Sumitra Bhave, the National Award-winning Indian filmmaker who predominantly worked in Marathi cinema and theatre, died on Monday at a private hospital in Pune after suffering from lung-related ailments for some time.
She was 78.
Born in Pune in 1943, Bhave taught at the Karve Institute of Social Sciences, Pune, and volunteered at several social welfare organisations, besides being a filmmaker. She has directed numerous Marathi short films, television serials, drama and feature films, along with a couple of Hindi films including Zindagi Zindabad, and Mor Dekhne Jungle Mein.
Bhave won her first National Award in 1985 in the Best Non-Feature Film for Family Welfare category for her short film Bai. She won her second National Award under the Best Educational / Motivational / Instructional Film category for her short film Paani in 1987. In 1995, she won her third National Award under the Best Film on Other Social Issues category for her feature film Doghi. In 2013, she won another National Award for Best Dialogue for her Marathi feature film Astu. In 2016, her film Kaasav earned her fifth National Award in the Best Feature Film category.
She directed all these films along with Sunil Sukhtankar, who has worked with Bhave in over 17 feature and several short films.
Bhave’s other notable works include Mukti, Chakori, Phir Zindagi, Bhains Barabar, Katha Sarita, Majhi Shala, Dahavi Fa, Vastupurush, Devrai, Ek Chup Chya, Samhita, and several others. She has won multiple awards, including the Maharashtra State Award, V Shantaram Awards, Marathi International Cinema and Theatre Awards, New York Indian Film Festival Awards.
Bhave also starred in the 2020 Marathi film The Disciple, which was the first Indian film to compete in the main competition section at the 77th Venice International Film Festival. It was also the second Indian film to compete at the film fest, after Monsoon Wedding (2001). The Disciple will release on Netflix on April 30.
Several celebrities and politicians condoled Bhave’s death and paid tributes on social media.
Actor and producer Milind Soman tweeted: “Sumitra Bhave, one of the loveliest people, and one of the most wonderful directors I have ever worked with, has passed away. I will miss her.”
Siddharth Shirole, Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson, called her a “true legend, a gem” on Twitter.
Deeply saddened by the demise of National Award winner Sumitra Bhave ji .. a gem of #Pune who has inspired generations of storytellers. A true legend.
Her work will be remembered for years to come. Condolences to the bereaved family, friends & fans.
Om Shaanti ! pic.twitter.com/8rMaavaZaU— Siddharth Shirole (@SidShirole) April 19, 2021
Resul Pookutty, the Oscar-winning sound designer, editor and mixer, expressed his shock on Twitter and wrote about how Bhave “changed the landscape” of Marathi cinema.
Shocked to learn about #SumitraBhave ji’s passing. She was not just a director who changed the landscape of Marathi cinema but a serious mind of global cinema. My heart goes out to everyone who are touched by her love&kindness. Prayers to the family and friends, May her soul RIP. pic.twitter.com/XkFmjZJIIg
— resul pookutty (@resulp) April 19, 2021
Anil Deshmukh, former Maharashtra home minister, tweeted: “Pained by the demise of National Award-winning filmmaker Sumitra Bhave Ji. It is a huge loss to the film fraternity. Condolences to her family and friends. May the departed soul rest in peace.”
Dayanand Kamble, New Delhi’s directorate general of information and public relations and deputy director of the Maharashtra Information Centre, also paid tribute to her on Twitter.
#SumitraBhave, National Award-winning director passed away. Sumitra Bhave, notably, was a part of several National Award-winning films that included Vaastupurush, Kaasav, Samhita, Astu & Devrai. She is also said to be one of the people who changed the landscape of #Marathi cinema pic.twitter.com/aECGN8sJvI
— Dayanand Kamble (@dayakamPR) April 19, 2021
Actor Neena Kulkarni wrote how Bhave’s films spread “strong social statements, women empowerment messages, woven into engrossing story-telling, that’s what made her films brilliant. Be it short, feature, series, her statements shone thru her creations. She remained simple in living, high in thinking.”
Celebrating her works on Twitter, author Aseem Chhabra shared a picture of them from the New York Indian Film Festival 2017.
In May 2017 #SumitraBhave was a guest of @nyindianff when we showed her film #Kaasav (in the middle is her co-director #SunilSukthankar). We also programmed #Astu and I loved #Dithee. And her voiceover in #TheDisciple is hypnotic, just magical. Lovely human being! #RIP pic.twitter.com/s7APf5EPuz
— Aseem Chhabra (@chhabs) April 19, 2021
Bhave is survived by a daughter, who is also a writer.
