Narayan Hari Apte (1889-1971)

Marathi novelist and scenarist; key influence on the elaboration of the reformist social as agenre in the 20s and 30s. A product of 19th C. social reform movements in Maharashtra, Apte was self-taught and ran a publishing house, Apte & Co.(Est: 1924) which brought out a literary-political journal, Alhaad (started in 1915). Author of novels and short-story anthologies within the conventions of the historical (e.g. Manavi Asha, Rajputache Bhishma), or of the social (Na Patnari Goshta, the source for Kunku/Duniya Na Mane?, 1937). Invented the social sub-genre of the dainik kadambari or ‘daily life’ novel, usually in a middle-class setting (Paach Te Paach, Waiting Room). Introduced to film by Baburao Painter writing Savkari Pash, the historical Rana Hamir (both 1925) and Pratibha? (1937). Best-known film writing for Shantaram? at Prabhat Studio (Amritmanthan, 1934; Kunku/Duniya? Na Mane, 1937). May have provided the story, uncredited, of Phalke’s ​Gangavataran (1937). Worked with Dharmadhikari (Kunkvacha Dhani, 1951) and Dinkar D. Patil (Umaj Padel Tar, 1960). Also wrote K.P. Bhave’s Dhruva Kumar (1938), Shantaram Athavale?’s Bhagyarekha (1948) and Sansar Karaychay Mala (1954).

Writer