Dada Kondke

Kondke was involved in cultural activities of Seva Dal, a Congress party volunteers organization, where he started working in dramas. During this period came in contact with various Marathi stage personalities including writer, Vasant Sabnis. Later, Kondke started his own theatre company, and approached Sabnis to compose a drama script for him. Sabnis appreciated Dada's performance in Khankhanpurcha Raja (literal translation, bankrupt king), and agreed to write a modern Marathi language Tamasha or loknatya (folk play) (Loknatya). The drama was named Vichha Majhi Puri Kara (literal translation, fulfill my wish). The drama went on to play over 1500 shows all over Maharashtra and made Dada a star.

Vichha Majhi Puri Kara brought Kondke into spotlight and in 1969, he debuted in Marathi movies through a role in Bhalji Pendharkar's movie Tambdi Maati which won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Marathi. He then turned producer with Songadya in 1971.[4] Songadya was based on a story written by Vasant Sabnis, and was directed by Govind Kulkarni. He cast himself as Namya, the simpleton who falls for the glamour of Kalavati (played by Usha Chavan) who is a dancer. Some of the other people who played major characters in this movie were Nilu Phule, Ganpat Patil, Sampat Nikam and Ratnamala. Kondke retained his team from Songadya and delivered his next hit Eakta Jeev Sadashiv.[5] Kondke's story-lines were always based on the simpleton engaged in lower level occupations. For example, Kondke portrayed himself as a Dhobi (Laundry Man) in Aali Angavar, Poor Farmer in Songadya, and a Police Constable in Pandu Havaldar. Kondke is known for using the same team of actors, technicians and playback singers to repeat the formula for success that he believed he had got from his debut film. Many of his movies, produced under the "Kamakshi Pictures" banner, had Usha Chavan as the lead actress, Rajesh Mujumdar as screen play writer (from Pandu Hawaldar onward), Raam Laxman as music director, Jayawant Kulkarni and later Mahendra Kapoor as the male playback singer, Usha Mangeshkar as the female playback singer, and Bal Mohite as the chief assistant. Kondke often employed the veteran actor-dancer, Bhagwan Dada in dancing sequences in his films such as Aali Angavar, Hyoch Navra Pahije, Bot Lavin Tithe Gudgulya, and Ram Ram Gangaram.

As a lyricist he wrote multiple songs on animals

• "Manasa paras medhara bari" (meaning 'goats are much better than human beings') in film Eakta Jeev Sadashiv
• "Labaad Landga Dhwang Kartay" (on the cunningness of foxes) in film Ekta Jeev Sadashiv
• "Chalara vaghya" (dog) in film Tumcha Amcha Jamala
• "Jodi bailachi khillari" (bullocks) in film Mala Gheun Chala
• "Bakricha samdyasni laglay lala" (goat) in film Ram Ram Gangaram

Bhajans

• "Ajanicya Suta Tula ramacha Vardan" in film Tumcha Amcha Jamala