Smita Talwalkar

Smita Talwalkar (5 September 1954 – 6 August 2014) was a Marathi film actress, producer and director. She won two National Film Awards as producer of the films ''Kalat Nakalat'' (1989) and ''Tu Tithe Mee'' (1998).

Career

Born as Smita Govilkar on 5 September 1954, Talwalkar was a television newsreader 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. She stepped into the role of a film producer with her first film ''Kalat Nakalat'' under the banner of Asmita Chitra in 1989. The drama 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 ''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 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, Valentine's Day, etc. Apart from producing films, Talwalkar continued her acting in various cameo and supporting roles in several films and televisions.

Under Asmita Chitra banner, Talwalkar 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 television series 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. ''Unch Maaza Zoka'' was based on the life of social activist Ramabai Ranade.

She appeared in ''Katha Ek Aanandichi'' and ''Ardhangini'', which also dealt with 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 featured 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 worked in theatre as an actress and producer. She was on the juries of various stage events, both local and international. She was the president of the Marathi cinema festival organised by Natya Chitra Kala Academy.

Personal life

Talwalkar married at the age of 17. Her son, Amber Talwalkar, is one of the directors of Talwalkars, a major chain of health club in India. Amber is married to actress Sulekha Talwalkar. She also has a daughter, Arti Talwalkar Moye.
Smita's other daughter-in-law is television actress Purnima Talwalkar, formally known as Purnima Bhave.

Death

In 2010 Smita Talwalkar was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and was treated with chemotherapy. She died on 6 August 2014 at Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai, less than a month before her 60th birthday.

Selected filmography

Films

Television

Theatre

Awards

; National Film Awards
* 37th National Film Awards for 1989 - ''Kalat Nakalat'' - As producer in Best Feature Film in Marathi category
:Shared with director Kanchan Nayak
::Citation: ''For its delicate description of the tension of love in various facets; wife, mistress and children; and the resolution of tensions in favour of keeping a family together.''

* 46th National Film Awards for 1998 - ''Tu Tithe Mee'' - As producer in Best Feature Film in Marathi category
:Shared with director Sanjay Surkar
::Citation: ''For shedding light on the plight of the old and the ageing and the crumbling of the joint family system in a novel and entertaining format of a love story. Beautiful performance by Mohan Joshi and Suhas Joshi are the highlights of the film.''

;Other Awards
* 1992 - Maharashtra State Film Awards - Second Best Feature Film for ''Sawat Mazhi Ladki''
* 1999 - Ga Di Ma Award of Maharashtra Kamgar Sahitya Parishad for the film ''Tu Tithe Mee''
* 2010-11 - V. Shantaram Special Contribution Award by Maharashtra Government
* 2012 - Ma-Ta Sanmaan as Best Serial for ''Suvasini''

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Talwalkar, Smita
1954 births
2014 deaths
Marathi film directors
Marathi actors
Indian women film producers
Film producers from Mumbai
Actresses in Marathi theatre
Indian women television producers
Indian television producers
Actresses in Marathi cinema
Deaths from cancer in India
Deaths from ovarian cancer
20th-century Indian actresses
21st-century Indian actresses
Marathi film producers
20th-century Indian film directors
Indian women film directors
21st-century Indian film directors
Film directors from Mumbai
Actresses from Mumbai
Businesswomen from Maharashtra
Women television producers