National Award-winning filmmaker Sumitra Bhave passes away

Acclaimed filmmaker Sumitra Bhave passed away on April 19, 2021, at the age of 78. The ace director and writer was suffering from age-related issues as per a report in The Times of India. She died in Pune and was admitted to a hospital in the city. Sumitra along with filmmaker Sunil Sukthankar is known to change the face of Marathi cinema over the years. The filmmaker duo has helmed several hit and important films which received several accolades.

 

Sumitra and Sunil have directed popular films namely Doghi, Dahavi Fa, Vastupurush, Devrai, Badha, Ek Cup Chya, Samhita, Astu, Kaasav to name a few. Over the years they have been bestowed with National Film Awards in Best Non-Feature Film on Family Welfare, Best Educational / Motivational / Instructional Film, Best Film on Other Social Issues, Best Feature Film categories.

 

Earlier while winning the National Award for Kaasav, Sunil hoped the award will help in drawing attention to the issue of mental health in general and depression which is the theme of the film, in particular. “This reaffirms how in Marathi a well-made film on a good theme still finds its place in the sun. I hope the award will help us get a good release. We will celebrate then.”

 

 

Sumitra and Sunil even won the Best Film Award for Astu at New York Indian Film Festival.

 

For the Chaitanya Tamhane directorial The Disciple, Sumitra even lent her voice. The film will soon be streaming on Netflix and produced by Gravity helmer and Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón.