Chintaman Vinayak Joshi (चिंतामण विनायक जोशी) 19 January 1892 - 21 November 1963 was a Marathi humorist and a researcher in Pali literature. He hailed from Maharashtra, India, and was popularly known as Chin. Vi. Joshi. Joshi was known for his humorous writing. He also was a scholar of Pali [1] and Buddhism.
A Marathi movie "Sarkari Pahune", 1942, directed by Master Vinayak, based on Joshi's writings became very successful and later so did a Doordarshan serial Chimanrao Gundyabhau, 1977 based on his writings.
The TV serial Chimanrao produced by Mrs. Vijaya Joglekar Dhumale in 1977 came like a breath of fresh air to the entire TV audience of Television then. Innocent but highly infectious humor was the essence of writing of Shri Chi. Vi .Joshi.
Two bold but opposite in nature characters was the foundation of this entire serial. Chimanrao a seemingly mild - bit unorganized - bit shy - yet very sharp from within were the hi lights of Chimanrao, while Hard Hitting - Bold - Believing in physical prowess and gung-ho Gundyabhau was another column of the humorous plot of the serial. They were the opposite poles yet were extremely close to one another. In the writings of Shri Joshi they are maternal brothers. (मामेभाऊ)They were very ably supported by other side characters like KaveriChimanraos wife fondly addressed as Kau (काऊ )played by Smita PavaskarAai (आई) played by SulabhaKoranneMoru (मोरू) played by Niraj Mainkar (नीरजमाईणकर)Maina मैनाplayed by Aruna Purohit Raghu (राघू) played by Ganesh Matakari (गणेश मतकरी), Ramakant Deshpande (रमाकांत देशपांडे) Vasant Soman (वसंत सोमण) Vijay Salvi (विजय साळवी) Meera Dabholkar (मीरा दाभोळकर ) Janardan Parab (जनार्दन परब) and other characters which came in occasionally. It’s worth noting that all the names of children in the original stories were named after the birds like MoruMaina or Raghu…
The casting was just perfect with low key but highly mischievous natured Dilip Prabhavalkar (दिलीप प्रभावळकर) gained immense popularity. John Bull type of Gundyabhau was equally well portrayed by Bal Karve (बाळ कर्वे)