'''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. [[Keshavrao Date|Date]] and [[Keshavrao Vaman Bhole|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|S.N. Patankar]], later worked at Imperial and [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranjit_Studios|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 [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrasena|Chandrasena]] and the script for [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amar_Jyoti|Amar Jyoti]]. Turned director at Prabhat in 1937 and made best-known film [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazha_Mulga|Mazha Mulga]] as fictional autobiography about the struggles of a young radical writer. Worked with humourist [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P.K._Atre|P.K. Atre]] and filmed two of his screenplays ([[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapandav|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]]