Shobhana Samarth (17 November 1916 – 9 February 2000) was an Indian actress, director and producer who began her career in the early days of talkie movies in the Hindi film industry and continued in lead roles into the 1950s.
She started in
Marathi cinema
Marathi cinema is an Indian film industry of Marathi-language motion pictures. It is based in Mumbai, Maharashtra. Based in old Mumbai, it is the oldest film industry of Indian cinema. The first Marathi film to be released in India was ''Shre ...
. Her first
Hindi
Hindi (Devanāgarī: or , ), or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi (Devanagari: ), is an Indo-Aryan language spoken chiefly in the Hindi Belt region encompassing parts of northern, central, eastern, and western India. Hindi has been de ...
film, ''Nigahen Nafrat'', was released in 1935. She is best remembered for her portrayal of Sita in '' Ram Rajya'' (1943). In 1997, she was honoured with the
Filmfare Special Award
The Filmfare Special Award or Special Performance Award or Special Mention or Special Jury Award is given by the Filmfare magazine as part of its annual Filmfare Awards for Hindi films.
It acknowledges a special and unique performance and encoura ...
for her contribution to the arts.
Samarth later produced and directed a pair of movies that launched the careers of her daughters,
Nutan
Nutan Samarth Bahl (4 June 1936 – 21 February 1991), known mononymously as Nutan, was an Indian actress who worked in Hindi films. In a career spanning nearly four decades, she appeared in more than 70 films, mostly as a protagonist, in both b ...
and
Tanuja
Tanuja Samarth, known mononymously as Tanuja, is an Indian actress who predominantly works in the Hindi film industry. Part of the Mukherjee-Samarth family, she is the daughter of actress Shobhna Samarth and producer Kumarsen Samarth, and wa ...
.
Early life
Shobhana was born on 17 November 1916 in
Bombay
Mumbai (, ; also known as Bombay — the official name until 1995) is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra and the ''de facto'' financial centre of India. According to the United Nations, as of 2018, Mumbai is the second- ...
, British India, as Saroj Shilotri. An only child, her father Prabhakar Shilotri was a "pioneer banker", having started the Shilotri Bank in Bombay. Her mother
Rattan Bai
Rattan Bai (July 15, 1890January 1, 1986) was an Indian actress and singer. She was the mother of actress Shobhna Samarth, grandmother of actresses Nutan and Tanuja, great-grandmother of actresses Kajol, Tanishaa Mukerji and actor Mohnish B ...
, in 1936, acted in the film ''Frontiers of Freedom'', in Marathi (''Swarajyachya Seemewar'').
Shobhna studied initially in Cathedral School, Bombay, for one year. In 1928 her father suffered financial losses and the business went into liquidation. The family then shifted to
Bangalore
Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...
in 1931, where Shobhana attended
Baldwin Girls High School
Baldwin Girls' High School (BGHS), founded in 1880, is an all-girls Methodist school and one of the oldest in Bangalore, India. The school follows the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education syllabus and has classes from pre-nursery up to th ...
. To earn a living, her father taught students on a private basis, while her mother taught in a
Marathi
Marathi may refer to:
*Marathi people, an Indo-Aryan ethnolinguistic group of Maharashtra, India
*Marathi language, the Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people
*Palaiosouda, also known as Marathi, a small island in Greece
See also
*
* ...
school.
In December that year, her father died of a heart attack and the mother and daughter returned to Bombay to stay with her maternal uncle. Shobhana studied in a
convent school
Catholic schools are pre-primary, primary and secondary educational institutions administered under the aegis or in association with the Catholic Church. , the Catholic Church operates the world's largest religious, non-governmental school syste ...
, but was unable to complete her matriculation, as she had begun her film career by then. Shobhana also taught privately to make money.
During this time she met her future husband
Kumarsen Samarth
Kumarsen Samarth ( mr, कुमारसेन समर्थ) was an Indian film director. He belonged to a Marathi CKP family. His inclination towards the Marathi language led him to direct some great Marathi/Hindi movies such as ''Nal Damy ...
, who had just returned from Germany and was keen on directing films. They got engaged and she started work on her first film. Her uncle was opposed to her acting in films, and she and her mother moved out of his home (ironically his daughter and Shobhana's cousin
Nalini Jaywant
Nalini Jaywant (18 February 1926 – 22 December 2010) was an Indian actress who appeared in Hindi films in the 1940s and 1950s.
Background and personal life
Jaywant was born in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1926. She was first cousin of actre ...
herself became an actress).
Career
Shobana's first film was "Orphans Of Society" (1935), also called ''Nigahe Nafrat'' or ''Vilasi Ishwar'' for Kolhapur Cinetone, directed by Vinayak and starring Vinayak and Baburao Pendharkar. The film was not a success, but Shobhana was critically acclaimed for her role.
The film was bilingual, made in
Sarvottam Badami
Sarvottam Badami (1910–2005) was an Indian film director of Hindi, Tamil and Telugu films. He started his career as a sound recordist for the first talkie in India, '' Alam Ara'' (1931). In 1948 he helped set up the Films Division for news- ...
Sitara Devi
Sitara Devi (named Dhanlakshm; 8 November 1920 – 25 November 2014) was an Indian dancer of the classical Kathak style of dancing, a singer, and an actress. She was the recipient of several awards and accolades, and performed at several pres ...
. Her other film for Sagar was ''Do Diwane'' (1936), directed by C. M. Luhar and co-starring Motilal, Yakub and
Aruna Devi
Aruna Devi is an Indian politician from Bharatiya Janata Party, Bihar who is currently Member of Bihar Legislative Assembly representing Warisaliganj (Vidhan Sabha constituency), Warisaliganj of Nawada district. She was elected as the Member of ...
.
By the end of 1937, Shobhana left Sagar and joined General Films, acting in ''Industrial India'' (Nirala Hindustan), directed by Mohan Sinha with
Prem Adib
Prem Adib (10 August 1917 – 25 December 1959) was an Indian actor. He was acclaimed as one of the top Bollywood actors of the 1940s, along with the likes of Pahari Sanyal, Ashok Kumar, P. C. Barua and Master Vinayak. Adib is best remembered ...
and Wasti. The second film for them was ''Pati Patni'' (1939), directed by V. M. Gunjal with co-stars Yakub,
Sitara Devi
Sitara Devi (named Dhanlakshm; 8 November 1920 – 25 November 2014) was an Indian dancer of the classical Kathak style of dancing, a singer, and an actress. She was the recipient of several awards and accolades, and performed at several pres ...
and
Wasti Wasti or Wasiti is a toponymic surname originating from the city of Wasit, Iraq. Twelver Shias in India and Pakistan descending from Zayd ibn Ali also carry the surname along with Zaidi. Notable people bearing the name include:
* Abu Bakr Muhamma ...
.
By 1939, she had joined Hindustan Cinetone, making four films with them, which included ''Kaun Kisi ka'' (1939), ''Saubhagya'' (1940) by C. M. Luhar, and ''Apni Nagariya'' (1940) by V. M. Gunjal. She then worked in a film directed by her husband, Kumar Sen Samarth, called ''Ghar Javai'' (1941), where she was cast with Damuanna Malvankar.
In 1942 came her career-defining film ''Bharat Milap'', directed by Vijay Bhatt and starring
Durga Khote
Durga Khote (14 January 1905 − 22 September 1991) was an Indian actress, beginning as one of the foremost leading ladies of her times, she remained active in Hindi and Marathi cinema, as well as theatre, for over 50 years, starring in around ...
as Kaikeyi, Shobhana as Sita and
Prem Adib
Prem Adib (10 August 1917 – 25 December 1959) was an Indian actor. He was acclaimed as one of the top Bollywood actors of the 1940s, along with the likes of Pahari Sanyal, Ashok Kumar, P. C. Barua and Master Vinayak. Adib is best remembered ...
as Ram. Following this was ''Ram Rajya'' in 1943, and Shobhana became identified as Sita, leading to several other films where they recreated the roles. Shobhana as
Sita
Sita (; ) also called as Janaki and Vaidehi is a Hindu goddess and the female protagonist of the Hindu epic, ''Ramayana''. She is the consort of Rama, the avatar of the god Vishnu, and is regarded as a form of Vishnu's consort, Lakshmi. She ...
and Prem Adib as
Rama
Rama (; ), Ram, Raman or Ramar, also known as Ramachandra (; , ), is a major deity in Hinduism. He is the seventh and one of the most popular '' avatars'' of Vishnu. In Rama-centric traditions of Hinduism, he is considered the Supreme Bein ...
became extremely popular and were accepted by the audiences and had them featuring as Rama and Sita on calendars.
Personal life
Shobhana was married to director and cinematographer
Kumarsen Samarth
Kumarsen Samarth ( mr, कुमारसेन समर्थ) was an Indian film director. He belonged to a Marathi CKP family. His inclination towards the Marathi language led him to direct some great Marathi/Hindi movies such as ''Nal Damy ...
from Vile Parle (E), Mumbai. They had three daughters,
Nutan
Nutan Samarth Bahl (4 June 1936 – 21 February 1991), known mononymously as Nutan, was an Indian actress who worked in Hindi films. In a career spanning nearly four decades, she appeared in more than 70 films, mostly as a protagonist, in both b ...
,
Tanuja
Tanuja Samarth, known mononymously as Tanuja, is an Indian actress who predominantly works in the Hindi film industry. Part of the Mukherjee-Samarth family, she is the daughter of actress Shobhna Samarth and producer Kumarsen Samarth, and wa ...
and Chatura and a son, Jaideep. Eventually, the couple parted amicably and Shobhana became linked to actor
Motilal Rajvansh
Motilal Rajvansh (4 December 1910 – 17 June 1965) was an Indian actor and the winner of Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for '' Devdas'' (1955) and '' Parakh'' (1960). He is credited with being among Hindi cinema's first natural actors.
...
.
Two of her daughters, Nutan and Tanuja, also became actresses. Shobhana produced their debut films. Her other daughter, Chatura, is an artist and her son Jaideep is an advertising film producer. Chatura and Jaideep never acted in films.
Nutan's son Mohnish Bahl is also an actor, as are Tanuja's daughters Kajol and
Tanishaa Mukerji
Tanisha Mukerji is an Indian actress known for her works in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil films. Part of the Mukherjee-Samarth family, she is the daughter of filmmaker Shomu Mukherjee and actress Tanuja, and the younger sister of actress Kajol. She m ...
. Kajol is married to actor Ajay Devgan. Other members of the dynasty include
Shomu Mukherjee
Shomu Mukherjee (also spelt Shomu Mukherji; 19 June 1943 – 10 April 2008) was an Indian director, writer, and producer.
Filmography
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mukherjee, Shomu
Film producers from Jharkhand
Bengali ...
, who married Tanuja.
She and her daughter Nutan were estranged for more than two decades, but reconciled in the year 1983 before Nutan's death from cancer in February 1991. At her own death from cancer in 2000, Shobhana had seven granddaughters, one grandson, three great-granddaughters, and two great-grandsons.1st Filmfare Awards, 1953 /ref>
Savera
''Savera'' is a Bollywood drama film directed by Virendra C. Desai. It was released in 1942
Events
Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix.
January
* January 1 – WWII: The Declaration by United Nations is sig ...
'' (1942)
*''
Vijay Lakshmi
''Vijay Lakshmi'' is a Bollywood film. It was released in 1943
Events
Below, the events of World War II have the "WWII" prefix.
January
* January 1 – WWII: The Soviet Union announces that 22 German divisions have been encircled at ...
Veer Kunal
''Veer Kunal'' (Valiant Kunal) also called ''Son Of Ashoka'' is a 1945 Hindi historical fiction film directed by Kishore Sahu. Besides directing the film Sahu also produced it and wrote the story and screenplay. The cinematographer was Chandu. P ...
'' (1945)
*''
Taramati
Taramati is one of two peaks on Harishchandragad. This is the Sixth Highest Peak in Maharashtra State (1431 m/ 4695 ft above sea level) and is ranked just after Salher
Salher is a place located near Waghamba in Satana tehsil in Nashik d ...
Rambaan
''Rambaan'' (Rama's Arrow) is a 1948 Indian film with a mythological theme, directed by Vijay Bhatt. Made under the banner of Prakash Pictures, it had music by Shankar Rao Vyas. The story writer was Mohanlal Dave with dialogue by Pandit Girish. T ...
'' (1948)
*''
Narasinha Avatar
''Narasinha Avatar'' (The Incarnation of Narsinha) is a 1949 Hindi mythological film produced and directed by Sohrab Modi.
Made under the Minerva Movietone banner, it had music composed by Vasant Desai with lyrics by Narendra Sharma. The story ...
Love in Simla
''Love In Simla'' is a 1960 Indian romance film, produced by Sashadhar Mukherjee and his Filmalaya production house. Directed by R. K. Nayyar, who co-wrote the script with Agha Jani, the film had the producer's son, Joy Mukherjee, in the lead r ...
'' (1960)
*''
Chhalia
''Chhalia'' is a 1960 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Manmohan Desai. It stars Raj Kapoor, Nutan, Pran, Rehman and Shobhna Samarth. The story is loosely based on the 1848 short story "White Nights" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, but is ...
Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal
''Nai Umar Ki Nai Fasal'' is a Hindi film starring Tanuja and Rajeev. It was directed by R. Chandra. The film was released on 1 January 1966.
The film was shot in the Aligarh Muslim University campus.
Plot
This is a story of a student, who in ...
Ek Bar Mooskura Do
''Ek Bar Mooskura Do'' (English: Smile once) is a 1972 Bollywood drama film directed by Ram Mukherjee. The film stars Joy Mukherjee, Tanuja and Deb Mukherjee. O. P. Nayyar's hit music was one of the plus point of this film. Almost all the songs ...
'' (1972)
*''
Do Chor
''Do Chor'' () is a 1972 Hindi romantic drama film produced by Raj Khosla and directed by Padmanabh. It stars Dharmendra, Tanuja, Shobhana Samarth, K.N. Singh, Trilok Kapoor and Jalal Agha. The music is by R.D. Burman and the lyrics by Majrooh ...
'' (1972)
*''
Panitheeratha Veedu
''Panitheeratha Veedu'' () is a 1973 Indian Malayalam-language film, directed by K. S. Sethumadhavan. The film stars Prem Nazir, Nanditha Bose, Roja Ramani and Jose Prakash. It is an adaptation of Parappurath's 1964 novel of the same name. It wo ...
'' (1973)
*''
Ghar Dwaar
''Ghar Dwaar'' is a 1985 Hindi family drama film starring Tanuja and Sachin Pilgaonkar in the lead roles. The film was remade in Telugu as ''Aadi Dampatulu'', in Kannada as ''Maneye Manthralaya'' and in Tamil as '' Kudumbam Oru Kovil''.
Plot
Dha ...
'' (1985)
As Director
*''Hamari Beti'' (1950)
*''
Chhabili
''Chhabili'' is 1960 Hindi drama film directed by Shobhna Samarth under the banner of Shobhana Pictures. The film was made by Samarth to launch her daughter Tanuja.
Cast
* Nutan
* K. N. Singh
* Tanuja
* Helen
* Agha
* Iftekhar
Sayedn ...
'' (1960)
*''Shaukar'', produced and directed by S. Khalil