Nilu Fule Biography: Nilu Phule (4 April 1930 – 13 July 2009) was an Indian actor well-known for his roles in Marathi cinema and theatre. Nilu Phule appeared in approximately 250 Marathi and Hindi films throughout his career. He was primarily recognised for portraying notorious antagonists in films.
In addition to being a social worker, Phule was affiliated with Rashtra Seva Dal.
Nilu Fule Biography
Early years
Phule was born as Nilkanth Krushnaji Phule in 1930 in Pune to a [Hindu Family]. He participated in the movement for independence. According to his interview in the Marathi Channel series ‘Vastraharan’, he was a liberation fighter from Pune.
17-year-old Phule’s first employment was as a gardener at the Armed Forces Medical College in Pune. He received a monthly salary of Rs. 80, of which he donated Rs. 10 to the Rashtriya Seva Dal, a social organisation in which he participated. Due to a dearth of financial support, he was unable to establish his own plant nursery despite his desire to advance his gardening career. During this period, at the age of 20, Nilu was inspired by Rabindranath Tagore’s works and wrote the drama Udyan. During the 1957 Lok Sabha elections, his music for the drama Yedya Gabalache Kam Nahi brought him notoriety.
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Nilu Fule Acting profession
Nilu Phule began his theatrical career with ethnic performances in Marathi (Loknatya). His first professional drama was Katha Akalecha Kandyachi, which spawned more than 2000 subsequent productions. Anant Mane offered him his first film, Ek Gaav Baara Bhanagadi, in 1968 based on this achievement.
Nilu frequently portrayed antagonists, most notably Sakharam Binder. Hindurao Dhonde Patil, a zamindar and sugar tycoon in Samna, a power-drunk politician in Mahesh Bhatt’s Saaransh, and a political journalist in Jabbar Patel’s Sinhasan are among his most noteworthy film roles.
He also portrayed ‘Nathu Mama’ in the 1983 blockbuster Hindi film Coolie, alongside Amitabh Bachchan.
Phule’s portrayal of the title character in Vijay Tendulkar’s Sakharam Binder (first performed in 1972) is one of his most illustrious theatrical roles. Kamlakar Sarang, who directed the 1972 premiere of the play, was concerned about Phule’s reluctance. Vijay Tendulkar reminded him of Phule’s aggressive performance as a minister in the play Katha Aklechya Kanyachi, which persuaded him that Phule would be a good match for the role.
He was renowned for his legendary intonation and delivery of dialogue. His film dialogues remain among the most popular in the entire Marathi Film Industry. It is said that his acting in villainous roles in films was so realistic that women in real life would despise him because they believed he was the same deviant person in real life as well, which was a wonderful tribute to his works.
Forbes India, the Indian iteration of the American business magazine Forbes, included Phule’s performance as Hindurao Dhonde Patil in the film Samna on its May 2013 list of the 25 Greatest Acting Performances in Indian Cinema.
Death
Nilu Phule passed away on July 13, 2009 at the age of 79 from esophageal cancer. His wife Rajani Phule perished in 2011. Their only surviving child is Gargi Phule Thatte.
Awards
- President of India presented Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1991)
- State Award of Maharashtra for Haat lavin tithe sone (1973).
- The 1974 Maharashtra State Award for Saamna
- The 1975 Maharashtra State Award for Choricha Mamla.
- The Kesari Maratha Trust, Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, and Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad, Pune chapter, presented the Jayantrao Tilak Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award.