New Delhi: Smita Patil was a popular actress who was known for her powerful performances in mainstream as well as parallel cinema. She has worked with renowned filmmakers including Shyam Benegal, Govind Nihalani and Satyajit Ray. Some of her notable films are Manthan (1976), Arth (1982), Bhumika (1977), Chakra (1981), and Mirch Masala. Smita also broke the stereotype of a fair-skinned actress and embraced her dusky skin, challenging the beauty norms in the Hindi film industry.
On her birth anniversary, we bring you a list of her films that you will find relevant even in today’s time. A graduate of the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), she made a significant mark in the 1970s and 1980s.
Smita Patil movies
Manthan (1976)
Shyam Benegal’s directorial, Manthan, was India’s first crowd-funded film, starring Smita Patil, Naseerudding Shah, Girish Karnad, and Amrish Puri. Rated 7.7 out of 10 on IMDb, the film revolves around Dr Rao, who makes a visit to a village where he wants to set up a co-operative society dairy for the development of the rural India. Manthan is available to watch on YouTube.
Arth (1982)
Arth, directed by Mahesh Bhatt, starred Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi, and Kulbhushan Kharbanda. Arth revolves around the themes of infidelity, betrayal, and empowerment. The film is inspired by Mahesh Bhatt’s own life, particularly his relationship with Praveen Babi. The film revolves around Pooja who is left shattered after her husband Inder leaves her for another woman. Arth is available to watch on YouTube.
Namak Halaal (1982)
Prakash Mehra’s directorial, Namak Halal is a comedy-drama, starring Smita Patil and Amitabh Bachchan. The film revolves around an innocent villager named Arjun Singh who comes to the city to find work. He then gets a job at a five-star hotel owned by Raja. However, Arjun gets embroiled in misunderstandings, schemes and threats against Raja’s life. You can watch the film on JioCinema.
Waaris (1988)
Raj Babbar and Smita Patil starrer Waaris is a family drama that revolves around feuds and secrets within a wealthy family, It also stars Amrita Singh and Raj Kiran. You can watch the movie on JioCinema.
Mirch Masala (1987)
Helmed by Ketan Mehta, Mirch Masala is a psychological thriller starring Smita Patil Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Om Puri, Deepti Naval, and Supriya Pathak. The film revolves around a woman who fights against her oppressor. The film is available to watch on YouTube.
Smita Patil passed away at the age of 31 shortly after the birth of her son Prateik Babbar.
