SHOWCASE: Smita Patil (1955-1986)

A PENETRATING VISAGE

A B/W publicity shot of the late Smita Patil, one of the greatest actresses to ever grace the Indian silver screen, from the collection of Manya Patil Seth.

Smita Patil's greatest role was in Bhumika - The Role (1977), for which she won her first National Award. Her second award was for Rabindra Dharmaraj's Chakra (1981). One of Shyam Benegal's masterpieces, Bhumika was based on the autobiography of Marathi actress Hansa Wadkar.

Mirch Masala (1985), directed by Ketan Mehta, the film featured Smita as the fiery Son Bai alongside a star-studded ensemble that included Naseeruddin Shah, Deepti Naval, Dina Pathak and Paresh Rawal.

Manthan (1976) was based on a story written jointly by Verghese Kurien and director Shyam Benegal and was set amidst the backdrop of the White Revolution of India (Operation Flood) which started in 1970.

Manthan's title song 'Mero gaam katha parey' was sung by Preeti Sagar and was later used as the soundtrack for the television commercial for Amul.

Smita Patil was frequently pitted opposite Shabana Azmi. Arth (1982) was the semi-autobiographical film from Mahesh Bhatt which was said to based on his extra-marital affair with the late Parveen Babi (played by Patil).

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