His scrapbook of stories

dna: First of all congratulations on behalf of dna for being awarded with Punyabhushan, a very prestigious award in Pune. Tell us what prompted you to take up compering or conducting interviews as a career choice?

Sudhir Gadgil: Thank you. Coming back to your question, let me start from schooldays. I was a typical middle-class boy from a Punekar family, that too from Sadashiv Peth. I studied at Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya which is famous as NuMaVi, and graduated from Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce (BMCC). I used to take part in extra-curricular activities and you may get surprised to hear that I have worked with Nana Patekar in those days and I have even won awards for acting. So, the first thing that comes to one’s mind is – why I did not continue acting. And the reason is I always thought that I should not be uttering or delivering words written by others. That’s why I turned to compering. During college days I started it and after entering journalism I found that it is not simple to talk two simple sentences which would not look artificial.

dna: When did you realise that it can be a career option for you?

SG:  It was during my encounter with journalism that I was asked to compere a programme based on songs by legendary trio GaDi Madgulkar, Sudhir Phadke and Raja Paranjpe. In those days, compering merely meant informing about next song and announcing the name of the artiste who would perform it. What I did was I met these legends and tried to explore untold stories and incidents that happened during the making of these songs. Incidentally being introduced to journalism I tried to explore a few other stories about the movies from which these songs were taken. I used to narrate these anecdotes while approaching the song and people gave an overwhelming response to it. The programme Mantarlelya Chaitrabanaat had created history in the 1970s and ‘80s. After receiving a positive response from people, I decided to pursue it as a career.

dna: But did it give you an adequate income?

SG: Before trying my hand at journalism, I used to work for a travel agent which many people don’t know about. That gave me 75 paise per ticket and standing in the queue early morning as per the rule, I could reserve four tickets and get three rupees which was a big amount for pocket money in those days. I used to divide my time working with all available media in those days. Soon after the advent of Doordarshan I went there for programming based on news and noted actor Vinay Apte was my producer. In addition to Doordarshan, I used to work for an ad agency as copy writer in Mumbai in the afternoon and also worked with All India Radio Pune Kendra as a casual announcer where my voice reached thousands of listeners during the early morning bulletin. All this was supplemented by stint in journalism when I worked for dailies including Prabhat, Kesari, Tarun Bharat and Sakal. I used to cover crime, politics and of course wrote columns about cuisines worth tasting in Pune on the advice of Late Govind Talwalkar, the legendary editor of Maharasthra Times.

dna: What attracted you to journalism in the first place, given the fact that you were from a typical middle class family?

SG: It was during a programme in Pune which attracted a huge crowd. And because of a journalist staying near my house, I could pass through the crowd to the stage. That was the first time when I realised that just by saying that I am from the press, all the doors open and I can reach to the celebrities in minutes. So I decided to try my hands at it. While doing journalism, I understood the importance of references, reading books to have such references and using those references aptly. I was always interested in meeting people from different walks of life and I got ample opportunity to do it during journalism and Doordarshan days. I did Aamchi Panchavishi, where two celebrities shared stories from their college days in every episode. Many luminaries like Late Lalchand Hirachand, Shakuntalabai Paranjpye were part of this show. Incidentally, Balasaheb Thackeray first gave an interview to Doordarshan for my programme and I had travelled with him to DD studios from his old house.

dna: How did meeting with filmstars happen?

SG: I worked with Marathi weekly Manohar of Kirloskar Group under legendary Mukundrao Kirloskar. In those days one of the greatest ever Bollywood journalist and columnist of yesteryears Devyani Chaubal wrote a column for Manohar. I was asked to go to Mumbai every week and Devyani narrated events and incidents of the week based on which I used to pen it for her and the column was popular as it was for the first time that first-hand Bollywood gossip was available for Marathi readers. Eventually I shifted to Mumbai and worked there for nine-long years, staying at Girgaum area. Devyani took me to many movie launch parties and I had attended engagement of Late Rajesh Khanna and Dimple Kapadia, after which my story along with the photo appeared as the breaking story in Manohar and dailies published it afterwords. I met many filmstars since Devyani had free entry at the events and happenings in Bollywood because of her seniority and close association with many of the stalwarts in the industry.

dna: What did you learn during this association with Devyani?

SG: The biggest thing is I became more confident. I would like to narrate an incident. We were to meet a big star in those days and my Chappal broke just before entering the Hotel. I had to buy a Hawaii or slipperr (chappal made of rubber) and I felt very awkward. Devyani told me, “Look Sudhir, the celebrity we are going to meet is no doubt handsome but stars can’t write two lines and are not as intelligent as you and I. So feel free even though you have slippers on your feet. What you write is important and these celebrities can’t do that.” Devi’s advice is a lifelong treasure for me.

dna: I heard that you are also trained in graphology and that you also make caricatures. How did that feature in the scheme of things?

SG: As far as caricaturing is concerned it was accidental. While compering for a programme Late S M Joshi, my favorite politician, was addressing the gathering. I was in the wing and what attracted me the most was his childlike smile. I had a paper and pen in my hand and I tried to draw that face and I succeeded. It became hobby and my time in the wing passed happily. I have made many such caricatures and it was exhibited during a recently held exhibition of cartoonists inaugurated by Raj Thackeray and veteran cartoonist ShiDa Phadnis also praised my art. As far as graphology is concerned someone tried to do it with me and I was attracted towards it and read a few books.

dna: You often mention the story of a rag picker who made a fixed deposit of Rs One Lakh. Can you tell it to our readers?

SG: During the course of this entire journey, this small rag picker lady had taught me key to her successful business by saying, “The timing of what to purchase from whom and when to sell it and to whom can fetch lakhs of rupees in my business of scrap.” After her advice, I never considered any human being as small or big. There are many such teachers in life who enriched my life every day. My Punyabhushan is dedicated to all those Mulukhavegali Manase as well as all those who came in my life.