Towson University - Spring 2022

Marketing 150, Chapter 6 Presentation

Professor Brodi, Section 2

February 24, 2022

In contrast, Patil's performance in the marital drama Arth (1982) was highly appreciated.

For her portrayal as "the other woman" while acting opposite Shabana Azmi, she earned a

second nomination for the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. (Anderson, 2019)

Teacher’s Note: Proofread your work for grammatical errors.

PRESENTATION SLIDES:

Slide 1 Title: Important Facts

During this time, she also starred in several notable Marathi film Umbartha (1982), winning

her second Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Marathi for her performance in the films. Patil

gradually moved to more commercial cinema. In an interview, she stated:"I remained

committed to small cinema for about five years ... I refused all commercial offers. Around

1977–78, the small cinema movement started picking up and they needed names. I was

unceremoniously dropped from a couple of projects. This was a very subtle thing but it

affected me a lot. I told myself that here I am and I have not bothered to make money. I have

turned down big, commercial offers because of my commitment to small cinema and what

have I got in return? If they want names I'll make a name for myself. So I started and took

whatever came my way." In time, commercial filmmakers like Raj Khosla, Ramesh Sippy and

B.R. Chopra offered her roles, agreeing that she was "excellent".
Slide 2 Title: Summary

Her fans, too, grew with her new-found stardom. Patil's glamorous roles in her more

commercial films, such as Shakti (1982) and Namak Halaal (1982) with Amitabh Bachchan.

She showed that one can act in both, "serious" cinema and the "Hindi cinema" masala in the

Hindi film industry. However, her sister Manya Patil Seth stated, "Smita was never

comfortable in big-budget movies. She wept her heart out after performing the rain dance

with Mr Bachchan in Namak Halaal; she felt she wasn't doing the right thing." In 1984, she

served as a jury member of the Montreal World Film Festival. Patil acted with Raj Babbar in

films such as Bheegi Palkein, Tajurba, Aaj Ki Awaaz, Awam and Hum Do Hamare Do and

later fell in love with him. Director C. V. Sridhar was the first one to pair her opposite Rajesh

Khanna in Dil-E-Nadan in 1982. After the success of this film, Patil and Khanna were paired

in successful films like Aakhir Kyon?, Anokha Rishta, Angaarey, Nazrana, Amrit. With the

release of Aakhir Kyon? her popularity and her pairing with Khanna were at its peak. The

songs "Dushman Na Kare Dost Ne Woh" and "Ek Andhera Lakh Sitare" from Aakhir Kyon?

were chartbusters.

Slide 3 Title: Summary

Each of these films were different and dealt with various social issues. Their performances

were critically acclaimed. In 1986, Amrit directed by Mohan Kumar became the fifth

highest-grossing film of the year. Nazrana, co-starring Sridevi released posthumously and

became a box office success and was among the top 10 films of 1987. Patil's association with

artistic cinema remained strong, however. Her arguably greatest (and unfortunately final)

role came when Patil re-teamed with Ketan Mehta to play the feisty and fiery Sonbai in

Mirch Masala, which released after her death in 1987. Patil's performance as a spirited
spice-factory worker who stands up against a lecherous petty official in this film was highly

praised, and won her the Bengal Film Journalists' Association Award for Best Actress

(Hindi). On the centenary of Indian cinema in April 2013, Forbes included her performance

in the film on its list, "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema". The Washington

Post called her work "an enigmatically feisty final performance". === Posthumous films

(1987-1989) ===

Some of Patil's last work and posthumous releases include the Bengali film Debshishu,

where she worked without remuneration, Hum Farishte Nahin, Dance Dance, Insaniyat Ke

Dushman, Thikana, Oonch Neech Beech and Waaris. Patil was pregnant during the filming of

Thikana. For Waaris, Patil received wide acclaim. The 1989 film Galiyon Ke Badshah marked

her final film appearance.

Slide 4 Title: Discussion

For Waris, Patil won her final acting award, the Lux Award for Best Actress. == Personal life

==

Patil was an active feminist and was member of the Women's Centre in Mumbai. She

attempted to portray women's issues through her different films. She was also involved in

charity work, donating the winnings of her first National Award to charity. When Patil

became romantically involved with actor Raj Babbar, she drew severe criticism from her

fans and the media, clouding her personal life and throwing her into the eye of a media

storm. Raj Babbar left his wife Nadira Babbar to marry Patil. Babbar and Patil first met on

the sets of the 1982 film Bheegi Palkein. Their son, actor Prateik Babbar was born on 28

November 1986. == Death ==

Patil died from childbirth complications (Puerperal sepsis) on 13 December 1986, age 31.

Nearly two decades later, notable film director Mrinal Sen alleged that Patil had died due to
"gross medical negligence". After Patil's death, her son was raised by her parents in

Mumbai. According to the media, she died an idol, a cult figure reaching beyond her grave.

On her death, poet Kaifi Azmi said in his inaugural speech at a charity function, "Smita Patil

is not dead.

References:

1. Wikipedia (n.d.)