Renowned Marathi writer Ratnakar Matkari is no more. He passed away yesterday night at Seven Hills Hospital, Mumbai, where he was admitted after being detected +ve for corona. He was 81. With his sad demise, Marathi entertainment industry has lost a legend who had contributed a lot to Marathi literature.

Born on 17 November 1938 in Mumbai, writer Ratnakar Matkari completed his education in Mumbai with a degree in economics from Mumbai University in 1958. He worked at the Bank of India for the next twenty years. Since 1978, he completely devoted his time exclusively to writing and production/direction of movies and plays.

Matkari’s first work, the one-act play ‘Wedi Manase (वेडी माणसे)’, was presented in 1955 on All India Radio in Mumbai, when he was only 17 . Besides writing plays, Mr. Matkari also worked as a columnist for newspapers and magazines during the 1970s. Matkari’s 98 works so far, include 70 plays, 18 books of his short stories, 3 novels, a book of poems for children, and 14 plays and three collections of plays for children. His popular works include, Dubhang (दुभंग) , Aranyak (आरण्यक), Ashwamedh (अश्वमेध), Indira, Sate Lote (साटेलोटे), Khol Khol Pani (खोल खोल पाणी), Char Diwas Premache (चार दिवस प्रेमाचे). Matkari’s popular plays for children include, Albatya Galbatya (अलबत्या गलबत्या), Nimma Shimma Rakshas (निम्माशिम्मा राक्षस) and Achat Gawachi Aphat Mavashi (अचाटगावची अफाट मावशी).
He was a writer for Marathi film ‘Bhai- Vyakti Ki Valli’ and ‘Investment’ a National award winning Marathi film which was also directed by him.