ELECTIONS '98
COMMENTARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ARCHIVES

Marathi comedian Dada Kondke dead

Dada Kondke, the Marathi comedian famed for double entendres and broad comedy, died of a massive heart attack early this morning. He was 70. He is survived by his sister and his nephew Vijay Kondke.

Dada Kondke suffered the attack at 0300 hours and was taken to Shushrusha hospital, Dadar, where he was declared dead on admission. Kondke had a successful film career, acting in and directing around 20 Marathi and Hindi films as a comedian.

His body was taken to his residence at Shivaji Park, Dadar, and the cremation will take place after his sister arrives from Pune.

Starting off his career as actor and director in Marathi film Songadya, he made a hit team with actress Usha Chavan with whom he worked in almost all his films.

Among his hits were Pandu Havaldar, Boat Lavin Tithye Gudgulya, Muka Ghya Muka, Ram Ram Gangaram and Hindi films like Tere Mere Beech Mein, and Andheri Raat Mein Diya Tere Haat Mein.

He became a popular figure after his role in Pandu Havaldar and had no dearth of audiences at a time when the rest of Marathi cinema has to support itself on government aid.

He was working on a film Jaraa Dheer Dhara with Chauhan when the end came.

RELATED FEATURES:
'The undisputed king of comedy'
The comic spirit

Tell us what you think of this report