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Viewfinder: A Memoir
About the Book
A NO-HOLDS-BARRED MEMOIR BY ONE OF INDIA’S MOST LOVED ACTORS.
Amol Palekar calls himself an actor by accident, a director by choice and a painter by nature. A postgraduate from the Sir J.J. School of Arts, Mumbai, he commenced his artistic career as a painter in 1967, working alongside in the Bank of India. After a chance meeting with the legendary theatre person Satyadev Dubey, he became a leading contributor to avant garde theatre in India. After his noteworthy performances in Chup! Court Chalu Hai (1968), followed by Mohan Rakesh’s Adhe Adhure (1969) and Girish Karnad’s Hayavadana (1972), he soon turned a director with Badal Sircar’s Vallabhpurchi Dantakatha (1969),Pagla Ghoda (1970), Juloos (1975) and Party (1976).
In 1972, he formed his own theatre Aniket. His production of Sadanand Rege’s Gochi (1973) was a landmark event that transported theatre outside of the restricted space of proscenium. His productions such as Gochi, Chal Re Bhoplya Tunuk Tunuk and Juloos were performed by his troupe outside auditoriums, in gardens, garages, canteens, foyers, terraces, etc.
As a film actor, Palekar ruled the silver screen for over three decades from 1970. In 1980 he turned director with the Marathi film Akriet (1980). As a director, he is known for the sensitive portrayal of women, selection of classic stories from Indian literature, and perceptive handling of progressive issues. He has made fifteen feature films in Hindi, Marathi and English, which have won numerous state, national and international awards.
It's a no-holds-barred memoir, which covers in detail his stint in theatre acting, direction and production, his career in acting in Hindi, Marathi and Bengali cinema and his work as a director of movies, many of which won National Awards. It's not just a book for a regular bookstore-goer but also for students of cinema and theatre and scholars, who will find that Amol, through his life story, also tells how cinema and theatre evolved from the early seventies to now, in which period, television too took huge leaps.
About the Author
Born on 24 November 1944, Amol Palekar is an actor, director, producer of cinema, plays and television series in Hindi and Marathi. His most successful Hindi films include Gol Maal, Chitchor, Rajnigandha, Gharaonda, Rang Birangi and Chhoti Si Baat. His iconic plays include Chup! Court Shaant Hai!, Pagla Ghoda, Hayvadana, Suno Janmejay, Julus and Gochi. He has directed award-winning, internationally acclaimed movies like Kairee, Ankahee, Bangarwadi, Daayra and Paheli, which was selected as India’s official entry to the Oscar Award in 2006. He also directed television serials like Kachchi Dhoop, Mrignayani and Krishnkali. In 2000, Palekar decided to return to painting.
A NO-HOLDS-BARRED MEMOIR BY ONE OF INDIA’S MOST LOVED ACTORS.
Amol Palekar calls himself an actor by accident, a director by choice and a painter by nature. A postgraduate from the Sir J.J. School of Arts, Mumbai, he commenced his artistic career as a painter in 1967, working alongside in the Bank of India. After a chance meeting with the legendary theatre person Satyadev Dubey, he became a leading contributor to avant garde theatre in India. After his noteworthy performances in Chup! Court Chalu Hai (1968), followed by Mohan Rakesh’s Adhe Adhure (1969) and Girish Karnad’s Hayavadana (1972), he soon turned a director with Badal Sircar’s Vallabhpurchi Dantakatha (1969),Pagla Ghoda (1970), Juloos (1975) and Party (1976).
In 1972, he formed his own theatre Aniket. His production of Sadanand Rege’s Gochi (1973) was a landmark event that transported theatre outside of the restricted space of proscenium. His productions such as Gochi, Chal Re Bhoplya Tunuk Tunuk and Juloos were performed by his troupe outside auditoriums, in gardens, garages, canteens, foyers, terraces, etc.
As a film actor, Palekar ruled the silver screen for over three decades from 1970. In 1980 he turned director with the Marathi film Akriet (1980). As a director, he is known for the sensitive portrayal of women, selection of classic stories from Indian literature, and perceptive handling of progressive issues. He has made fifteen feature films in Hindi, Marathi and English, which have won numerous state, national and international awards.
It's a no-holds-barred memoir, which covers in detail his stint in theatre acting, direction and production, his career in acting in Hindi, Marathi and Bengali cinema and his work as a director of movies, many of which won National Awards. It's not just a book for a regular bookstore-goer but also for students of cinema and theatre and scholars, who will find that Amol, through his life story, also tells how cinema and theatre evolved from the early seventies to now, in which period, television too took huge leaps.
About the Author
Born on 24 November 1944, Amol Palekar is an actor, director, producer of cinema, plays and television series in Hindi and Marathi. His most successful Hindi films include Gol Maal, Chitchor, Rajnigandha, Gharaonda, Rang Birangi and Chhoti Si Baat. His iconic plays include Chup! Court Shaant Hai!, Pagla Ghoda, Hayvadana, Suno Janmejay, Julus and Gochi. He has directed award-winning, internationally acclaimed movies like Kairee, Ankahee, Bangarwadi, Daayra and Paheli, which was selected as India’s official entry to the Oscar Award in 2006. He also directed television serials like Kachchi Dhoop, Mrignayani and Krishnkali. In 2000, Palekar decided to return to painting.
372 pages, Paperback
Published December 30, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 22, 2025
So much seen and done by this guy. Such wonderful stories picked for his projects. Wish there was some order to his narrative.
August 12, 2025
I read the original Marathi version ‘ऐवज’
One can feel the grip that Mr. Palekar would have on a flow of screenplay. A breezy read.
Congratulations to him on his career and life.
One can feel the grip that Mr. Palekar would have on a flow of screenplay. A breezy read.
Congratulations to him on his career and life.
October 26, 2025
"Everything that is visible, hides something that is invisible."
In the usual popular image and public memory the name of Amol Palekar resonates as the common man or the boy next door hero in those middle of the road light entertaining cinemas made by veterans like Basu Chatterjee and Hrishikesh Mukherjee. But that's just a small fraction of his multifaceted artistic persona.
From fine arts graduate of J.J.School of Arts to his chance encounter with Satyadev Dubey that lead him to experimental theatre and from his selective middle of the road cinema journey as an actor and socially, culturally conscious filmmaker, his memoir 'Viewfinder' is stimulating, contemplative and honest account and life journey of an artist par excellence.
Written in an artistic and literary style, the book chronicles vivid experiences of his personal and professional life, his influences with references in arts and career, and his relationships made via career and family life in general. It's a very balanced and honest account written in a fluid manner with sumptuous anecdotes to take away. The book covers some rare pics and lovely illustrations with indeed fine printing. With extensive and introspective perspectives and reflections of his prolific career juggling between theatre and cinema, the book also covered significant documentation of the Marathi Theatre scene of 70s and 80s.
Beyond deep dive into those nostalgic creative periods of his endorsed light entertaining cinema; there is much more to explore in him as an artist and creator with recollections and references that amassed over six decades. The book is surely brought to surface many revelations to me and it's indeed a memorable reading journey for me.
In the usual popular image and public memory the name of Amol Palekar resonates as the common man or the boy next door hero in those middle of the road light entertaining cinemas made by veterans like Basu Chatterjee and Hrishikesh Mukherjee. But that's just a small fraction of his multifaceted artistic persona.
From fine arts graduate of J.J.School of Arts to his chance encounter with Satyadev Dubey that lead him to experimental theatre and from his selective middle of the road cinema journey as an actor and socially, culturally conscious filmmaker, his memoir 'Viewfinder' is stimulating, contemplative and honest account and life journey of an artist par excellence.
Written in an artistic and literary style, the book chronicles vivid experiences of his personal and professional life, his influences with references in arts and career, and his relationships made via career and family life in general. It's a very balanced and honest account written in a fluid manner with sumptuous anecdotes to take away. The book covers some rare pics and lovely illustrations with indeed fine printing. With extensive and introspective perspectives and reflections of his prolific career juggling between theatre and cinema, the book also covered significant documentation of the Marathi Theatre scene of 70s and 80s.
Beyond deep dive into those nostalgic creative periods of his endorsed light entertaining cinema; there is much more to explore in him as an artist and creator with recollections and references that amassed over six decades. The book is surely brought to surface many revelations to me and it's indeed a memorable reading journey for me.
July 25, 2025
This is an excellent biography which successfully reveals the intellectual side of the author. It explains the author's journey into the entertainment industry. The author tried his best to be honest while explaining his life's journey. There is no doubt that some people may disagree with the ideology and perspective with which the author is used to seeing things, but there are many such issues that he has explained in this book, which leave very little space for disagreement. One may disagree with him on the way a particular issue should be resolved, but one cannot reject the issue itself.
This book explains the author's interactions with industry people and others and reveals some very interesting and unknown aspects of his acting and direction journey in films and theatre. It also uncovers his subtle and convincing attitude with which he never compromised for monetary gains. Apart from the entertainment industry, he has also tried to touch on some relevant issues prevailing in society, such as corruption, gender, equality, etc. Apart from criticising the red-tapism in government-run organisations, he has not shied away from criticising and praising the work culture in the film industry of different states. Through this biography, readers also get to know a bit about some stalwarts of Indian theatre and the film industry, with whom the author had personal interaction. Those who knew Mr. Palekar, only as a film actor and director of some parallel movies, will be surprised to know about some of his outstanding theatre works for which he has yet to receive adequate recognition from the mainstream media and the government of this country.
This book explains the author's interactions with industry people and others and reveals some very interesting and unknown aspects of his acting and direction journey in films and theatre. It also uncovers his subtle and convincing attitude with which he never compromised for monetary gains. Apart from the entertainment industry, he has also tried to touch on some relevant issues prevailing in society, such as corruption, gender, equality, etc. Apart from criticising the red-tapism in government-run organisations, he has not shied away from criticising and praising the work culture in the film industry of different states. Through this biography, readers also get to know a bit about some stalwarts of Indian theatre and the film industry, with whom the author had personal interaction. Those who knew Mr. Palekar, only as a film actor and director of some parallel movies, will be surprised to know about some of his outstanding theatre works for which he has yet to receive adequate recognition from the mainstream media and the government of this country.
April 18, 2025
A wonderful recollection of an interesting life of an artist. I have always been a fan of Amol Palekar, the actor, portraying the 'guy next door' common man. But reading this memoir brought me face to face with his other talents, especially as a theatre artist and director. His command over the English language is also very good.
Sometimes a good book is one, which keeps us unsatisfied... wanting to read more, to know more. This is one such book.
I hope someone makes a nice documentary about Amol Palekar.
Sometimes a good book is one, which keeps us unsatisfied... wanting to read more, to know more. This is one such book.
I hope someone makes a nice documentary about Amol Palekar.
April 14, 2025
A painter, activist, theatre artist, film director and actor - Amol's honest autobiography reveals hitherto unknown facets of his professional journey.
A person who was a bulwark against repression, an advocate of free speech and liberal values, Amol strode the ethical ecosystem like a colossus.
Euphemistically speaking, the size of his canvas and nuances of exposure to life and life's beings allow it to be interpreted with Urdu Couplets.
I propose to send it to Amol as a tribute to his journey
A person who was a bulwark against repression, an advocate of free speech and liberal values, Amol strode the ethical ecosystem like a colossus.
Euphemistically speaking, the size of his canvas and nuances of exposure to life and life's beings allow it to be interpreted with Urdu Couplets.
I propose to send it to Amol as a tribute to his journey
June 1, 2025
He is definitely a gifted actor director artist but not an author. The book is unstructured with random ramblings but the guy is such a sweetheart that the anecdotes and experiences will keep anybody hooked who has seen his movies or plays.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews