P L is a miracle. One man doing so much. So well. So easily. And quitting one thing for another. Without regrets. Without malice. Without bitterness. He has been lucky. He was born with so many qualities. The ear for music. The ability to sing. The quality to be able turn a word or a phrase round and about. To speak well. To act. To have a ready wit and repartee. And he could make friends. He made hundreds of them.

           And he has Suneetabai by his side. As a guide. As a partner in his artistic projects. The efficient manager of all his ventures. She encouraged him in trying times. And prevented him from losing poise, balance and perspective during the successful phase. She insisted on a simple lifestyle. And was greatly responsible for the work done by the P L Deshpande Foundation.

           Someone once said this: "There was strife and suffering everywhere across Maharashtra. No two family members got on well with each other. Nor did two families tolerate each other. Perhaps it was always like that the Marathi ethos. It was far from a happy situation. The Marathi God was worried. He said let the poor people have some fun. So he sent P L."

           No wonder, honours and awards came his way in abundance, including the top Indian honours of 'Padmashree,' and 'Padmabhushan.'
And so, here is a short journey into P L's personal and artistic life, to mark his 80 th year.