Shahu Modak – Legendary actor of Marathi cinema best known for playing Lord Krishna on celluloid

Shahu Modak (1918 – 1993) was a legendary actor of Marathi cinema, best known for playing mythological characters – Lord Krishna and Jnanesvar multiple times on screen. He excelled in other mythological characters as well, at a time when such films were most popular. He also acted in a few Hindi movies, in a career spanning to more than 5 decades between 1932 and 1986. His Marathi movies co-starring Nirupa Roy were quite popular those days. Manoos (1939), Life’s for Living: Aadmi (1939) and Sant Dnyaneshwar (1940) are among his major roles in the early talkies.

Shahu Modak was born in 1918 in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra into a Marathi Christian family. He joined film industry in the early 1930s, when Marathi cinema was in its child stage. Two of his movies released in year 1932, where he played Lord Krishna in Shyam Sunder, and the double role of prince and pauper in Awara Shahzada. Manoos in 1939 gave him a major break as a lead actor.

Since then he played numerous lead and supporting roles on screen, mostly mythological and positive ones for which he is known most. Even if he repeated the characters – Krishna and Jnanesvar multiple times on celluloid, audience never went bored. Towards the end of his career he reduced his work significantly and also played small roles. He stayed away from limelight since 1986 and passed away in 1993.

Shahu Modak – Some interesting and less-known facts

1. He has been frequently paired with Nirupa Roy onscreen. They have been paired 11 times. Ram Bhakta Vibhishan, Bhakta Puran, Narsi Bhagat, Jai Mahakali etc are their major works.

2. He played character roles in Bollywood films towards the end of his career – Razia Sultan and Meera where Hema Malini played titular roles in the periodic dramas.

3. He played Lord Krishna around 30 movies, including his first movie, Shyam Sunder.

4. Manoos award is instituted by Rangat-Sangat in memory of Modak, and given awards annually by the hands of police commissioner. It gives recognition to a senior actor who has shared screen space with him. Manoos is a memorable movie of his career, where he played police commissioner, and hence the award given through the hands of police chief.