Sumitra Bhave | |
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Born |
Pune |
12 January 1943
Residence | Pune |
Occupation | Filmmaker, Theatre director and producer, Screenwriter |
Years active | 1985—present |
Sunil Sukthankar | |
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Born |
Karad |
31 May 1966
Residence | Pune |
Occupation | Director, Actor, Lyricist, Writer. |
Years active | 1983 —present |
Sumitra Bhave (born 12 January 1943) and Sunil Sukthankar (born 31 May 1966) is an Indian filmmaker duo working predominantly in Marathi cinema and Marathi theatre. Bhave along with Sukthankar made fourteen feature films, more than fifty short films, and four TV serials; all of which have been written by Bhave. The duo has won various national and international accolades.
Bhave was born on 12 January 1943 in Pune. She completed her graduation from Fergusson College, Pune, and received a master's degree in Political and Science Sociology from Pune University. 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. 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. Bhave has published various investigation and research papers on the subject. She worked as a Marathi language newsreader with All India Radio, New Delhi.
Sukthankar was born on 31 May 1966 in Karad. 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.
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 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". Her next short film Paani, made in 1987, also fetched her another National Film Awards. The film was adjudged the Best Educational / Motivational / Instructional Film at the 35th National Film Awards. Bhave later made several other short films like Mukti (1990),Chakori (1992),Laha (1994), and Three Faces of Tomorrow. Bhave has received Chitra Ratna Puraskar and Kamdhenu Award for literary contribution.