Sumitra Bhave–Sunil Sukthankar

Sumitra Bhave (born 12 January 1943) and Sunil Sukthankar (born 31 May 1966) are an Indian filmmaker duo working predominantly in Marathi cinema and Marathi theatre. Bhave along with Sukthankar have made fourteen feature films, more than fifty short films, and four TV serials; all of which have been written by Bhave. The duo have won various national and international accolades.[1][2]

Early life

Sumitra Bhave
Sumitra Bhave
Bhave, IFFI (2017)
Born (1943-01-12) 12 January 1943[3][a 1]
Pune
OccupationFilmmaker, theatre director and producer, screenwriter
Years active1985—present

Bhave was born on 12 January 1943 in Pune.[3][a 1][a 2] She completed her graduation from Fergusson College, Pune, and received a master's degree in Political and Science Sociology from Pune University.[a 2] She received another master's degree in Political Science and Sociology and a Diploma in Rural Welfare from the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, and later began her voluntary work for the various organisations.[a 1] She taught at the Karve Institute of Social Service, Pune, for a decade and later worked as a Project Manager for Community Aid and Sponsorship Program, Mumbai.[a 2] Bhave has published various investigation and research papers on the subject.[4] She worked as a Marathi language newsreader with All India Radio, New Delhi.[a 1]

Sunil Sukthankar
Sunil Sukthankar
Sunil Sukthankar, IFFI (2017)
Born (1966-05-31) 31 May 1966[5][a 3]
Karad
OccupationDirector, actor, lyricist, writer
Years active1983 —present

Sukthankar was born on 31 May 1966 in Karad.[5][a 3] He completed his graduation in Commerce from Brihan Maharashtra College of Commerce, Pune and joined the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune to pursue a course in film direction. His diploma film was titled Anuttar. As a theatre activist, Sukthankar wrote and directed several plays and street plays.[a 2][a 3][a 4]

Career

In 1985, while working as the Director of Research Project for Stree Vani, Bhave made a debut short film Bai (Woman) about a woman from the slums to display her strength to survive adversities. The film, produced by Stree Vani, was well received and went on to win the National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film on Family Welfare at the 33rd National Film Awards. It was honoured for "its realistic portrayal of poor, oppressed housewife who succeeds in her determined effort to rehabilitate herself and realise her potential to be on her own".[a 5] Her next short film Paani, made in 1987, also fetched her another National Film Award. The film was adjudged the Best Educational / Motivational / Instructional Film at the 35th National Film Awards.[a 1] Bhave later made several other short films like Mukti (1990),[6] Chakori (1992),[7] Laha (1994),[7] and Three Faces of Tomorrow.[6] Bhave has received a Chitra Ratna Puraskar and Kamdhenu Award for literary contribution.[8]

After a career as a theatre activist, Sukthankar was introduced to Bhave through her daughter while she was making her debut short film Bai (1985). After completing his graduation and film direction course from the Film and Television Institute of India, he joined Bhave again as an assistant and worked on three short films.[1][a 3]

Collaboration

1995—2009

In 1995, Bhave collaborated with Sukthankar as a director and made their film debut with a Marathi film Doghi (Two Sisters). The film depicts a story about two sisters and their mother caught in rigid and superstitious social structure.[1] The film received wide critical acclaim and won several awards including the Best Film at the 32nd Maharashtra State Film Awards and the Best Film on Other Social Issues at the 43rd National Film Awards.[a 6][a 4] Their next film Zindagi Zindabad (Long live, Life!) was made in Hindi in 1997. The film was based on a real-life story of a teenager who risked his own life to care for a person stigmatised by HIV/AIDS.[9] In 2002, two of the films made by Bhave and Sukthankar, both made in Marathi, Dahavi Fa (10th F) and Vastupurush (Guardian Spirit of the House), were released. The filmmakers duo initially approached the Children's Film Society to produce Dahavi Fa but the organization refused the script for not fitting "into their 'objectives'". The film was finally funded by their friends and was released under the duo's production company "Vichitra Nirmiti".[4][10][8] Both films received wide critical acclaim; Vastupurush was awarded the Best Feature Film in Marathi at the 50th National Film Awards,[a 3] Dahavi Fa was adjudged the Best Film at the 40th Maharashtra State Film Awards, and the duo won the Best Director award.[a 7] The duo considers Vastupurush as their "important and favourite film".[11]

In 2004, Bhave—Sukthankar made their next Marathi film Devrai (Sacred Grove) on the subject of schizophrenia with Atul Kulkarni and Sonali Kulkarni playing the lead roles. The film was appreciated for its depiction of schizophrenia and performances of its leads, and won several awards upon its release including the Best Film on Environment Conservation / Preservation at the 52nd National Film Awards,[a 2] Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress award at the 11th Screen Awards Marathi and the Award for Best Film with Social Message at the 42nd Maharashtra State Film Awards.[a 8][a 9] In 2006, two of Bhave—Sukthankar's Marathi films were released; Badha (Possessed) and Nital (Crystal Clear). While Badha depicts a story of a woman from the shepherd community battling depression due to the "shamans, stigma and superstition" in their community, Nital focuses on the stigma associated with the disease vitiligo in Indian society.[12][13] Nital was adjudged the Best Film at the 44th Maharashtra State Film Awards, and the duo won the Best Director award.[a 10]

In 2007, Bhave—Sukthankar made a short film in Hindi, Bewaqt Barish (Untimely Rain), financed by the European Union and produced by Muktangan Mitra. The film focuses on the issues around HIV/AIDS, sex and sexuality and is based on the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief's work with rural and tribal community in the Rajasthan and Odisha states of India.[14] Two of the duo's Marathi films were released in 2009; Ek Cup Chya (A Cup of Tea) and Gho Mala Asla Hava (This is the Husband I Want). Ek Cup Chya depicts a story of a common man who challenges the Government authorities using the Right to Information Act, 2005, an act of the Parliament of India that gives its citizens the right to access government records.[15] The film was awarded the Third Best Film at the 2009 Maharashtra State Film Awards and Bhave—Sukthankar won the Best Director award.[16][a 11] Gho Mala Asla Hava premiered at the Pune International Film Festival and is a comical representation of marital problems. Bhave had initially had plans to make it as a short film.[17] The film marked the debut of actress Radhika Apte, who had previously acted for the theatre.[18]

2010—present

In 2010, the duo made the Hindi language feature-cum-documentary film Mor Dekhne Jungle Mein (To Look for a Peacock in the Jungle). The film was produced by the BAIF Development Research Foundation and was inspired by their "Wadi" project. It focuses on urban youth involvement in rural development and rehabilitation of tribal families.[19][20] Bhave—Sukthankar's 2011 Marathi film Ha Bharat Majha (This is My India) depicts the contrast in the Indian society who support the 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement started by activist Anna Hazare but continue to practice small corrupt acts in their daily lives.[11] The film was awarded the Best Marathi Film at the 10th Pune International Film Festival.[a 12] The duo made a Marathi film in 2013, Samhita (The Script). The film received positive reviews for its story, direction, music, and performances.[21] It received two awards at the 60th National Film Awards, and Bhave was awarded for the Best Screenplay at the 11th Pune International Film Festival.[a 13][a 14] Their next Marathi film, Astu (So Be It), dealt with the subject of Alzheimer's, and is about a Sanskrit scholar who is suffering from it. The film was appreciated for its depiction of the disease and performances of its leads, and won several awards. Bhave won Best Dialogue at the 61st National Film Awards.[a 15] Though the film was completed in 2013, it did not find any distributor and was released through crowdfunding in 2016.[22]

In 2015, the duo made a short film in Hindi, Phir Zindagi (Life Again) which deals with topic of organ donation.[23] Their upcoming Marathi film Kaasav depicts the issue of depression among youngsters in relation to the life and nesting cycle of olive ridley sea turtles.[8][24] The film was awarded the Best Feature Film at the 64th National Film Awards.[a 16] Kaasav (Turtle) became the fifth Marathi film to win in this category.[25] The film was also awarded the Best Film at the 55th Maharashtra State Film Awards.[a 17]

Filmography

Short films and TV serials
Year Title Bhave credited as Sukthankar credited as Notes Ref(s)
Director Writer Producer Director Writer Producer
1985 Bai YesYes Short film [a 5]
1987 Paani YesYesYes Short film [a 1]
1990 Mukti YesYes Short film [6]
1992 Chakori YesYes Yes Short film [7]
1994 Laha YesYes Yes Short film [7]
1997 Three Faces of Tomorrow YesYes Yes Short film [6][26]
1999 Gautam's Mother YesYes Yes Short film [27]
1998–99 Bhains Barabar YesYes Yes TV serial [a 3]
2004 Zid YesYes Yes Short film [28]
2007 Bewaqt Barish YesYes Yes Short film [14]
2011 Katha Sarita YesYes Yes TV serial [2]
2014 Majhi Shala YesYes Yes TV serial [2]
2015 Phir Zindagi YesYes Yes Short film [23]
Samvad YesYes Short film [a 4]
Ekalavya YesYes Yes Short film [4]
Sahyog YesYes Short film [a 4]
Sarshi YesYes Short film [a 4]

Feature films
Year Title Bhave credited as Sukthankar credited as Notes Ref(s)
Director Writer Producer Other Director Writer Producer Other
1995 Doghi YesYes • Art director
 • Costume designer
 • Editor		 YesEditor [a 4]
1997 Zindagi Zindabad YesYes Yes Hindi film [2]
2002 Dahavi Fa YesYesYes YesYes [2]
2002 Vastupurush YesYesArt director YesEditor [a 3]
2004 Devrai YesYes Yes [2]
2006 Badha YesYes Yes [2]
2006 Nital YesYes Yes [2]
2009 Ek Cup Chya YesYes Yes [2]
2009 Gho Mala Asla Hava YesYes Yes [2]
2010 Mor Dekhne Jungle Mein YesYes Yes Hindi film [2]
2012 Ha Bharat Majha YesYes Yes [2]
2013 Samhita YesYes Yes [2]
2016 Astu YesYes Yes [2]
2017 Kaasav YesYesYes YesYes [2]
Sunil Sukthankar (second from right) and Sumitra Bhave (first from right), in IFFI, 2006

Awards
Key
# Indicates an award for Sumitra Bhave
Year Award Category Film Result Ref(s)
1985 National Film Awards Best Non-Feature Film on Family Welfare Bai Won# [a 5]
1987 National Film Awards Best Educational / Motivational / Instructional Film Paani Won# [a 1]
1995 National Film Awards Best Film on Other Social Issues Doghi Won [a 4]
1996 Cinema Delle Donne Italy Grand Jury Prize Doghi Won [a 6]
1996 Maharashtra State Film Awards Best Film Doghi Won [a 6]
1996 Maharashtra State Film Awards Best Art Director Doghi Won# [a 6]
1996 Maharashtra State Film Awards Best Script Doghi Won# [a 6]
1996 Maharashtra State Film Awards Best Story Doghi Won# [a 6]
1996 V. Shantaram Award 2nd Best Film Doghi Won [a 6]
1996 V. Shantaram Award 2nd Best Director Doghi Won [a 6]
1996 V. Shantaram Award Best Film on Other Social Issues Doghi Won [a 6]
1997 Kalnirnay Award Best Director Doghi Won [a 6]
2002 Maharashtra State Film Awards Best Film Dahavi Fa Won [a 7]
2006 Maharashtra State Film Awards Best Director Dahavi Fa Won [a 7]
2002 Maharashtra State Film Awards Best Story Dahavi Fa Won# [a 7]
2002 Maharashtra State Film Awards Best Story Vastupurush Won# [a 18]
2002 Maharashtra State Film Awards Best Dialogue Vastupurush Won# [a 18]
2002 Maharashtra State Film Awards Best Screenplay Vastupurush Won# [a 7]
2002 Maharashtra State Film Awards Best Lyrics (for the song "Khushi Cheheryavar Majhya") Dahavi Fa Won# [a 7]
2002 Maharashtra State Film Awards Best Lyrics Vastupurush Won# [a 18]
2002 National Film Awards Best Feature Film in Marathi Vastupurush Won [a 3]
2004 National Film Awards Best Film on Environment Conservation / Preservation Devrai Won [a 2]
2005 Screen Awards Marathi Best Film Devrai Won [a 8]
2005 Screen Awards Marathi Best Director Devrai Won [a 8]
2006 Maharashtra State Film Awards Best Film Nital Won [a 10]
2006 Maharashtra State Film Awards Best Director Nital Won [a 10]
2009 Maharashtra State Film Awards Best Film (Third) Ek Cup Chya Won [a 11]
2009 Maharashtra State Film Awards Best Director (Third) Ek Cup Chya Won [a 11]
2011 Pune International Film Festival Best Marathi Film Ha Bharat Majha Won [a 12]
2012 Prabhat Film Awards Best Costume Samhita Won#[lower-alpha 1] [a 19]
2012 Prabhat Film Awards Best Art direction Samhita Won#[lower-alpha 2] [a 19]
2012 Pune International Film Festival Best Screenplay Samhita Won [a 14]
2013 Delhi International Film Festival Best Regional Film Astu Won [a 20]
2013 Indian Film Festival Stuttgart Audience Award for Best Film Astu Won [a 21]
2013 National Film Awards Best Dialogue Astu Won# [a 15]
2013 Kolhapur International Film Festival Audience Award for Best Film Astu Won [a 22]
2013 Kolhapur International Film Festival Best Film Astu Won [a 22]
2013 Kolhapur International Film Festival Best Direction Astu Won [a 22]
2013 Kolhapur International Film Festival Best Screenplay Astu Won# [a 22]
2014 Marathi International Cinema and Theatre Awards (MICTA) Best Film Astu Nominated [a 23]
2014 Marathi International Cinema and Theatre Awards (MICTA) Best Direction Astu Nominated [a 23]
2014 Marathi International Cinema and Theatre Awards (MICTA) Best Art Direction Astu Nominated#[lower-alpha 2] [a 23]
2014 Marathi International Cinema and Theatre Awards (MICTA) Best Dialogues Astu Nominated# [a 23]
2014 Marathi International Cinema and Theatre Awards (MICTA) Best Screenplay Astu Nominated# [a 23]
2014 Marathi International Cinema and Theatre Awards (MICTA) Best Story Astu Nominated# [a 23]
2014 New York Indian Film Festival Best Film Astu Nominated [a 24]
2016 National Film Awards Best Feature Film Kaasav Won[lower-alpha 3] [a 16]
2016 Maharashtra State Film Awards Best Film Kaasav Won [a 17]
2016 Zee Chitra Gaurav Awards Best Film Kaasav Nominated [a 25]
2016 Zee Chitra Gaurav Awards Best Director Kaasav Nominated [a 25]
2016 Zee Chitra Gaurav Awards Best Screenplay Kaasav Nominated [a 25]
2016 Zee Chitra Gaurav Awards Best Dialogues Kaasav Nominated [a 25]

Notes
  1. Jointly with Geeta Godbole
  2. Jointly with Santosh Sankhad
  3. Bhave was awarded as director with Sunil Sukthankar and as producer with Sukthankar and Mohan Agashe.
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References
  1. "First Among Equals I". HDFC Imperia. November 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  2. "Sumitra Bhave Profile @ Sweden Marathi International Film Festival" (PDF). Sweden Marathi International Film Festival. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  3. "Sonali Kulkarni Twitter". Twitter. 12 January 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  4. Maheshwari, R. Uma (21 November 2002). "Quest for meaningful cinema". Hyderabad. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  5. "Sunil Sukthankar profile @ Cinestaan". Cinestaan. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  6. "NSD Alumni.94, batch, Abhay Kulkarni, from Pune bags Kala Gauvrav National Award" (PDF). December 2012. p. 8. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  7. "Muestra de cine independiente indio" [Indian independent cinema shows] (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  8. "17th Annual New York Indian Film Festival". New York Indian Film Festival. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  9. Akhtar, Shameem (29 September 1997). "Pictures Of Concern: AIDS becomes the focus of four new film projects in Bollywood". Outlook India. Retrieved 21 January 2017.
  10. "National Award winning film Samhita: The Script releases on Oct. 11th". Indian Express. 4 October 2013. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  11. "First Among Equals III". HDFC Imperia. November 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  12. Cheerath, Bhawani (17 August 2007). "Balancing the yin and the yang". Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  13. "First Among Equals II". HDFC Imperia. November 2014. Retrieved 24 January 2017.
  14. Tankha, Madhur (30 November 2007). "Exploring the identity of women". Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  15. Jamkhandikar, Shilpa (26 November 2009). "Film 'Ek Cup Chya' brings RTI awareness at Goa festival". Panaji: Reuters News Agency. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  16. Menon, Lekha (2 May 2010). "Storm in a tea cup". Mumbai Mirror. Archived from the original on 7 November 2010. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
  17. Salkar, Tanvi (15 January 2009). "Happily married". The Indian Express. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  18. "I will never forget my Marathi identity: Radhika Apte". Zee Talkies. August 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  19. "City NGO to release docu focusing on tribal rehab". The Times of India. Pune. 24 February 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  20. "BAIF makes film on tribal self-sustenance". Sakaal Times. Pune. 21 February 2011. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  21. Nandgaokar, Sunil (20 October 2013). "नेत्रसुखद, कर्णमधुर गुंतागुंतीची प्रेमकथा" [Visually stunning, melodious, yet complicated love story]. Loksatta (in Marathi). Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  22. "Astu: So Be It: A hard-hitting Film on Value of Relationships needs your support for theatrical release! By: Sheelaa Rao". Catapooolt. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  23. Mascarenhas, Anuradha (1 December 2015). "Phir Zindagi-a film that seeks to sensitise people on organ donation process". Indian Express. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  24. Janjali, Arwa (24 October 2016). "Allow youngsters space and they will explore life on their own". Sakaal Times. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  25. Bhanage, Mihir (11 April 2017). "Kaasav and Ventilator's big win at the National Awards". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  26. Hiebert, Eilish (ed.). "MSSO News 1997". Maharashtra Seva Samiti Organization. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  27. Hiebert, Eilish (ed.). "MSSO News 1999". Maharashtra Seva Samiti Organization. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  28. "Zid (Grit) @ Children's Film Society India". Children's Film Society India. Retrieved 4 May 2017.

Awards
  1. "35th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp. 94–95. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
  2. "52nd National Film Awards" (PDF). Press Information Bureau (PIB), India. pp. 22–23. Retrieved 16 March 2012.
  3. "50th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp. 78–79. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
  4. "43rd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. pp. 16–17. Retrieved 6 March 2012.
  5. "33rd National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. p. 89. Retrieved 7 January 2012.
  6. "Doghi@Cinemas of India". NFDC. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  7. "Maharashtra State Film Awards presented; 10th F is best film". Research Reference, and Training Division. 1 May 2003. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  8. "Devrai leaves you speechless". Rediff. 15 March 2005. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  9. "Deulgaonkar, Shammi Kapoor presented awards". Mumbai: Zee News. 1 May 2005. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
  10. "Sumitra Bhave and Sunil Sukthankar". Indisches Film Festival. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  11. "47th Maharashtra State Marathi Movie Mahotsav 2010 Part 24". Zee Marathi. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  12. "About PIFF: Pune International Film Festival". Pune International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2017.
  13. "60th National Film Awards Announced" (PDF) (Press release). Press Information Bureau (PIB), India. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  14. "Award for 'Kaksparsh' at Pune International Film Festival". The Times of India. Pune. 18 January 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
  15. "61st National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. 16 April 2014. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  16. "64th National Film Awards" (PDF) (Press release). Directorate of Film Festivals. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  17. "राज्य मराठी चित्रपट महोत्सवात 'कासव' सर्वोत्कृष्ट" ['Kaasav' Best Film at the Maharashtra State Film Awards] (in Marathi). Loksatta. 1 May 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  18. "Vastupurush DVD Back Cover". Amazon. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  19. Rege, Omkar (2 June 2013). "'Dhag', 'Bhartiya' rule at first Prabhat awards". Daily News Analysis. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  20. "12th Pune International Film Festival" (PDF). Pune International Film Festival. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2017.
  21. "Gewinner des 11. Indischen Filmfestivals Stuttgart" [Winner of the 11th Indian Film Festival Stuttgart] (in German). Indian Film Festival Stuttgart. Archived from the original on 8 September 2017. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  22. "Gauurikaa films@ASTUsobeit: ASTU SO BE IT Sweeps awards". Twitter. 1 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  23. "Nominations for MICTA films, theatre awards". Rangmarathi. 7 September 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  24. "New York Indian Film Festival 2014". New York Indian Film Festival. 10 May 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  25. "Zee Chitra Gaurav Awards 2017 Winners". Marathi Cineyug. 20 March 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2017.


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