Nutan Samarth | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1936-06-04)4 June 1936 Bombay, British India |
| Died | 21 February 1991(1991-02-21) (aged 54) Bombay,Maharashtra, India |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1950–1991 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | Mohnish Bahl |
| Parents |
|
| Relatives | Mukherjee-Samarth family |
| Honours | Padma Shri (1974) |
Nutan Samarth-Bahl (néeSamarth; 4 June 1936 – 21 February 1991), known mononymously asNutan was an Indian actress who worked inHindi films. Regarded as one of the finest actresses in the history ofIndian cinema, Nutan was noted for her naturalistic acting in parts of conflicted women often deemed unconventional.[1][2] In a career spanning four decades, she appeared inmore than 80 films, that ranged in genre from urban romances to socio-realist dramas. She was the recipient of sevenFilmfare Awards, including a then-record fiveFilmfare Awards for Best Actress. In 1974, Nutan received thePadma Shri, India's fourth highest civilian award.[3][4]
Born in Bombay to filmmakerKumarsen Samarth and film actressShobhna Samarth, Nutan started her career at the age of 14 in the 1950 filmHamari Beti, directed by her mother. She subsequently starred in the filmsNagina andHum Log (both 1951). Her role inSeema (1955) garnered her wider recognition and her firstFilmfare Award for Best Actress. She continued playing leading roles through the 1960s until the late 1970s and went onto win the award on four other occasions for her roles inSujata (1959),Bandini (1963),Milan (1967) andMain Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978). Some of her other films of this period includeAnari (1959),Chhalia (1960),Tere Ghar Ke Saamne (1963),Khandan (1965),Saraswatichandra (1968),Anuraag (1972) andSaudagar (1973).
In the 1980s, Nutan started playing character roles and continued working until shortly before her death. She portrayed mostly motherly roles in such films asSaajan Ki Saheli (1981),Meri Jung (1985) andNaam (1986). Her performance inMeri Jung earned her a sixth and final Filmfare Award, in theBest Supporting Actress category. Nutan was married tonavalLieutenant-Commander Rajnish Bahl from 1959 until her death frombreast cancer in 1991. Their only child, sonMohnish Bahl is an actor.[5]
Nutan Samarth-Bahl was born on 4 June 1936 in Bombay into aMarathiHindu family as the eldest of four children to director-poetKumarsen Samarth[6][7] and his actress wife and filmmakerShobhna.[8] Kumarsen was one of the early developers of the Films Division of India.[9] Her maternal grandmotherRattan Bai and her auntNalini Jaywant were also actors.[10] She grew up with complexes as she was considered too skinny in her childhood.[7][11] She had two sisters: actressTanuja and Chatura and a brother Jaideep.[12] Her parents separated before Jaideep's birth. ActressesKajol andTanishaa Mukerji are Nutan's nieces. Her niece Kajol later shared her record for most Filmfare Best Actress wins.[13][14]
As a child, Nutan went to Villa Theresa School and was later educated at theBaldwin Girls' High School in Bangalore.[6][15] While she was attracted to the performing arts since childhood and liked singing and dancing, she liked arithmetic and geography at school. She took lessons in classical music for four years under Jagannath Prasad.[6] In 1953, when her film career had already started, she headed to Switzerland for further studies at La Chatelaine, a finishing school.[16][17] She was sent there at the behest of her mother following Nutan's intensive work in films and major weight loss. She described the one year spent there as the happiest in her life and returned home a year later having gained 22 pounds.[16][18]
Nutan first appeared briefly in front of the camera as a child in her father's filmNal Damyanti in 1945.[6][7] She started her career at age 14 by playing the protagonist inHamari Beti (1950), directed by her mother.[6] She was conflicted during the making of the film, unsure she could pull it off given how critical she was of her appearance and talents. She took part inSnehal Bhatkar's soundtrack for the film, singing the song "Tujhe Kaisa Dulha Bhaaye Re".[19] The film released to considerable attention for Nutan's work.The Motion Picture Magazine gave a scathing review of the film but took note of Nutan's "fine performance", which showed "great promise".[20] She recalled an instance where her relatives changed their mind about her after watching the film: "The relatives who called me ugly changed their opinions overnight. They said they were proud of me."[21]
Ravindra Dave's suspense thrillerNagina (1951) followed, and Nutan's performance in the film gained her greater recognition.[6] The film became her first commercial success.[7] Aged 15 at the time of its release, she was not allowed to attend its premiere as it was certified "A: (restricted for adults) and she was underage.[16] The social dramaHum Log, released the same year, was similarly popular with audiences.[22] Directed byZia Sarhadi, the film dealt with the trials and tribulations of a middle-class family and starred Nutan as the daughter Paro, an aspiring writer who suffers from tuberculosis.[23]Nagina andHum Log consolidated her position as a rising star.[6][24]
The following year, she participated at the 1952Femina Miss India contest, where she was crowned Miss Mussoorie, before being sent to Switzerland for further studies due to her weight loss and frail appearance.[24][17][25]
Her first big break wasSeema (1955), for which she won her firstFilmfare Award for Best Actress.[26][27] She followed her success with a romantic comedy,Paying Guest, in which she co-starred withDev Anand. By the late 1950s she was an established star.[28] In 1959, she starred in two hit films,Anari (withRaj Kapoor) andBimal Roy'sSujata (withSunil Dutt), for which she won her second Filmfare Award for Best Actress.[29] In the 1960s and 1970s, she had many more successful films includingChhalia (1960),Saraswatichandra (1968),Devi (1970) andMain Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978).[30][31]
In 1960, she starred oppositeRaj Kapoor once again inManmohan Desai'sChhalia,[32] which earned her a Filmfare nomination for Best Actress. In a film review at the time,Filmfare wrote: "As the unfortunate girl disowned by her relatives for no fault of hers, Nutan puts over a superb and memorable portrayal."[33][34]
She formed a popular screen couple with co-starDev Anand and the two acted in four films together –Paying Guest (1957),Baarish (1957),Manzil (1960) andTere Ghar Ke Samne (1963).[35][36]
"Nutan’s masterful performance of a jilted young woman who murders her lover’s wife in Bimal Roy’s classic is arguably the best acting by a lead actress in Indian cinema. Nutan’s genius lay in portraying a whole range of emotions without resorting to over-the-top histrionics. The pièce de résistance is the scene in which her face conveys conflicting sentiments as she is about to commit the murder."
Bimal Roy's socio-realistBandini (1963) is based onTamasi, a Bengali novel by Jarasandha, and stars Nutan as Kalyani, a young prisoner convicted for poisoning the wife of her lover (Ashok Kumar).[38] The story follows her life in prison and how she is later faced with a choice between her past love and a young prison doctor (Dharmendra) who falls in love with her.[39] Having quit acting after marriage, Nutan was persuaded to accept the part by Roy, who asserted that he would abandon the project if she refused.[40] She was pregnant during the making of the film.[41][39]
Bandini was a major critical success, and Nutan received career-best reviews for her portrayal, which is often cited as one of the finest performances of Indian cinema.[42][43] The film won six awards at the11th Filmfare Awards, includingBest Film and a third Best Actress for Nutan.[44] TheBengal Film Journalists' Association rankedBandini as the third-best Indian film of the year and acknowledged Nutan with theBest Actress award in its Hindi section.[45] Author and criticDinesh Raheja wrote: "Sans screaming hysteria-niks, Nutan puts across one of the finest performances seen on Hindi screen. She recognised and was perfectly in tandem with Kalyani's innate strength of character."[46] In 2010,Filmfare included her performance in its "80 Iconic Performances" list.[47]Anupama Chopra included the film in her list of "The 20 Best Hindi Films Ever Made", calling Kalyani "one of Hindi cinema's most complex and fully realized female characters", which was "the role of a lifetime" for Nutan, whose "face raged with a grand passion and a quiet grace".[48] In 2013,Forbes India listed Nutan's performance as one of the "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema", hailing her work as "the best acting by a lead actress in Indian cinema".[37]
Her fourth Filmfare win came forMilan (1967). She starred opposite Amitabh Bachchan in 1973'sSaudagar (1973), for which she received a sixth Filmfare nomination and a third BFJA award. In 1978, she made an astonishing return to the screen as the righteous Sanjukta Chauhan inMain Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978).[49] For this performance, she received an eighth Filmfare nomination and won her fifth Filmfare Award for Best Actress, at the age of 42. She thus became a record holder in the category, having won five awards for Best Actress at Filmfare. At age 42, she is also the oldest winner of the award. Nutan was perhaps the only actress of her generation to command leading roles in her 40s, with tremendous success.
Following this, she starred inSaajan Ki Saheli (1981), as an ignorant, jealous wife to a husband who knowingly befriends the daughter she abandoned at childbirth.[50] In the 1980s, she played roles in blockbuster films such asMeri Jung (1985),Naam (1986) andKarma (1986).[51]Karma was notable for being the first time she was paired with actorDilip Kumar.[52] ForMeri Jung, she won theFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her last film released while she was alive wasKanoon Apna Apna in 1989. She died in 1991 of cancer.[53] Two of her filmsNaseebwala (1992) andInsaniyat (1994) were released after her death. She also gave a stellar performance as Kaliganj Ki Bahu in the TV serialMujrim Hazir, her only role on the small screen.[54][55] Nutan also sang two songs, one inPaying Guest and the other inChhabili.[56][57]
Nutan marriedIndian Navy's Lieutenant-Commander Rajnish Bahl on 11 October 1959.[58] Their only sonMohnish, was born on 14 August 1961, who is an established television and film actor. Her son is married to actressEkta Sohini.[59] His daughter (Nutan's granddaughter)Pranutan Bahl, named after Nutan, is also a film actress. Nutan was fond of hunting.[60] Her husband died from afire accident in his apartment in 2004.[61][62]
Nutan was diagnosed and treated forbreast cancer in 1990.[63] In February 1991, she was admitted toBreach Candy Hospital inMumbai after she fell ill. At that time, she was filmingGarajna andInsaniyat. She died at 12:07 p.m. (IST) on 21 February 1991.[64][65]
Nutan is regarded as one of the greatest actors ofIndian cinema.[66] She was noted for her willingness to play unconventional roles and several of her roles were labelled "path-breaking". In 2011,Rediff.com listed her as the third-greatest actress of all-time afterNargis andSmita Patil.[67] In 2012, Nutan was placed 10th byNDTV in its "The Most Popular Actress of All Time" list.[68] In 2022, she was placed inOutlook India's 75 Best Bollywood Actresses list.[69]Times of India's placed her in their "50 Beautiful Faces" list.[70] In 2023, journalistRajeev Masand named her one of Hindi cinema's best actresses of all time.[71]
"Bandini is perhaps Nutan's best role ever. Nutan goes through all the phases of a girl struck by love – the first flush when colour comes to her cheeks upon the mere mention of name, the happiness she feels while playing his pretend-wife. Nutan looks maddened with grief and hatred when she does the acts most foul. Her inner struggle as she reflects between choosing her first love and old is perhaps one the best scenes ever filmed."
Filmfare termed her face "camera-friendly" and said, "Apart from a lissome figure Nutan was gifted with one of the most camera-friendly faces in the industry. One could film her from any angle and it came out perfect."[72] Actresses such asSadhana andSmita Patil noted Nutan as their influence.[73] Sadhana was once quoted as saying: "If there was any actress I modeled myself in the lines of it was the versatile Nutan inSeema,Sujata andBandini.Parakh was a film where I really followed Nutan."[74] FilmmakerSanjay Leela Bhansali said, "They don't make actresses like her anymore."[75] SingerLata Mangeshkar said that Nutan was an actress who did justice to her voice on screen.[76]
M.L. Dhawan ofThe Tribune noted, "Nutan fine-tuned her dialogue delivery with an evocative voice. A natural throw was the hallmark of Nutan's dialogue delivery. She was low key and mellow as she was peppery and sarcastic and yet made a strong impact. She either played the main part or at least shared equal footing with the male counterpart."[77][78] According toEncyclopædia Britannica, Nutan had "developed a natural acting style underBimal Roy's direction."[79] Arushi Jain ofThe Indian Express stated, "The actor left an indelible mark on the minds of those who had the fortune of watching her on the silver screen." Shantanu Ray Chaudhuri ofThe Telegraph noted, "Nutan essayed a range of roles that measured up both critically and as a star."[80][81] Nutan was known for her nuanced portrayal and for her female characters that stood "shoulder-to-shoulder" with the male characters.[82] Nutan's performance inBandini was list in "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema" byForbes.Filmfare's "80 Iconic Performances" list placed her 49th for the same film.[37][47]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Hamari Beti | Beti | [83] | |
| 1951 | Nagina | Mukta | ||
| Hum Log | Paro | |||
| 1952 | Shisham | |||
| Parbat | Parbat | |||
| 1953 | Laila Majnu | Laila | ||
| Aaghosh | Meera | |||
| Malkin | ||||
| 1954 | Shabaab | |||
| 1955 | Seema | Gauri | Won -Filmfare Award for Best Actress | [84] |
| 1956 | Heer | Heer | ||
| 1957 | Baarish | Chanda | ||
| Paying Guest | Shanti | [85] | ||
| Zindagi Ya Toofan | ||||
| 1958 | Chandan | |||
| Dilli Ka Thug | Asha | |||
| Kabhi Andhera Kabhi Ujala | ||||
| Sone Ki Chidiya | Laxmi | |||
| Aakhri Daao | ||||
| Light House | ||||
| 1959 | Anari | Aarti Sohanlal | [86] | |
| Kanhaiya | Shanno | |||
| Sujata | Sujata | Won - Filmfare Award for Best Actress | [87] | |
| 1960 | Basant | Meenakshi Rai | ||
| Chhabili | ||||
| Chhalia | Shanti | Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Actress | [32] | |
| Manzil | Pushpa | |||
| 1962 | Soorat Aur Seerat | |||
| 1963 | Bandini | Kalyani | Won - Filmfare Award for Best Actress | [88] |
| Dil Hi To Hai | Jameela | [89] | ||
| Tere Ghar Ke Samne | Sulekha | |||
| 1964 | Chandi Ki Deewar | |||
| 1965 | Khandan | Radha | ||
| Rishte Naate | Savitri | |||
| 1966 | Chhota Bhai | Annapoorna | ||
| Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya | Ashoo / Shabnam | |||
| 1967 | Dulhan Ek Raat Ki | Nirmala | ||
| Laat Saheb | Nikki | |||
| Milan | Radha | Won - Filmfare Award for Best Actress | [90] | |
| Mehrban | Laxmi | |||
| Mera Munna | Seema | |||
| 1968 | Gauri | Gauri | [91] | |
| Saraswatichandra | Kumud Sundari | [92] | ||
| 1969 | Bhai Bahen | Mala | ||
| 1970 | Maa Aur Mamta | Maya | ||
| Devi | Devi | |||
| Maharaja | Kamla | |||
| Yaadgaar | Bhavna | |||
| 1971 | Lagan | Shanti | ||
| 1972 | Anuraag | Anu Rai | Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress | [93] |
| Grahan | ||||
| Mangetar | ||||
| 1973 | Saudagar | Mahjubi | Nominated - Filmfare Award for Best Actress | [94] |
| 1975 | Jogidas Khuman | |||
| 1976 | Zid | [95] | ||
| 1977 | Mandir Masjid | |||
| Jagriti | ||||
| Duniyadari | Sushila | |||
| Paradh | Vidya | Marathi film | ||
| 1978 | Ek Baap Chhe Bete | Joyce Fernandes | ||
| Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki | Sanjukta Chouhan | Won - Filmfare Award for Best Actress | [citation needed] | |
| Saajan Bina Suhagan | Asha Chopra | |||
| Hamara Sansar | Geeta | |||
| 1980 | Kasturi | Prameela | [96] | |
| Sanjh Ki Bela | ||||
| 1981 | Saajan Ki Saheli | Kunti Kumar | ||
| 1982 | Teri Maang Sitaron Se Bhar Doon | Kamini 'Lalli' | ||
| Jeeo Aur Jeene Do | Dr. Sita | |||
| 1983 | Rishta Kagaz Ka | Suman | [97] | |
| 1985 | Yudh | Savitri Devi | ||
| Paisa Yeh Paisa | Laxmi | |||
| Meri Jung | Mrs. Aarti Verma | Won -Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress | [98] | |
| Yeh Kaisa Farz | ||||
| Pyari Bhabhi | ||||
| 1986 | Sajna Saath Nibhana | Shobha Rana | ||
| Karma | Mrs. Vishwanath Pratap Singh | [99] | ||
| Naam | Janki Kapoor | [100] | ||
| Ricky | Seeta | |||
| 1987 | Hifazat | Laxmi | ||
| 1988 | Sone Pe Suhaaga | Usha | [101] | |
| 1989 | Mujrim | Yashoda Bose | ||
| Kanoon Apna Apna | Laxmi Singh | [102] | ||
| Guru | Yashoda Shrivastav | [103] | ||
| 1990 | Aulaad Ki Khatir | |||
| 1991 | Garajna | Unreleased | ||
| 1992 | Naseebwala | Sharda | ||
| Deewana Aashiq | Seema | |||
| 1994 | Insaniyat | Shanti Devi | [104] |
| Year | Award | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Padma Shri | Contribution in the field of Arts | Honoured | [105] |
Filmfare Award for Best Actress
| Year | Film | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | Seema | Won | [106] |
| 1960 | Sujata | Won | |
| 1961 | Chhalia | Nominated | [107] |
| 1964 | Bandini | Won | [108] |
| 1968 | Milan | Won | |
| 1974 | Saudagar | Nominated | [109] |
| 1979 | Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki | Won | [110] |
Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress
| Year | Film | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Anuraag | Nominated | [109] |
| Saudagar | Nominated | ||
| 1979 | Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki | Nominated | [111] |
| 1986 | Meri Jung | Won | [112] |
| Year | Note | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Cine Icon award for her enduring legacy in Hindi cinema | Honoured |
BFJA Award for Best Actress (Hindi)
| Year | Film | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Bandini | Won | [45] |
| 1968 | Milan | Won | [113] |
| 1974 | Saudagar | Won | [114] |
Nutan's narrative is depicted in the bookNutan – Asen Mi Nasen Mi (meaning 'whether I will exist or not') written by famous Marathi author Lalita Tamhane.[115][116] Her biography was launched by actressMadhuri Dixit in 2016.[117] In February 2011, a postage stamp, bearing Nutan's photo, was released to honour her by the Government of India.[118] On Nutan's 81st birthday in 2017,Google commemorated her with aDoodle.[119][120]
Giving her a tribute, singerLata Mangeshkar said, "If one has to rank the actresses by their acting prowess, the name of Nutan will be at the top."[121] ActressSonam Kapoor recreated the famous Nutan pose fromSaraswatichandra and termed the actress her "favourite".[122] ActressTara Sutaria termed Nutan "fascinating" and said that her generation misses out on Nutan's "adaa and nazaaqat".[123] Lalit Kumar noted that the actress performed "every role with a certain moral superiority and grace".[124]The Bimal Roy Film and Memorial Society organised a three-day retrospective to mark her 83rd birth anniversary in 2019.[125]
In the event, Shobhana married Kumarsen Samarth — one of the early developers of the Films Division of India — who hailed from the same CKP community.
Nutan. She grew with complexes, she was termed skinny and ugly, yet her eyes told tales from the depth of the heart and she gave us more than three decades of her life. Daughter of an established actress Shobana Samarth, Nutan was born on June 4, 1936 in Mumbai..."
Nutan also sang a few lines inPaying Guest.
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