While P L's plays won him accolades, his one-man shows took him to the pinnacle of popularity, the kind which was unprecedented. `Batatyachi Chal' , based on his own book with the same title, was the first such stage presentation, under the banner of the Indian National Theatre. P L was doubtful about the success of such a performance. But the first show over, and what followed could be described only as a `roaring success.' `Batatyachi Chal,' depicting the daily life in a middle-class housing complex (called `chal' in Marathi), with all its hopes and despairs, inconsistencies and contradictions in the battle for survival, had the audience laughing and guffawing all the way. Celebrated writer Acharya Atre, another multi-faceted personality Maharashtra has seen, after watching `Batatyachi Chal,' responded with an editorial in his daily `Maratha,' showering immense praise on P L.

His other one-man show, `Asa Mee, Asa Mee,' showing the `bahurupi' P L, also ran to packed houses. Then came `Hasavinyacha Majha Dhanda,' which was in aid of a blood-donation project for Indian jawans.

`Varyavarchi Varat' was, in P L 's words, complete with family and friends. The show again was great family entertainment. Music played a major part in it and so did one of P L's yet another great accomplishment - his harmonium playing. `Varyavarchi Varat' had us singing and yodelling. The `Ugeech ka kanta' sequence with `We are here' was repeated `n' times, the Ativishal Mahila Mandal episode was ever-popular. And the pun about a `tabalji' not being able to come up with a convincing `thap' was riproaring.

If `Batatyachi Chal' had Atre penning an editorial on it, `Varyavarchi Varat' had eminent cartoonist Bal Thackeray appreciating the show through specially drawn cartoons.

To the misfortune of the Marathi audience, P L stopped the shows of all these programmes even while they were in great demand.