maharashtra at that time. Looking back, I do believe that my job at the Pune institution allowed me to give something back to the country, which has given me so much. Now that I’m retired from the agency, I have more time on my hands. I’m actually writing a new play called “The Monologues,” but I’m not sure when it will be finished. “
- In an interview, Alekha said while talking about his play Mahanirvan:
Today, the concept of death is different because it is much closer to us. We watch it every day, on every channel and on our phones, without exception, whether because of social violence, terrorism or disease. The movie becomes more violent. When I was younger, the experience of death was less common and sacred. If someone dies, the entire atmosphere in the office and home changes completely. Now, people are rushing to return to normal life. Even as the bereaved feel the loss, they continue to deal with family matters, the office, and daily life. “
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education