Marathi Filmmaker, National Award-winner Sumitra Bhave passes away

Pune, April 19: Marathi film fraternity lost a gem today as acclaimed writer-director and National Award Winning filmmaker Sumitra Bhave breathed her last at the age of 78 in Pune. She was undergoing treatment in a private hospital. She was suffering from age-related ailments.

In her career spanning decades, Bhave, along with director Sunil Sukthankar, produced several excellent Marathi films. The duo has won various national and international accolades and is known for changing the landscape of Marathi cinema.

Bhave made her debut short film Bai. The film was well received and went on to win the National Film Award for Best Non-Feature Film on Family Welfare. Her next short film Paani, made in 1987, also fetched her another National Film Award. Some of her other films include Kaasav, Samhita, Astu, Welcome Home, Ek Cup Chya, Vaastupurush, Dahavi Fa, Devrai, Ha Bharat Majha, and others.

Bhave had also lent her voice as a narrator to Chaitanya Tamhane's film The Disciple, which has been executively produced by Alfonso Cuaron.