Chandrakant Mandhare (, (13 August 1913 – 17 February 2001) was a well-known Marathi Film actor and an artist. He played different roles in Marathi films and devoted his life to art. He was a master in paintings and powder shading. He was the elder brother of Suryakant Mandhare. He is recipient of two Maharashtra State Film Awards. In 2003, Mandare was honoured with the V. Shantaram Award, Maharashtra's highest award in the field of cinema. Early Life Chandrakant Mandare, also known as Gopal Mandare, was born on 13 August 1913 in Kolhapur, Maharashtra. He grew up in a family where his father was engaged in the business of selling traditional sarees. He had one sister and a brother, Suryakant. Mandare completed his school education up to the sixth standard in English medium at Harihar Vidyalaya and Private High School in Kolhapur.
During his youth, Mandare developed an interest in painting, largely influenced by the landscapes of artist Madhavrao Bagal. His father initially approached the pioneering filmmaker and painter Baburao Painter to guide him; however, Painter directed him to Baba Gajabar. At the time, Gajabar was serving as an art teacher at the O'Brien Technical School. Under Gajabar's mentorship, Mandare learned the fundamentals of drawing and painting, subsequently passing the Intermediate Art Examination.
In 1932, Mandare's watercolor painting of the Panhala Fort was awarded a silver medal at an exhibition organized by the Rajaram Art Society of Kolhapur. Recognizing his technical skills, Gajabar helped him secure a position designing posters for the Balwant Cinetone Company. Following the closure of the company shortly thereafter, Mandare joined Baburao Painter's Shalini Cinetone on a monthly salary of 25 rupees, where he was responsible for creating the promotional posters for the mythological film Usha.
Career Mandare began his acting career when filmmaker Baburao Painter cast him as the lead in the talkie version of Savkari Pash. In 1938, he appeared alongside actor Chandra Mohan in the film Jwala. That same year, director Bhalji Pendharkar cast him in the Saraswati Cinetone production Raja Gopichand, introducing him under the screen name "Chandrakant." Following this, he secured a role in V. Shantaram’s film Shejari and subsequently took up full-time employment with Prabhat Film Company.
Over the following decades, Mandare performed in numerous Marathi films, including Thoratanchi Kamala, Bharat Bhet, Ram Rajya, Jai Malhar, Manacha Pan, Meeth Bhakar, Chhatrapati Shivaji, Vaadal, Muka Lekru, Bhaubeej, Sangtye Aika, Mohityanchi Manjula, Yuge Yuge Me Wat Pahili, Pavanakathcha Dhondi, Santh Wahate Krishnamai, Manacha Mujra, Dhanya Te Santaji Dhanaji, Irsha, Ashtavinayak, Bhalu, Pativrata, and Bangarwadi.
He also acted in Hindi cinema, with credits including Raja Gopichand, Aseer-e-Hawis, Maharathi Karna, Jeevan Yatra, Mere Lal, Chhatrapati Shivaji, Navrang, Suvarnabhumi, and Sher Shivaji, as well as a featured role in the English film Lines on the Rock. He frequently shared the screen with his brother, actor Suryakant.
His acting received formal recognition in the late 1960s. His performances in Yuge Yuge Me Wat Pahili (1965), Pavanakathcha Dhondi (1966), and Santh Wahate Krishnamai (1967) earned national honors, while his roles in Santh Wahate Krishnamai (1967) and Khandobachi Aan (1968) were awarded Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actor. He became particularly known for his portrayals of historical and mythological figures, notably Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Sambhaji, Shahaji, Rama, and Krishna, alongside a variety of social character roles.
Mandare retired from mainstream acting in 1980. However, he returned to the screen for a final appearance in Amol Palekar's 1995 film Bangarwadi. Parallel to his film career, Mandare maintained a practice as a watercolor artist, frequently painting landscapes during filming breaks. His travels for art took him to countries such as France, Nepal, and the United States, and he held art exhibitions across India. During summer and Diwali vacations, he conducted instructional classes in landscape painting and powder shading for students.
In 1984, Mandare donated 400 of his original paintings to the state government, leading to the establishment of the Chandrakant Mandare Art Gallery in Kolhapur. In 1997, he founded the Chandrakant Mandare Art Academy, an institution that presents annual awards to working artists.
For his contributions to the arts, heed several honors, including recognition from the Jagatik Marathi Parishad (1989), the FIE Foundation, the Chhatrapati Shahu Award (1994), the V. Shantaram Award (1994), and the Chitrabhushan Award from the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandala (1998).
Filmography +YearFilmRoleLanguage Notes1936Savkari PashHarabaMarathiDebut1938JwalaTarangHindiHindi film debut 1939Midnight MailChandu1941Thoratanchi KamalaSambhaji MaharajMarathi1942MataHariHindi1944Maharathi KarnaArjuna1946Rukmini SwayamvarKrishna1947Jai MalharMujor PatilMarathi1948Mere LalBadshahHindiDo KaliyanMahesh1949Maanache PaanMarathi1950Ram Ram PahuneShripati Patil1951Patlacha PorPatilShiva RamoshiShiva Ramoshi1952Chhatrapati ShivajiChhatrapati Shivaji1954Gokul Ka RajaRajaHindi1955BhaubeejBajirao MarathiPunvechi RaatChandrakant1959NavrangThakur Sharan SinghHindiSangtye AikaSakharam Patil MarathiMaa Ke AansooBabaHindi1963Thoratanchi KamalaChhatrapati ShivajiMarathiPadadaShivaMohityanchi ManjulaChhatrapati Shivaji1964Swayamvar Zale SeetecheRavana1966Laxmi Aali GharaLaxmi's husbandPavnakathcha DhondiDhondi1967Arasa KattalaiHimselfTamilPahila BhauBhauMarathiBai Mee BholiLav-KushRama Hindi1968AnjaamYashwantDhanya Te Santaji DhanajiDhanaji JadhavMarathi1969Mukkam Post DhebewadiToofanHindiManacha MujraBabajiMarathi1970Dhartichi Lekara1971Maai Mauli1973Aai Ude Ga Ambabai1979AshtavinayakNana Inamdar1981Soon Mazi LaxmiDhondiba VastadPatalinJairam Kamble1995BangarwadiKarbhari
References
External links Chandrakant Mandare is no more, rrtd.nic.in website (Government of India) citing Deccan Herald, 27 March 2001 Screen