Keshavrao Date (1889–1971) was an Indian film actor, who worked in both silent and sound movies. He tried to run his own drama company but found it difficult to perform the dual roles of manager and actor.

Career

His role in the drama Andhalyanchi Shala ("The Blinds' School", 1933) won him rave reviews, subsequently he became a star, and also joined the Prabhat Film Company. After the advent of talkies, he tried his hand at that medium as well, though live theatre remained his chief love. His acting in the Marathi film Kunku (1937) set a standard which has rarely been approached since on the silver screen. He followed it with another sterling performance in Prabhat Film Company's Shejari (1941). Later he performed character roles in films made in Mumbai, where he lived. He also acted in V. Shantaram's Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani (1946), Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955), Navrang (1959) and Geet Gaya Patharon Ne (1964). Keshavrao directed four films, Kisise Na Kehna (1942), Andhon Ki Duniya (1947), and Maali or Mali in Hindi (1944) and its Marathi version Bhakticha Mala (1944). Maali and Bhakticha Mala (1944) were Date's the second and third of his directorial ventures, and were produced by V. Shantaram under his new banner Rajkamal Kalamandir.

Filmography

As actor

As director