OmerRobson4867 at 23:20, 7 February 2026

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{{Short description|Indian typographer and type designer (1935–2020)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox artist
| birth_date = 22 June 1935
| birth_place = [[Bombay Presidency|Bombay]], [[British Raj|British India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|4 July 2020|22 June 1935|df=y}}
| known_for = [[Typography]]
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], [[Maharashtra]]
| image = Kamal Shedge.jpg
}}

'''Kamal Shedge''' (22 June 1935 – 4 July 2020) was an Indian typographer and type designer. He is well known for his title designs and logos for numerous [[Marathi theatre]] plays, periodicals, newspapers, [[Hindi cinema|Hindi]] and [[Marathi cinema|Marathi]] films, book covers and record labels.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=Encyclopaedia visual art of Maharashtra : artists of the Bombay school and art institutions (late 18th to early 21st century) |publisher=Pundole Art Gallery |year=2021 |isbn=978-81-89010-11-9 |editor-last=Bahulkar |editor-first=Suhas |edition=1st |location=Mumbai |oclc=1242719488}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Shedge was born on 22 June 1935 in [[Girgaon]] area of [[Bombay Presidency|Bombay]]. He completed his education at the Orient High School in Girgaon. From an early age, Shedge was interested in reading, copied figures from magazines like ''[[Filmfare]]'' and created innovative letters. This is how he learned some basics of art as he did not study art formally at any art institute.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=शेडगे, कमल जयंत |url=https://maharashtranayak.in/saedagae-kamala-jayanta |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=महाराष्ट्र नायक |language=en}}</ref>

Shedge wanted to become a story writer. Although, it became difficult to pursue this field after his poor performance in the high school exams. At that time, his father worked as a calligrapher in the art department of ''[[The Times of India]]''. He asked him to join his field of work. Initially, Shedge's non-design background came across as an administration hurdle. It was only later that Walter Langhammer, then head of art department intervened after seeing his work and made way for him to join. Thereby in 1955, Shedge began working in the art department of the Times of India. He was given small jobs to start with, which included completing the sketches of senior artists in the department.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=George |first=Tanya |date=20 Jul 2021 |title=Emperor of Letters: Kamal Shedge |url=https://fontstand.com/news/essays/emperor-of-letters-kamal-shedge/ |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=Fontstand News |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Career ==
In 1959, Ramesh Sanzgiri joined the Times of India as the art director. He provided Shedge with insights about how to design a title rather than just putting together a combination of letters. Shedge then created designs for headlines in magazines such as ''Filmfare'', [[Femina (India)|''Femina'']] and ''Madhuri''. His artistic prowess gained prominence with the launch of the ''[[Maharashtra Times]]'' in 1962. He had designed the masthead for the daily which set a benchmark for layout design in newspapers.<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last1=जोशी |first1=रंजन |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File%3A%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B2%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0_%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%B6_%E0%A4%96%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A1_%E0%A5%AC_-_%E0%A4%A6%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE.pdf&page=778 |title=शिल्पकार चरित्रकोश खंड ६ - दृश्यकला |last2=घारे |first2=दीपक |publisher=साप्ताहिक विवेक, हिंदुस्थान प्रकाशन संस्था |year=2013 |edition=1st |location=मुंबई |pages=713–714 |language=mr |trans-title=Artists' Encyclopedia Vol. 6 - Visual Arts}}</ref>

During this time, advertising in media was expanding to Indian languages. However, little variety of lettering in [[Devanagari]] script was available at the time. In order to accomplish this task, it was necessary to have a transliteration in Devanagari script that could communicate the same meaning as English. Shedge introduced Devanagari alphabets with different weights (bold, light), similar to the [[serif]] and [[sans-serif]] alphabets in English. This completely changed the world of lettering in advertising. His work was a precursor to the fonts we see on the computer today.<ref name=":0" />

=== Theatre titles ===
[[File:Title designs for Marathi theatre plays by Kamal Shedge.jpg|alt=Title designs by Kamal Shedge|thumb|Title designs for Marathi plays by Kamal Shedge]]
Shedge played a key role in changing the face of play advertisements in Marathi theatre. His first opportunity to design a theatre title came about in 1962. However, he gained prominence few years later with his design for the play ''Matsyagandha''. Around this time, Shedge got an opportunity to work for Marathi theatre artist Mohan Wagh. The latter had started a drama production house called ''Chandralekha'' which staged many Marathi dramas. Since their first play, Shedge had created publicity material for them.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Aksharsanvad – An interview with Kamal Shedge |url=http://aksharaya.org/event/aksharsanvad-an-interview-with-kamal-shedge/ |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=Aksharaya |language=en-US}}</ref> From 1965 onward, his work has been part of plays like ''Raigadala Jevha Jaag Yete'', ''Garambicha Bapu'', ''Swami'', ''Lagnachi Bedi'', to modern hits like ''[[Amar Photo Studio]]''. He provided a brand identity to the play that not only improved the tastes of the audience but also drew them to the theatres.<ref name=":1" />[[File:Fb canvas logo.png|alt=Typography design by Kamal Shedge|thumb|''Kalnirnay'' logo and typography designed by Kamal Shedge|left]]

=== Logo designs ===
In 1974, Shedge was approached by [[Jayant Salgaonkar]] to design the logo for ''[[Kalnirnay]]'', a calendar-almanac in [[Marathi language|Marathi]]. It is now produced in several Indian languages but the Marathi version continues to feature the logo and numerals that Shedge had designed.<ref name=":2" /> He had also made logos for periodicals like ''Maher'', ''Deepavali'', ''Kirloskar'' and ''Chanderi''.<ref name=":4" />

=== Movie titles ===
Shedge had created titles for a number of Marathi movies like [[Veer Savarkar (film)|''Veer Savarkar'']] (2001), ''[[Fakta Ladh Mhana]]'' (2011) and ''[[Kaksparsh]]'' (2012). Given his proficiency in multiple scripts, he was approached by film producers to adapt English titles in regional languages. ''[[Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge]]'' (1995), [[Devdas (2002 Hindi film)|''Devdas'']] (2002), ''[[Bhool Bhulaiyaa]]'' (2007) and ''[[Saawariya]]'' (2007) are some of the films where he adapted the English design in Hindi. Occasionally, he also designed titles in both the scripts, like the film [[Kites (film)|''Kites'']] (2010) or the titles in [[Urdu]] style for [[Umrao Jaan (2006 film)|''Umrao Jaan'']] (2006).<ref name=":2" />

=== Other works ===
Additionally, Shedge also designed book covers, cassettes and record labels. He has created record covers for noted singers like [[Bhimsen Joshi]] and [[Lata Mangeshkar]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kamal Shedge |url=https://www.discogs.com/artist/2086896-Kamal-Shedge |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=Discogs |language=en}}</ref>

== Later life ==
Shedge retired from the Times of India in 1990 and continued freelance work. He published three books, ''Majhi Akshargatha'' (1995), ''Chitrakshara'' (2002) and ''Kamalakshara'' (2009) which discuss about his works and career. He also organized several exhibitions of his calligraphic works which were well received.<ref name=":3" />

== Death ==
Shedge died in Mumbai on 4 July 2020 at the age of 85.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kamal Shedge Death: सुप्रसिद्ध 'अक्षरकार' कमल शेडगे यांचं मुंबईत निधन |url=https://maharashtratimes.com/maharashtra/mumbai-news/mumbai-famous-aksharkar-kamal-shedge-dies-at-85/articleshow/76784357.cms |access-date=2022-06-16 |website=Maharashtra Times |language=mr}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Kamal Shedge}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8DwSoWDNm0 Interview] on [[YouTube]] (in Marathi)
* Tribute page on [https://www.facebook.com/kamalshedgetypograher/ Facebook] and [https://www.instagram.com/kamal_shedge/ Instagram]
* [https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=933370410746491 Interview] with [[DD Sahyadri]] on [[Facebook]] (in Marathi)

[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:2020 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Mumbai]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male artists]]
[[Category:Indian typographers and type designers]]

Kamal Shedge - Revision history

OmerRobson4867 at 23:20, 7 February 2026