Leading film producer-director Mahesh Manjrekar announced today a biopic “BHAI: VYAKTI KI VALLI” on the life and literature of Maharashtra’s beloved personality Pu La Deshpande. The centenary year celebration of Pu La Deshpande will kick start from November 8, 2018 and the movie will be released on January 4, 2019. The announcement was made today by Manjrekar at a function held in Mumbai in the presence of MNS Chief Raj Thackeray.

“I need not tell you how much the Marathi people love Pu La, after all he lives in the heart of every Maharashtrian. All of us have enjoyed his writing, acting, oratory, music, singing….he is the one who gave immense happiness to Maharashtra. Many of us know about his charity, generosity, social commitments but not much is known about his personal life and Pu La as a human being. My attempt would be to discover his personality and bring up his untold story through this film,” said Mahesh Manjrekar while elaborating his thought behind making the movie.

The movie will be produced jointly by Mahesh Manjrekar Movies, Phalke’s Factory – A Film Management Company and Great Maratha Entertainment. Mahesh Manjrekar will helm the project as director. Actor Sagar Deshmukh will play the character of P L Deshpande alias Bhai while noted actor Iravati Harshe would portray his wife and writer Sunitabai Deshpande.

Veteran play writer Ratnakar Matkari has written the dialogues for the movie and script is by Ganesh Matkari.

In addition, renowned and experienced actors will portray famous personalities like Jawaharlal Nehru, Balasaheb Thackeray, Baba Amte, Durga Bhagwat, Vasantrao Deshpande, Kumar Gandharv. Renowned makeup designer Vikram Gaikwad has taken the challenge to transform actors into these great personalities.

Marathi readers are still influenced by the magic of PL Deshpande’s. Generations of Marathi people living in every part of the world read PL’s literature. He was an accomplished film and stage actor, script writer, composer, musician, singer and orator. Several plays, comic monologues, films based on his writings have experienced immense acclamation and admiration across the globe. ‘Vyakti Ani Valli’, is also a famous book written by P L Deshpande. But this movie is not based on the book, but on the life of the multifaceted personality Pu La.

The film will showcase Pu La’s educational career and hardships in early life and career in the film industry, his relationship with life partner Sunita Deshpande, his successful career in All India Radio, his association with veteran social worker Baba Amte, his stands on various social and political happenings including the emergency, his journey as a theatre actor, his experience in Shanti Niketan and the travelogues he had written after his world tour.