PUNE: On the occasion of the 100th birth anniversary of renowned writer and playwright PL Deshpande, fondly called as PuLa, several organisations in the city have planned a variety of programmes to honour the late humourist.
GLOBAL PULOTSAV
Since November 2018, Ashay Sanskrutik and Square 1 in association with PuLa Parivar began ‘Global Pulotsav’ to commemorate Deshpande’s centenary year. The celebrations would be ending with events at several locations like Balgandharva Rangamandir, IUCAA, Tilak Road, etc. from November 8 to 11. Pune’s Guardian Minister Chandrakant Patil will be inaugurating the Global Pulotsav this time.
Renowned flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasiya, actors Ashok Saraf, Sharad Ponkshe and Chinmay Mandlekar and author Renu Dandekar would be felicitated during the festival.
To remember PuLa, several programmes have been arranged revealing his works through plays and songs.
Entry passes for Global Pulotsav are available for free at Balgandharva Rangamandir from 9 am to 11 am and 5 pm to 8 pm.
At IUCAA
To honour PuLa and his wife Sunita Deshpande’s bond with IUCAA, the organisation has organised a science festival in his memory from November 6 to 8.
Along with demonstrations and interactions with scientists, there will be several innovative sessions for school students.
NATIONAL FILM ARCHIVE OF INDIA
A special screening of iconic Marathi film Vande Mataram (1948) has been organised at the National Film Archive of India (NFAI) on Saturday, November 9 at 5 pm. Rare footage of playing of harmonium by PL Deshpande will also be screened at the event.
Vande Mataram (1948), starring PL Deshpande and Sunitatai Deshpande in the lead roles, was based on the freedom struggle and Quit India Movement of 1942. The film highlights the contribution of an unknown freedom fighter who hailed from the village of Sonsali located in Shirali district. Interestingly, considered as lost, the footage of the film has recently been acquired by NFAI.
STORYTEL
Storytel India will be making more than 38 articles from selected books by the legendary writer and playwright PL Deshpande available in audio format. These will be available from November 8.
Renowned artistes Dilip Prabhavalkar, Chinmay Mandlekar, Digpal Lanjekar, Pramod Pawar, Vikram Gaikwad and Harish Dudhade, Shubhangi Gokhale and veteran author Aruna Dhere have lent their voices for the same.
