Tendulkar, Vijay, 1928-2008

Vijay Dhondopant Tendulkar (6 January 1928 – 19 May 2008) was an Indian playwright, movie and television writer, literary essayist, political journalist, and social commentator primarily in Marathi. His Marathi plays established him as a writer of plays with contemporary, unconventional themes. He is best known for his plays Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe (1967), Ghashiram Kotwal (1972), and Sakharam Binder (1972). Many of Tendulkar's plays derived inspiration from real-life incidents or social upheavals, which provide clear light on harsh realities. He has provided guidance to students studying "play writing" in US universities. Tendulkar was a dramatist and theatre personality in Maharashtra for over five decades. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1984, and Sangeet Nātak Akademi Fellowship, the highest award of Sangeet Natak Akademi in 1998. He also won National Film Award for Best Screenplay for Hindi film, Manthan, 1977.