Yesterday marked the 37th year since Smita Patil’s untimely passing, leaving a palpable void in Indian Cinema that reverberates to this day.
Her name resonates across diverse cinematic spectrums, transcending boundaries between parallel cinema and the popular mainstream.
Her performances stand as some of the most exceptional in the history
of Indian Cinema.

From her compelling roles in Shyam Benegal’s ‘Nishant’ (1975), a ground-breaking film and ‘Manthan’ (1976), based on V. Kurien’s monumental work in setting dairy cooperatives, to her immersive portrayal of Hansa Wadkar’s life in ‘Bhumika’ (1977), a role that earned her a distinguished National Award – each character she brought to life showcased her unparalleled talent.

Smita Patil in
Shyam Benegal’s ‘Manthan’ (1976)

And that’s not all, her performance in the 1982 much acclaimed film ‘Arth’
is one of the finest on-screen performances I have ever seen.
Apart from these films she also featured in some of the most successful commercial films of the popular mainstream, like ‘Shakti’ (1982) and
‘Namak Halaal’ (1983), pairing her with Amitabh Bachchan in the early 80s. In the late 80s, she paired with Kaka (Rajesh Khanna), in non-stereotypical middle-of-road social dramas like ‘Aakhir Kyon’ (1985) which has a strong women-centric plot, and ‘Amrit’ in 1986 talking about the condition of the older generation, in ‘Amrit’, Patil played a way older woman for her age showcasing her exceptional versatility.

Talking about so many films she featured in, her range of portraying different characters was extraordinary, the ’87 Ketan Mehta film
‘Mirch Masala’ was another landmark in proving that. Actors like
Smita Patil are rare, with a clear intention, a confident voice, and extraordinary acting skills, in a short span of mere ten years, she made
a lasting impact on the cinematic scene of the Indian Film Industry.

In case you overlooked our earlier post, here’s the link
Also read ‘Umbartha/Subah’ (1982)

#SmitaPatil #IndianCinema