Meenakshi Shirodkar

Meenakshi Shirodkar (11 October 1916 – 3 June 1997), born Ratan Pednekar, was an Indian actress who mainly worked in Marathi films, Marathi theatre and television. She made her debut in 1938 and continued to act in films until the early 1970s. Her appearance in a swimsuit in the Marathi film Brahmachari (1938) with Master Vinayak stunned the traditional audience. She is a grandmother of two Bollywood actresses, Namrata Shirodkar and Shilpa Shirodkar.

Meenakshi Shirodkar
Meenakshi Shirodkar in Bramhachari (1938)
Born
Ratan Pednekar

(1916-10-11)11 October 1916
Died3 June 1997(1997-06-03) (aged 80)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
NationalityIndian
OccupationActress
Known forBrahmachari
RelativesNamrata Shirodkar, Shilpa Shirodkar (Grand-daughters)

Personal life

Shirodkar was born Ratan Pednekar on October 11, 1916 to a Maharashtrian family. She started learning Indian classical music at an early age. In 1936, she married Dr. Shirodkar, with whom she had a son. Her granddaughters are the Bollywood actresses Namrata Shirodkar and Shilpa Shirodkar, who also worked in the film industry.[1] Namrata was crowned as Miss India in 1993.[2] On 4 June 1997, Shirodkar died at the age of 80 in Mumbai.[3]

Career

In 1935, Shirodkar joined All India Radio (AIR) where she worked in radio dramas. After her marriage in 1936, she got a film offer from Pandurang Naik, one of the partners in a film company called Hans Pictures. Though Shirodkar declined the offer in the beginning, Naik convinced Shirodkar's husband that she should make a film debut.[4]

Shirodkar debuted with a 1938 Marathi film Brahmachari, opposite Master Vinayak. The writer of the film Pralhad Keshav Atre, better known as "Āchārya Atre", changed her name from "Ratan" to "Meenaxi" to suit her big eyes.[4] She created a stir by appearing in a swimsuit in the song "Yamuna Jali Khelu Khel"[5] in the film and stunned the traditional audience.[3][6] She rose to fame for her then daring act,[7][8] and for her twin-plait hairstyle in the song, but also got criticized heavily.[6][9] The song was sung by Shirodkar herself and became a hit.[10] It was also reused in the play by the same name,[11] and years later in other films as well.[12] She continued to do several other films with Master Vinayak such as Brandichi Batli (1939), Ghar Ki Rani (1940), Amrut (1941) and Majhe Bal (1943).[13]

After retiring from major roles in 1950, Shirodkar played a few minor roles in films and joined Marathi theatre with "Nutan Sangeet Natak Mandali".[14] During the period 1950-75, she worked in twelve Sangeet Nataks (musical plays) including Mruchhakatik, Maanaapmaan, Ekach Pyaala and others.[4]

Films
Year Film Title Role Language
1938 Brahmachari Kishori Marathi / Hindi
1939 Devata Pushpa Marathi
1939 Brandichi Batli / Brandy Ki Botal Malati Marathi / Hindi
1940 Lapandav Marathi
1940 Ardhangi / Ghar Ki Rani Savitri Marathi / Hindi
1941 Amrut / Amrit Gulab Marathi / Hindi
1941 Jhoola Hindi
1942 Jawani Hindi
1943 Majhe Bal Shashi Marathi
1943 Sangam Marathi
1943 Amanat Hindi
1943 Chimukala Sansar Marathi
1944 Ramshastri Marathi / Hindi
1945 Badi Maa Usha Hindi
1945 Pannadai Marathi
1952 Pelli Chesi Choodu / Kalyanam Panni Paar Telugu / Tamil
1955 Raftar Hindi
1957 Miss Mary Hindi
1958 Raj Tilak Hindi
1966 Gaban Hindi
1968 Mere Huzoor Hindi
1970 Moojrim Hindi
1972 Pakeezah Hindi

Theater
Play Title Language
Mruchhakatik Marathi
Sanshaykallol Marathi
Maanaapmaan Marathi
Saubhadra Marathi
Ekach Pyaala Marathi
Bhavbandhan Marathi
Udyacha Sansar Marathi
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References
  1. "No full stops". The Hindu. 11 December 2004. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  2. "Miss India Winners 2010-1964". The Times of India. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  3. "Veteran Marathi actress dead". The Indian Express. Mumbai. 4 June 1997. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  4. "आजसारखी विकृती हीच संस्कृती तेव्हा नव्हती!: मिनाक्षी शिरोडकर" [We did not have cultural deterioration, unlike today: Meenakshi Shirodkar]. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  5. Kanvinde, Vaishnavi (19 July 2010). "मराठी सिनेमात सात दशकांनी बिकीनी" [Bikini after 7 decades in Marathi cinema]. Maharashtra Times (in Marathi). The Times of India. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  6. Karnik, Hemant (5 August 2012). "काय बघावं..." [What you should see]. Lokmat (in Marathi). Yahoo!. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  7. "Gorgeous Ghatans: The southern belles have made way for Bollywood's new glam girls—the Mumbai bombshells". Outlook. 28 February 1996. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  8. "A potpourri of trivia for cinephiles & nerds". The Sunday Guardian. 16 September 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  9. "स्मिता गोंदकरला झालयं तरी काय?" [What has happened to Smita Gondkar]. Loksatta (in Marathi). The Indian Express. 16 March 2012. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  10. "Meenakshi Shirodkar". Cineplot.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  11. "अशोक पत्की" [Ashok Patki]. Maharashtra Times. The Times of India. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  12. Kanvinde, Vaishnavi (9 December 2011). "यमुनाजळी खेळू खेळ..." [Yamuna Jali Khelu Khel]. Lokprabha (in Marathi). The Indian Express. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  13. "हिंदी सिनेमा का सफ़र -3 (पुराने जमाने में भी हिट थीं जोड़ियां)" [The journey of Hindi cinema - 3 (Hit pairs from golden era)] (in Hindi). Janokti. 13 October 2010. Archived from the original on 21 October 2010. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  14. "ITC Awardee Shrimati Saraswatibai Rane passes away". ITC Sangeet Research Academy. Archived from the original on 16 May 2008. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
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