Shreeram Lagoo

Shreeram Lagoo
Lagoo in 2010
Born(1927-11-16)16 November 1927
Satara, Bombay Presidency, British India
Died17 December 2019(2019-12-17) (aged 92)
Pune, Maharashtra, India
EducationM.B.B.S, M.S
Alma materB.J.M.C., Pune
Occupations
Years active1927–2019
SpouseDeepa Lagoo
Honours• Kalidas Samman (1997)
• PunyaBhushan (2007)
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (2010)

Shreeram Lagoo[1] (16 November 1927 – 17 December 2019) was an Indian film and theatre actor, in Hindi and Marathi. He was known for his character roles in films. He acted in over 250 films including Hindi and Marathi films as well as Hindi, Marathi and Gujarati plays, and directed over 20 Marathi plays. He won the 1978 Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actor for the Hindi film Gharaonda. His autobiography is titled Lamaan (लमाण; transl. a carrier of goods). He is a recipient of two Filmfare Marathi awards and a recipient of the Maharashtra State Film Award.[2][3]

He was a very vocal and active figure in furthering progressive and rational social causes. In 1999, he and social activist G. P. Pradhan undertook a fast in support of anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare.[4] Lagoo was also qualified as an ENT Surgeon.

Early life

Shreeram Lagoo was born in Satara district, Maharashtra to Balakrishna Chintaman Lagoo and Satyabhama Lagoo, and was the eldest of four children. He attended Bhave High School, Fergusson College (University of Pune) and B. J. Medical College (University of Pune), India and completed his MBBS & MS qualifications.[1]

Career

Lagoo started acting in plays during his college years. Gaining further interest in theatre, he created a group "Progressive Dramatic Association", with like-minded senior friends like Bhalba Kelkar.[5] Meanwhile, he received a degree in ENT Surgery from University of Mumbai in the early fifties and practised in Pune for six years before going to Canada and England for additional training.[6]

He practised medicine and surgery in Pune, India and Tabora, Tanzania in the sixties,[7] but his theatre activity through Progressive Dramatic Association in Pune and "Rangaayan" in Mumbai continued when he was in India. In 1969, at the age of 42, he became a full-time actor. on Marathi stage, debuting in the play Ithe Oshalala Mrityu (इथे ओशाळला मृत्यु; transl. Where Death Shied Away), written by Vasant Kanetkar.[7]

Lagoo finally started working as a full-time drama actor in the year 1969, from Vasant Kanetkar's play "Where Death Shied Away". He played a leading role in the play 'Natsamrat' written by Kusumagraj (Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar) and was best remembered for that role. He had a legendary status in Marathi cinema, where he did many memorable movies which included successes like Sinhasan, Pinjra and Mukta.

His wife, Deepa Lagoo, is also a noted theatre, TV, and film actress.[8] He had two sons and a daughter. Lagoo had instituted the prestigious Tanveer Samman, an award given to stalwarts in Indian theatre, in the memory of his bereaved son, Tanveer Lagoo.[7]

Filmography

Main article: Shreeram Lagoo filmography

Awards and recognition

Religious beliefs

Shriram was a known non-religious rationalist.[12] Once after being conferred with an award called Punyabhushan (Pride of Pune) on behalf of the organization called Tridal, he was interviewed by Sudhir Gadgil. In the interview, when asked about Jabbar Patel's play, wherein Lagoo had to stand before Lord Vitthal, "Did you stand there as a devotee or only as per the demand of the script?" Lagoo replied "I stood there as if I was standing in front of a stone idol that is known as Panduranga".

He has written an article titled "Time to Retire God", which provoked hot discussions in the print media and other public platforms in India.[13]

He was actively associated with the anti-superstition movement in Maharashtra. He was a close friend of Narendra Dabholkar and used to deliver lectures for some programs of the ANS, an organisation Dabholkar founded.[14] In 1991, Lagoo and Dabholkar were attacked with sticks by a mob in Sangli.[15]

Illness and death

Lagoo suffered from Parkinsons in the latter part of his life.[13] He died at the age of 92, on 17 December 2019 in Pune due to age-related complications.[16]

To honour his memory, the Maharashtra Culture Centre established an experimental theatre auditorium, Shreeram Lagoo Rang-Avkash, in Pune in 2024. The theatre was inaugurated by Naseeruddin Shah and Mohan Agashe.[17]

References

  1. ^ a b Dharwadker, Aparna (2007). "Lagoo, Shreeram". In Leiter, Samuel L. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Asian Theatre: O-Z. Vol. I. Greenwood Press. p. 364. ISBN 978-0-313-33531-0.
  2. ^ लमाण Popular Prakashan, 8 May 2013.
  3. ^ 100 years of Cinema: Naseeruddin Shah, 2 May 2013.
  4. ^ Support pours in for Hazare Indian Express,13 August 1999.
  5. ^ "Curtain goes up on a new act at PDA". The Times of India. 13 October 2001. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2011.
  6. ^ Lagoo, Shreeram (1 January 2011). Lamaan (Marathi ed.). Popular Prakashan. ISBN 978-8171858989.
  7. ^ a b c "Shriram Lagoo (1927-2019): 'Rare actor, highly intelligent, had logic to apply to character'". The Indian Express. 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 8 January 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  8. ^ Still Waters Indian Express, 20 April 1998.
  9. ^ "Aamir Khan to receive special Dinanath Mangeshkar award". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 10 April 2008.
  10. ^ ‘Marathi theatres’ pristine glory will be restored’ Indian Express, 4 August 2007.
  11. ^ "Declaration of Sangeet Natak Akademi fellowships (Akademi Ratna) and Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar) for the year 2009" (Press release). Ministry of Culture. 16 February 2010. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
  12. ^ Banerjee, Shoumojit (18 December 2019). "Shriram Lagoo had courage to stick with the unconventional". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  13. ^ a b "Goodbye, Natsamrat: Film and theatre legend Shreeram Lagoo dies aged 92". Mumbai Mirror. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  14. ^ "Debates on Conscious Awakening" on Antisuperstition.Org
  15. ^ "Last threat to Dabholkar: 'Remember Gandhi'". The Times of India. 21 August 2013. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  16. ^ "Actor Shriram Lagoo passes away". The Indian Express. 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 5 January 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  17. ^ * "Shreeram Lagoo Rang–Avakash: Experimental theatre gets second stage in city". Hindustan Times. 12 January 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
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