Tributes to SMITA TALWALKAR noted Marathi Film Actress, Producer and Director, who passed away yesterday. She has won two National Film Awards as producer of the films Kalat Nakalat (1989) and Tu Tithe Mee (1998). Talwalkar started her career as a newsreader on television, which spanned for 17 years, before entering acting. Her initial successful films as an actress include Tu Saubhagyavati Ho and Gadbad Ghotala, both of 1986. Gadbad Ghotala was a comedy romance film with ensemble caste of various notable actors including Laxmikant Berde, Ashok Saraf and Nilu Phule. Talwalkar stepped into the role of a film producer with her first film Kalat Nakalat under the banner Asmita Chitra in 1989 at the age of 34. The drama film had star cast of Vikram Gokhale, Savita Prabhune and Ashok Saraf and dealt with delicate topic of families and children where one of the parents is involved in the extra-marital affair. Directed by Kanchan Nayak, the film was adjudged as the Best Marathi Feature Film at the 37th National Film Awards. In 1991, Talwalkar played the role of Minal, a childhood friend of a mentally challenged boy in the film Chaukat Raja. The lead role of the boy was played by Dilip Prabhavalkar, for which he won Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actor. Directed by Sanjay Surkar, the film was also produced by Talwalkar. Surkar-Talwalkar pair would create many notable films in future like Tu Tithe Mee (1998), Saatchya Aat Gharat (2004) and Anandache Jhaad (2006). After her role as a producer, Talwalkar made her directorial debut in 1993 with the comedy-drama film Sawat Mazhi Ladki. The film starred Mohan Joshi, Neena Kulkarni, Varsha Usgaonkar and Prashant Damle in lead roles. The film received the Maharashtra State Film Award. The Surkar-Talwalkar pair reprised their roles of director and producer respectively in their next ventures of Tu Tithe Mee and Saatchya Aat Gharat. Tu Tithe Mee was a story of troubles that an aged couple faced in a joint family where the lead roles were played by Mohan Joshi and Suhas Joshi. The film won Talwalkar her second National Film Award. Saatchya Aat Gharat was based partly on a 2002 incident in the University of Pune campus where a girl student was raped by a phony policeman. The film also criticized the Western cultures of pubs, body piercings, Valentines Day, etc. Apart from producing films, Talwalkar continued her acting in various cameo and supporting roles in several films and televisions. Under her banner Asmita Chitra, Talwalkar has produced about 6 films and 25 television serials. The production house also had a joint venture with Zee Network for producing three films. Her notable TV serials include Peshwai, Avantika, Suvasini, Unch Maaza Zoka, etc. Featuring Mrinal Kulkarni in the title role, Avantika that aired on Alpha Marathi was a family drama. Peshwai was a historical story based on the Peshwas of Maharashtra. The show had Neena Kulkarni playing the role of Tara Rani. Sharvari Jamenis, fame of the film Bindhaast (1999) and Shruti Marathe, fame of the TV show Radha Hi Bawari, also played roles in it. The show Unch Maaza Zoka is based on the life of social activist Ramabai Ranade. Her other shows of Katha Ek Aanandichi and Ardhangini gave message on social issues. The TV show Suvasini that airs on Star Pravah won the Best Serial award at the 2012 Ma-Ta Sanmaan. The banner has also produced a 30 minute documentary for Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation that features Sachin Tendulkar on the topic of cleanliness. Talwalkar also runs an acting school named Asmita Chitra Academy. The academy is located at various locations in Pune, Mumbai and Thane and trains around 300 to 350 students in various fields of media. Talwalkar also works in theatre as an actress and producer. She has also been jury on various stage events, local and international. She was the president of the Marathi cinema festival organised by Natya Chitra Kala Academy. Talwalkar married at the age of 17. Her son Amber Talwalkar is one the directors of Talwalkars, a major chain of health club in India. Amber is married to actress Sulekha Talwalkar. Smitas daughter Arti also works in film industry as an editor and handles post-production works at Asmita Chitra. Recently in 2010 Smita Talwalkar suffered from ovarian cancer and fought it back successfully with chemotherapy RIP SMITHA thaayee.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Aug 2014 00:57:43 +0000
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