I read a line written by the great filmmaker Tarkwasky that said, “Imagination is less richer than reality.” Tendulkar’s writing made me understand the truth behind this statement. His classic plays Ghasiram Kotwal, Sakharam Binder and Shantata Court Chalu Aahe (translated as Silence! The Court is in Session) are deeply imprinted in my mind. He was a scholar, a thinker and a guide.
A strong man who went through a lot, having faced three deaths in his house — that of his son, his daughter and his wife. My biggest guilt is that I didn’t meet him in the last six-seven months. I remember his quiet walks in the Vile Parle East area. I always wondered what would be going thorough his mind as he walked at an even speed. He was vocal about the loss of freedom in the aftermath of the blasts in Mumbai in a newspaper. He was a fearless man. His play Sakharam Binder was banned by the state censor board; a play named Gidhade too was performed without tickets as that too went through a censor hassle.
He was threatened several times by political and cultural goons. As a writer, I dwell very often on the fantastic, but it’s he who made me understand the richness of reality. I am grateful to him for giving me the freedom to write a script based on his classic play Sakharam Binder titled Sakharam ke Khoj Mein and now I have written a film script on it called Sakharam.
I will be recollecting his words and his silence and hope they take me through my future. If at all life exists after death, I’d really want to meet him again.