Biography
Started acting as hobby with Lok Natya (Folk Theater) Nilu Phule began his acting career only as a hobby with folk dramas from an Art group that consisted of 10 -12 friends who performed drama for personnel satisfaction. After being inspired by Tagore’s writing Phule too began writing and penned a script Udyan. This was converted into play and it created ripples and Phule was drawn towards profession acting. Nilu Phule created sensation with his debut play After excelling in amateur theater Nilu Phule made his debut in professional folk drama with the play ‘Katha Akalecha Kandyachi.’ In his very first play Phule set the professional theatre on fire with his skilful performance. The play became such a hit it created a history of becoming one of the first Marathi play to celebrate 2000 shows. Among Phule’s most distinguished theatrical performances is Vijay Tendulkar's Sakharam Binder (first staged in 1972). In this play, he played an evil village head who exploits every woman in the village. Nilu Phule makes debut in Marathi Cinema with a bang When Nilu Phule was making waves for his performance in the play Katha Akalecha Kandyachi, he was noticed by Marathi Cinema’s legendary filmmaker Anant Mane, who had the prestige of winning three National awards for his films Dhakti Jaao (1958), Manini (1961), Sawaal Majha Aika! (1964). Recalling his first Marathi film, Nilu Phule in an interview said, “Once when I was performing the play, I was surprised to find eminent Marathi filmmaker sitting in the first row and keenly watching my act. Later after the show he met me and instantly offered me a role in his film Ek Gaav Bara Bhangadi (1968). The movie was a huge hit and I was offered seven films within a week. After this I never had to look back.” Some of his prominent Marathi films include Samna, Sinhasan, Choricha Mamla, Shapit, Pudhcha Paool etc. Nilu Phule’s entry into Bollywood Nilu Phule made a quite entry in Bollywood doing insignificant films like Do Ladke Dono Kadke, Dhoti Lota Aur Chowpatty etc. But he proved his presence felt in Bollywood with the Hindi film Sau Din Saas Ke staring Reena Roy as a rebellious daughter in-law of Lalita Pawar (Mother-in-law). In this film Nilu Phule played the typical role of a villain who incites the mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and tries to plunder the wealth of the family. After this he was noticed by many great filmmakers like Manmohan Desai (Coolie), Yash Chopra (Mashaal), Mahesh Bhatt (Saaransh), Bapu (Woh 7 Din), Vijaya Mehta ( Rao Saheb) etc.
Career & Achievements
Nilu Phule became immortal in Marathi film Samna In 1975 when Bollywood’s hit film Sholay was breaking box-office record, a Marathi film was making similar box office sensation in Maharashtra, including Mumbai. The film was Samna . It was being applauded for its brilliant script, excellent direction and a rare clash of talent between Marathi Cinema’s two greatest actors viz Nilu Phule and Dr. Shreelam Lagoo . Samna (1975) was a hard-hitting attack by filmmaker Jabbar Patel on the dirty politics in India. In this film Nilu Phule portrayed a conventional Zamindar, Hindurao Dhonde Patil, who rules the village like a tyrant. He is the symbol of pre-independence feudal system in India, when the villagers were slave in the hands of a zamindar. But the film depicts independent India and how a clever individual ( Dr. Shreelam Lagoo ), who disguises as a beggar and exposes the zamindar for his heinous act of killing an army man, who stood against his tyranny. The highlight of the film besides tight screenplay, awesome picturisation, and hit songs was the incredible clash of acting genius Nilu Phule and Dr. Shreelam Lagoo . Both the artist portrayed their character effortlessly without exaggerating their act. What makes Nilu Phule shine in the film is his rare quality of being subtle in his wickedness. He neither performs gruesome act nor employs horrible makeup to look evil but still he unleashes terror with his effective use of eyes, dialogue delivery and his body language. The movie fetched him Maharashtra Givt Best actor award.
