Marathi cinema veteran Shriram Gojamgunde no more

Noted Marathi film maker and actor Shriram Gojamgunde passed away after a brief illness. He was 71.
Gojamgunde, who was ailing for some time, passed away at a private hospital in Latur yesterday, family sources said. He was cremated today.
Gojamgunde had produced and acted in the movie "Zatpat Karu De Khatpat", starring Sarla Yeolekar. Versatile Mahendra Kapoor was the playback singer for this film, which led to other film makers from the region take up producing films.
He had acted in a Marathi film with late Smita Patil. In 1974, he essayed the title role in Marathi film "Raja Shiv Chhatrapati", based on the life of the Great Maratha warrior.

Gojamgunde, who began life in Marathi theatre, founded the Rasbahar drama group, which went on to win three best play awards at the state level.
He is survived by wife, three sons and two daughters. His brother Vikram Gojamgunde is a former municipal council president of Latur and was a key aide of late Congress leader Vilasrao Deshmukh.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis condoled Gojamgunde's demise and described him as a 'pioneer of theatre and film movement' in Marathwada region.