Viewfinder: A Memoir

About the Book

A NO-HOLDS-BARRED MEMOIR BY ONE OF INDIA'S MOST LOVED ACTORS.

Amol Palekar calls himself an actor by accident, a director by choice and a painter by nature. A postgraduate from the Sir J.J. School of Arts, Mumbai, he commenced his artistic career as a painter in 1967, working alongside in the Bank of India. After a chance meeting with the legendary theatre person Satyadev Dubey, he became a leading contributor to avant garde theatre in India. After his noteworthy performances in Chup! Court Chalu Hai (1968), followed by Mohan Rakesh's Adhe Adhure (1969) and Girish Karnad's Hayavadana (1972), he soon turned a director with Badal Sircar's Vallabhpurchi Dantakatha (1969), Pagla Ghoda (1970), Juloos (1975) and Party (1976).

In 1972, he formed his own theatre group: Aniket. His production of Sadanand Rege's Gochi (1973) was a landmark event that transported theatre outside of the restricted space of proscenium. His productions such as Gochi, Chal Re Bhoplya Tunuk Tunuk and Juloos were performed by his troupe outside auditoriums, in gardens, garages, canteens, foyers, terraces, etc.

As a film actor, Palekar ruled the silver screen for over three decades from 1970. In 1980 he turned director with the Marathi film Akriet (1980). As a director, he is known for the sensitive portrayal of women, selection of classic stories from Indian literature, and perceptive handling of progressive issues. He has made fifteen feature films in Hindi, Marathi and English, which have won numerous state, national and international awards.

It's a no-holds-barred memoir, which covers in detail his stint in theatre acting, direction and production, his career in acting in Hindi, Marathi and Bengali cinema and his work as a director of movies, many of which won National Awards. It's not just a book for a regular bookstore-goer but also for students of cinema and theatre and scholars, who will find that Amol, through his life story, also tells how cinema and theatre evolved from the early seventies to now, in which period, television too took huge leaps.

About the Author

Born on 24 November 1944, Amol Palekar is an actor, director, producer of cinema, plays and television series in Hindi and Marathi. His most successful Hindi films include Gol Maal, Chitchor, Rajnigandha, Gharaonda, Rang Birangi and Chhoti Si Baat. His iconic plays include Chup! Court Shaant Hai!, Pagla Ghoda, Hayvadana, Suno Janmejay, Julus and Gochi. He has directed award-winning, internationally acclaimed movies like Kairee, Ankahee, Bangarwadi, Daayra and Paheli, which was selected as India's official entry to the Oscar Award in 2006. He also directed television serials like Kachchi Dhoop, Mrignayani and Krishnkali. In 2000, Palekar decided to return to painting.