Born on Sept 17, 1955, Smita Patil expired on Dec 13, 1986.
She was merely 31. But she left a powerful screen image. He performance completely dismantled the traditional, highly decorative role of mainstream Hindi film heroines.
Her legacy is therefore characterized by an unfiltered social realism, profound stillness, and a fierce subversion of the male gaze.
It goes without stating that like the rest of the world, the Bollywood too has been a male dominated world of its own or an industry. But as has been the case elsewhere yet again - only a few women stars could break away from the shackles.
Smita was one of them - fewest of the fews !
Smita's style and mannerism on screen was defined by an 'economy of expression' - as they put it.
Rather than relying on loud histrionics, she communicated deep internal conflicts through her remarkably expressive, kohl-rimmed eyes. ---
To make it easier for our readers - she was a classic makeup look that defines and deepens the eyes using black kohl or kajal pencil applied around the upper and lower waterlines and lash lines.
Most stars are discovery of legendary filmmakers. In her case it was Shyam Benegal.
Smita Patil received her first major feature film breakthrough in Shyam Benegal's 1976 film 'Manthan' - a path-bfreaking 'art' film based on the Amul milk dairy revolution in Gujarat.
She played Bindu, a feisty rural woman and milk co-operative leader who fights against caste discrimination and the local milk mafia.
He co-star included Girish Karnad (playing Dr Rao, a veterinary doctor inspired by Dr Verghese Kurien).
Before Manthan, Smita worked as a TV newsreader for Mumbai Doordarshan, appeared in the FTII student film 'Teevra Madhyam'.
She earlier in 1975 had a minor role in Shyam Benegal's children's film 'Charandas Chor'.
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| Smita Patil and Girish Karnad |
In 2024, 'Manthan' was back in the spotlight when it was screened at the 77th Cannes Film festival.
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| Shyam Benegal with Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil |
Smita performed pretty well in 'Bhumika' in 1977 and Bengali movie 'Akaler Sandhaney' - 1981.
Mrinal XSen's 'Akaler Shandhaney' has a never heard kind plot.
In September 1980, a film crew comes to a village to make a film about a famine, which killed five million Bangalis in 1943.
It was a man-made famine, a side-product of the war, and the film crew now (will) create the tragedy of the millions who died of starvation.
The actors live a double life, and the villagers, both simple and not-so-simple, flock to watch their work with wonder and suspicion.
The uneasy coexistence of 1943 and 1980 reveals a bizarre connection.
In July 2002, after Shatrughan Sinha and Vinod Khanna were sworn in as Ministers under Vajpayee Govt; some of us had met Shyam Benegal in Mumbai for general reactions from Bollywood.
It was a brief meeting - but somehow Smita Patil had figured in our discussion.
At one point, Benegal remarked - "Smita Patil was a force to reckon with. Her acting ability seemed to have matured every passing film or so. Often I thought, she gave jitters and many co stars including heroes would be scared to do scenes with her".
'Bheegi Palken' was a great film in its own strength.
Raj Babbar and Smita Patil shared a passionate, controversial, and tragically brief relationship in the 1980s that became one of the most talked-about chapters in Indian cinema. Understandably, Raj Babbar and Smita Patil first met in 1982 while working on the film 'Bheegi Palkein'.
At the time, Raj Babbar was married to theater actress Nadira Babbar. His decision to leave his first marriage to be with Smita drew severe public criticism, media scrutiny, and labels like "home-breaker" for Smita. Despite the social backlash, the two got married and lived together.
The song 'Jab Tak Maine Samjha' from Bheegi Palkein sung by Kishore Kumar is among my list of all time favourites.
The film was based on the story of an Odisha Brahmin family, and dealt with the caste system and marital differences. The film starts with Ishwar Acharya (Raj Babbar), an I.A.S. officer who goes for an inspection of a Roman Catholic Mission school of Odisha.
There, he meets Shanti, his estranged wife, (Smita Patil) who works as a teacher.
She gave brilliant performance in many films -
Ardh Satya (1983) – Directed by Govind Nihalani.
Mirch Masala (1985) – Directed by Ketan Mehta.
• Arth (1982) – Directed by Mahesh Bhatt -- It was a complex emotional drama with Shabana Azmi.
- Bazaar (1982) – Directed by Sagar Sarhadi; focused on the plight of young women sold into marriage in Hyderabad.
She acted in Sadgati (1982) – Directed by Satyajit Ray.
This was a short film based on Munshi Premchand's story.
She acted along with Rakesh Roshan and Rajesh Khanna in "Aakhir Kyon?" (1985).
It was classic family and social drama film directed and produced by J. Om Prakash. They also performed in 'Amrit' and 'Nazrana'.
"Isse Pahle Ke Yaad Tu Aayee .... mujhko gam hae tere yadon ka" in Nazrana (1987) was another melancholic song - everyman would love to sing for a beloved who leaves him in the lurch.
This is one of those songs -- I often use to blackmail my bitter half.
ends
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