Vijay Dhondopant Tendulkar (6 January 1928 – 19 May 2008) was a leading Indian playwright, movie and television writer, literary essayist, political journalist, and social commentator primarily in Marathi.
He is best known for his plays Shantata! Court Chalu Aahe (1967), Ghashiram Kotwal (1972), and Sakharam Binder (1972).
Many of Tendulkar's plays derived inspiration from real-life incidents or social upheavals, which provides clear light on harsh realities.
He has provided guidance to students studying "play writing" in US universities.
Tendulkar had been a highly influential dramatist and theatre personality in Maharashtra for over five decades.