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Smita Patil
Smita Patil was a leading Bollywood actress from the 1970s to the 1980s in both Hindi and Marathi cinema. She was the pioneering force in Indian films.

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Smita Patil, Bollywood ActressSmita Patil was a leading Bollywood actress from the 1970s to the 1980s in both Hindi and Marathi cinema. Her unconventional beauty and arresting screen presence made her the undying symbol of the new wave cinema in India. Born at Pune, Smita Patil worked as a news reader and was also an accomplished photographer when Shyam Benegal discovered her.

She was an alumna of the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. Her debut in Shyam Benegal`s Charandas Chor (1975) was followed by Jabbar Patel`s Saamna of the same year.

The role Bhumikathat would make her a star was of the Harijan (Untouchable) woman in Manthan (1976). Bhumika in 1976, again with Shyam Benegal, was another powerful role of the legendary Marathi film star Hansa Wadkar. Bhavni Bhavai (1980) portrayed her as a tribal woman, free and wild at heart. Films like Muzaffar Ali`s Gaman and The Naxalites (1979), Chakra (1980), Bazaar (1982) were appropriate vehicles for her talent. Others like Ardh Satya (1983), Tarang (1984), Mirch Masala (1985) where she played the heroic Sonbai who defies authority and conventional oppression, are films that cannot be definitely categorized as mainstream or art house.

Smita Patil was also a women`s rights activist and became famous for her roles in films that portrayed women as capable. In addition to such roles, she was proficient in mainstream cinema as well - Dil-e-Nadaan (1979), Namak Halal and Arth (1982), Ghulami and Tere Sheher Mein in 1985, Dehleez in 1986 and Thikana (1987), to name a few. Patil acted in regional films as well - Mrinal Sen`s Akaler Sandhaney in Bengali, Aravindan`s Malayalam film Chidambram, and the Kannada film Anveshane, directed by T.S. Nagabharana.

Smita Patil`s work has been honoured at the La Rochelle festival and also by the French Cinematheque in 1984. A posthumous exhibition of photographs - at the National Centre for Performing Arts, Mumbai (1992) - has earned her a reputation as an amateur photographer. She was a women`s activist and a member of the Women`s Centre, Mumbai. She married the actor Raj Babbar, and her death in 1986 shortly after childbirth was a loss to the country and the film industry.

Awards Won By Smita Patil
Winner
1978 - National Film Award - Best Actress for Bhumika
1982 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Chakra
1982 - National Film Award - Best Actress for Chakra
1985 - Padma Shri Award

Nominated
1978 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Bhumika
1983 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Bazaar
1984 - Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Arth
1984 - Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award for Mandi
1985 - Filmfare Best Actress Award for Aaj Ki Aawaz

Films Acted by Smita Patil

Year Film Role
1974 Mere Saath Chal Geeta
1974 Samna Kamley
1975 Nishant Rukumani
1975 Charandas Chor Rajkumari (Princess)
1976 Manthan Bindu
1977 Bhumika Ushavari
1977 Jait Re Jait
1978 Kondura Parvati
1978 Gaman Khairun Hussain
1978 Sarvasakshi Sujatha
1980 Bhavani Bhavai Ujaan
1980 Aakrosh Nagi Lahanya
1980 Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hain Joan
1980 The Naxalites Ajitha
1981 Chakra Amma
1981 Sadgati Jhuria
1981 Tajurba
1982 Baazar Najma
1982 Shakti Roma Devi
1982 Namak Halaal Poonam
1982 Umbartha Sulabha Mahajan
1983 Arth Kavita Sanyal
1983 Mandi Zeenat
1983 Ghungroo Kesarbai
1983 Ardh Satya Jyotsna Gokhale
1983 Qayamat Shashi
1984 Aaj Ki Aawaz Rajni Deshmukh
1984 Raavan Ganga
1984 Pet Pyaar Aur Paap
1984 Sharaabi Meena
1984 Mera Dost Mera Dushman Lali
1985 Chidambaram Shivagami
1985 Ghulami Sumitra Sultan Singh
1985 Debshishu Utpalendu Chakraborty
1985 Aakhir Kyun? Nisha
1985 Mera Ghar Mere Bachche Geeta Bhargav
1986 Aap Ke Saath Ganga
1986 Amrit Kamla Shrivastav
1986 Dilwaala Sumitra Devi
1987 Mirch Masala Sonbai
1987 Dance Dance Radha
1987 Thikana Shashi Goel
1987 Sutradhar Prerna
1987 Insaaniyat Ke Dushman Lakshmi Nath
1988 Waaris Paramjit
1988 Hum Farishte Nahin Roma
1989 Galiyon Ke Badshah Tulsi



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