Ram Nagarkar

Ram Vithoba Nagarkar (Marathi: राम विठोबा नगरकर; 1930 - 1995) was a noted Marathi film and stage actor and a stand up comedian, who has been called "a phenomenon in Marathi literature".^[1] His autobiography and solo stand up show Ramnagari (1975)^[2][3] were very popular.

Biography

Nagarkar was born in Sarole, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra, on 5 April 1930.^[4] He was a member of the Nai or Nhavi barber caste [mr].^[2][3] He moved to Mumbai with his parents, and became a member of a socialist youth group, the Rashtra Seva Dal,^[2] and was active in its travelling theatre group presenting Marathi improvised folk plays, tamasha or loknatya,^[2] with Nilu Phule and Dada Kondke.^[5] He had a "large following" on the stage,^[1] and also appeared in many Marathi-language films, most notably Sarvasakshi (1978) and Ek Daav Bhutacha (1982).^[6][7]

In 1975, he published an autobiography, Ramnagari.^[2][5] It has been described by various critics as "remarkable for its delightful abandon,"^[8] "an inspired creation" and a "great contribution[] to Marathi humour",^[9] showing "an ever-ready, irrepressible and ebullient sense of humour."^[2] This was made into a Hindi-language film directed by Kantilal Rathod, with Amol Palekar, Sulabha Deshpande, Suhasini Mulay, Nilu Phule and Nagarkar himself.^[1][10][11] In 1980, Nagarkar also developed a one-act show, also called Ramnagari, which he performed many times around India.^[12] The book has been taught as a text in the Marathi language course at the University of Delhi.^[13]

Legacy

An annual award in his memory has been presented since 2020, named the Ram Nagarkar Kalagaurav Award.^[14]

Filmography

• 1972 - Harya Narya Zindabad^[15]
• 1978 - Sarvasakshi^[6]
• 1982 - Ek Daav Bhutacha^[7]
• 1982 - Ramnagari^[10]