Smita Patil

Smita Patil was born in Pune[1][5][12] to a Maharashtrian politician, Shivajirao Girdhar Patil and social worker mother Vidyatai Patil,[13] from Shirpur town of Khandesh province of Maharashtra.[14] As a child, she participated in dramas.[15]

Patil studied literature at University of Mumbai[16] and was a part of local theatre groups in Pune and spent much of her time at the campus of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), causing many to mistake her for an alumna. The family moved to Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1969, following her father's election as a cabinet minister.[17]

Patil was a part of the radically political cinema of the 1970s, which included actresses such as Shabana Azmi and Deepti Naval.[18] Her work includes films with parallel cinema directors like Shyam Benegal,[8] Govind Nihalani, Satyajit Ray (Sadgati, 1981),[3] G. Aravindan (Chidambaram, 1985) and Mrinal Sen as well as forays into the more commercial Hindi film industry cinema of Mumbai.[13] In her films, Patil's character often represents an intelligent femininity that stands in relief against the conventional background of male-dominated cinema. Patil was a women's rights activist and became famous for her roles in films that portrayed women as capable and empowered.[13]

Patil began her career in the early 1970s as a television newsreader[19] on the newly transmitting Mumbai Doordarshan, the Indian government run broadcaster. Her first film role was in the FTII student film Teevra Madhyam[20] by Arun Khopkar.[16] Shyam Benegal then discovered her[12] and cast her in his 1974 children's film, Charandas Chor.[21] Patil's first major role was in his other film, Manthan, in which she played a Harijan woman who leads the revolt of the milk co-operative.[16][22]

Patil then won her first National Film Award for Best Actress and her first nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress for her performance in the Hindi film Bhumika,[23][24][9] just three years after her debut. The film, in which she portrays an actress leading a tumultuous life through sudden fame and stardom, brought her talent to the attention of the world.[25][26] She also received widespread critical acclaim for her performances in Chakra (1981),[27] which earned her a second National Film Award for Best Actress and her first and only Filmfare Award for Best Actress. As a part of her preparation for the role of a slum-dweller, Patil used to visit the slums in Bombay during the making of Chakra.[28]

Patil went onto star in Bazaar (1982)[29] and Aaj Ki Awaaz (1984), which earned her two nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Actress.[30] For Mandi (1983), she earned her a nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.[31] Patil's performance in the marital drama Arth (1982) was highly appreciated. For her portrayal as "the other woman" while acting opposite Shabana Azmi, she earned a second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.[18][32] During this time, she also starred in several notable Marathi films such as Jait Re Jait (1977) and Umbartha (1982), winning two Filmfare Awards for Best Actress – Marathi for her performance in the films.[33][34]

Patil gradually moved to more commercial cinema.[35] In an interview, she stated:

"I remained committed to small cinema for about five years ... I refused all commercial offers. Around 1977–78, the small cinema movement started picking up and they needed names. I was unceremoniously dropped from a couple of projects. This was a very subtle thing but it affected me a lot. I told myself that here I am and I have not bothered to make money. I have turned down big, commercial offers because of my commitment to small cinema and what have I got in return? If they want names I'll make a name for myself. So I started and took whatever came my way."[36]

In time, commercial filmmakers like Raj Khosla, Ramesh Sippy and B.R. Chopra offered her roles, agreeing that she was "excellent". Her fans, too, grew with her new-found stardom.[37] Patil's glamorous roles in her more commercial films, such as Shakti (1982) and Namak Halaal (1982) with Amitabh Bachchan, she showed that one can act in both, "serious" cinema and the "Hindi cinema" masala in the Hindi film industry.[38][39] However, her sister Manya Patil Seth stated, "Smita was never comfortable in big-budget movies. She wept her heart out after performing the rain dance with Mr Bachchan in Namak Halaal; she felt she wasn't doing the right thing."[40]

Patil attended the Cannes Film Festival in 1976 with Shabana Azmi and Shyam Benegal for the film Nishant.[41][42] In 1984, she served as a jury member of the Montreal World Film Festival.[43] Patil acted with Raj Babbar in films such as Bheegi Palkein, Tajurba, Aaj Ki Awaaz, Awam and Hum Do Hamare Do and later fell in love with him.[44]

Director C. V. Sridhar was the first one to pair her opposite Rajesh Khanna in Dil-E-Nadan in 1982. After the success of this film, Patil and Khanna were paired in successful films like Aakhir Kyon?, Anokha Rishta, Angaarey, Nazrana, Amrit.[45] With the release of Aakhir Kyon? her popularity and her pairing with Khanna were at its peak.[46] The songs "Dushman Na Kare Dost Ne Woh" and "Ek Andhera Lakh Sitare" from Aakhir Kyon? were chartbusters. Each of these films were different and dealt with various social issues. Their performances were critically acclaimed. In 1986, Amrit directed by Mohan Kumar became the fifth highest-grossing film of the year. Nazrana, co-starring Sridevi released posthumously and became a box office success and was among the top 10 films of 1987.[47]

Patil's association with artistic cinema remained strong, however.[44] Her arguably greatest (and unfortunately final) role came when Patil re-teamed with Ketan Mehta to play the feisty and fiery Sonbai in Mirch Masala, which released after her death in 1987.[49][50] Patil's performance as a spirited spice-factory worker who stands up against a lecherous petty official in this film was highly praised, and won her the Bengal Film Journalists' Association Award for Best Actress (Hindi).[39] On the centenary of Indian cinema in April 2013, Forbes included her performance in the film on its list, "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema".[48] The Washington Post called her work "an enigmatically feisty final performance".[51]

Some of Patil's last work and posthumous releases include the Bengali film Debshishu, where she worked without remuneration,[52][53] Hum Farishte Nahin, Insaniyat Ke Dushman,[54] Thikana, Oonch Neech Beech and Waaris. Patil was pregnant during the filming of Thikana. For Waaris, Patil received wide acclaim.[55][56]

Patil was an active feminist and was a member of the Women's Centre in Mumbai. She attempted to portray women's issues through her different films. She was also involved in charity work, donating the winnings of her first National Award to charity.[44][57]

When Patil became romantically involved with actor Raj Babbar,[58] she drew severe criticism from her fans and the media, clouding her personal life and throwing her into the eye of a media storm. Raj Babbar left his wife Nadira Babbar to marry Patil.[59] Babbar and Patil first met on the sets of the 1982 film Bheegi Palkein.[18] Their son, actor Prateik Babbar was born on 28 November 1986.[60]

Patil died from childbirth complications (Puerperal sepsis) on 13 December 1986,[3] age 31.[61] Nearly two decades later, notable film director Mrinal Sen alleged that Patil had died due to "gross medical negligence".[62][63] After Patil's death, her son was raised by her parents in Mumbai.[64] According to the media, she died an idol, a cult figure reaching beyond her grave. On her death, poet Kaifi Azmi said in his inaugural speech at a charity function, "Smita Patil is not dead. Her son is still amongst us."[65]

Patil is regarded as one of the greatest and most accomplished actress of Indian cinema.[67] Patil is highly regarded for her range as an actor, her beauty, and her style. Suresh Kohli of Deccan Herald noted, "Smita Patil was, perhaps, the most accomplished actress of Hindi cinema. Her oeuvre is outstanding, investing almost every portrayal with a powerhouse realistic performance."[68] Rediff.com placed her as the second-greatest Indian actress of all time, behind Nargis.[69] In 2022, she was placed in Outlook India's 75 Best Bollywood Actresses list.[70] On Patil's successful film career, Rachit Gupta of Filmfare noted, "Her dusky, unconventional looks, choice of roles, active socio-political career worked to her advantage. Smita Patil made an enviable movie career."[71] Patil was placed 5th in Rediff.com's "Best Bollywood Debut Ever" list, for her films Charandas Chor and Manthan.[72]

Patil established herself as one of the most prominent actress of arthouse and parallel cinema and was widely known as the "Queen of patallel cinema and new wave movement". Patil was also known for her work in the mainstream films. Writing for Scroll.in, film critic Maithili Rao stated, "Art or mainstream, Smita was a magnet to film-makers hopelessly in love with her screen presence and the wonderful woman behind the image."[73] S. Shivakumar of The Hindu termed her a "rare and refreshing exception in cinema" and said, "The lines between parallel and mainstream cinema may have blurred but her performances in both are priceless."[74] Mamun M. Adil of Pakistan's newspaper Dawn noted, "Patil was in her early 20s when she delivered towering turns which, speak volumes for the talent that simmered behind her mesmerising eyes."[75] Ali Peter John of Bollywood Hungama noted, "Patil was a complete and consummate actress, whose ability to face the most difficult challenges and triumph over them has become a part of the art of great acting. She was the life of art, parallel or new wave cinema."[76]

On not working in commercial cinema, Patil said, "I hope I don't get pushed into doing commercial films because, truly, that will be the end of Smita Patil."[78] Filmmaker Shyam Benegal praised the actress and said, "She was a chameleon. She could be a part of the story without your thinking about it. She was instinctive. The camera loved her. The camera looked at her, it picked her out of everyone else. That was the thing about Smita."[79] Patil received critical acclaim for her notable roles in the films Manthan (1977), Bhumika (1977), Aakrosh (1980), Chakra (1981), Chidambaram (1985) and Mirch Masala. Forbes included her performance in Mirch Masala in its, "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema" list.[48] Filmfare included Patil's performances in Bhumika and Mirch Masala in its list of Bollywood's "80 Iconic Performances". They were placed 24th and 8th respectively.[80] Patil was also known for her beauty and fashion throughout the 79s and 80s. In the media, she is cited a style icon with various publications like Hindustan Times including her among the topmost sex symbols of Bollywood.[81][82] Yahoo! placed her 5th in its "Ten most iconic beauties of Hindi cinema" list,[83] and Times of India's placed her in "50 Beautiful Faces" list.[84]

The Priyadarshni Academy started the Smita Patil Memorial Award for Best Actress, as a tribute to the veteran actress in 1986. It is awarded every other year to an actress for her contribution to Indian cinema.[85] In 2012, the Smita Patil International Film Festival Documentaries and Shorts was initiated in her honour.[86][87][88][89][90] In 2015, film critic Maithili Rao published Patil's biography "Smita Patil: A Brief Incandescence". In the same year, National Centre for the Performing Arts and National Film Archive of India organised a retrospective on the actress named, "Smita - A minor retrospective of a major actress".[91][92]

Several actress have been inspired by Patil's work. Actress Deepika Padukone said, "Smita Patil is someone whose work I admire a lot." Actress Bhumi Pednekar credited the actress for "ushering in the change for heroines on screen", by her progressive portrayals.[93][94] Katrina Kaif said, "Smita Patil's roles were an inspiration and touched the lives of millions of women. She showed us that not even sky is the limit"[95] Somy Ali said that Patil inspired her to become an actress, she also termed Patil, her "favourite".[96] Odissi dancer Jhelum Paranjape named her dance institute "Smitalaya" (launched in 1989), in fond memory of Patil. Smita Patil Street Theatre, has been named in the actress honor.[97]

On the occasion of 100 years of the Indian cinema, a postage stamp bearing her face was released by India Post to honour her on 3 May 2013.[98] In 1989, Meera Dewan, made a documentary on her, named "Searching for Smita".[66] The Polish Film Institute and the Indian embassy in Warsaw organised "Smita Patil Retrospect", in Poland in her memory. Thus, she became the first Indian actress to be honored with a retrospective abroad.[99] Patil's father, Shivajirao Giridhar Patil started the Smita Patil Charitable Trust in 1996, in her memory. It was started with a mission to provide co-education to the students of the rural areas. The same year, a school named, Smita Patil Public School was started in Dhule, Maharashtra.[100] In 2023, her son Prateik Babbar changed his name to Prateik Patil Babbar, as a heartfelt homage to his late mother. He said, "When my name appears in film credits or anywhere, I want it to be a reminder to myself, the people and the audience, of her extraordinary and remarkable legacy, of my legacy, a reminder of her brilliance and greatness."[101]

• Dinesh Raheja. "Raw stock, rare appeal: Smita Patil". Rediff.com. Retrieved 23 December 2019.

• Smita Patil at IMDb
• Smita Patil at Bollywood Hungama

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