'''Keshav Narayan Kale (1904-74)'''


Marathi and Hindi director born in Dayal,
Ratnagiri Dist., Maharashtra. Studied English at
St. Xavier’s College, Bombay (1924-8). Started
as a journalist. Noted Marathi literary and
theatre critic associated with radical journals
Ratnakar, Yashwant and Pratibha. Co-founded
vanguard theatre group Natyamanwantar (cf.
[[Date]] and [[Bhole]]) in 1933, claiming influence of
Ibsen, Shaw and Stanislavski (whose
theoretical writings he translated into Marathi).
As the group’s ideologue, actor and playwright,
emphasised the absence of a performance
theory in Marathi theatre and sought to rewrite
its history in terms of acting and emotionality.
Joined cinema as actor (1926) with 
[[S.N.Patankar]], later worked at Imperial and
[[Ranjit Studios]]. Left cinema to study law (1931-
4). Hired as scenarist for Prabhat (1934).
Wrote dialogue and lyrics for [[Dharmatma]],
giving this Saint film a political thrust by
drawing analogies between Sant Eknath and
Gandhi and by deflecting the mandatory
miracle scenes towards more social concerns.
Provided the lyrics for [[Chandrasena]] and the
script for [[Amar Jyoti]]. Turned director at
Prabhat in 1937 and made best-known film
[[Mazha Mulga]] as fictional autobiography
about the struggles of a young radical writer.
Worked with humourist [[P.K. Atre]] and filmed
two of his screenplays ([[Lapandav]],
Baeelweda). Devoted himself to the theatre
(1943-53) before making more films. Published
a number of books, e.g. several essays on film
theory and a volume of poetry,
Sahakarmanjari (1932). First Professor of Film
Appreciation at the [[FTII]] in early 60s. Worked
on the Marathi journal, Sahitya Patrika.


'''FILMOGRAPHY''' ''''''(* act only): 1926:
Satyavijaya*; 1928: Pataal Ketu*; Jagadguru
Shrimad Shankaracharya*; 1929:
Bhikharan*; Jai Somnath*; Pati Patni* (all St);
1932: Marathyatil Dulhi/Amar Shaheed*;
1935: Dharmatma*; 1936: Amar Jyoti*;
1937: Wahan; 1938: Mazha Mulga/Mera
Ladka; 1940: Lapandav; 1943: Baeelweda;
1953: Ammaldar; Bolavita Dhani*; 1959:
Didi.

[[Director]]