Durga Khote
Durga Khote | |
---|---|
Born | Vita Lad 14 January 1905 |
Died | 22 September 1991 | (aged 86)
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1931–1983 |
Family | Viju Khote(nephew) Shubha Khote(niece) Bhavna Balsavar(grand-niece) |
Awards | |
Honours |
|
Durga Khote(14 January 1905 − 22 September 1991) was an Indian actress, beginning as one of the foremost leading ladies of her time. She remained active inHindiandMarathi cinema,as well astheatre,for over 50 years, starring in around 200 films and numerous theatre productions.
In 2000, in a millennium issue,India Todaynamed her among "100 People Who Shaped India", noting: "Durga Khote marks the pioneering phase for women inIndian Cinema",[1]she was one of the first women from respectable families to enter the film industry, thus breaking a social taboo.[2]
She also ranks among the top ten actresses in mother roles inHindi cinema,[3]most notable among them were asJodhabaiinK. Asif'sMughal-e-Azam(1960), which earned her a nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress;asKaikeyiinVijay Bhatt's classicBharat Milap(1942); her other memorable roles as mother were inCharnon Ki Dasi(1941);Mirza Ghalib(1954);Bobby(1973) andBidaai(1974), winning the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress for the lattermost. She has received the highest award inIndian cinema,theDadasaheb Phalke Award(1983), for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.
Early life
[edit]Khote was born as Vita Lad to aKonkaniBrahminfamily[4]which hailed fromGoaand spokeKonkaniat home.[5]Her father's name was Pandurang Shamrao Lad and her mother's name was Manjulabai.[5]She grew up in a largeHindu joint familyin Kandewadi. She was educated at Cathedral High School and St. Xavier's College where she studied for B.A. While still a college-going teenager, she married into the Khote family and settled down with her husband.[6]
By the age of 26, Durga Khote was a widowed mother with two young sons; Bakul and Harin. She had to seek work in film to support her children. In doing so, she became a pioneer of sorts: She hailed from a traditional family and the film industry was regarded as the preserve of the base and the bawdy. Also, most of the female characters were played by men at the time.
Early career
[edit]Durga Khote debuted in a minor role in the obscure 1931 silent filmFarebi Jaal,by thePrabhat Film Company,followed byMaya Machindra(1932). She was soon promoted to play heroine in the 1932 double version (Hindi and Marathi)Ayodhyecha Raja,another Prabhat film, which was the first everMarathitalkie, and proved to be a runaway hit, where she played the role of Rani Taramati.[7]Indeed, she ventured yet another pioneering trend: Despite working closely with thePrabhat Film Company,she broke away from the "studio system" (exclusive contract with a studio to work in its films on a monthly salary) then in vogue and became one of the first "freelance" artistes of that era by working occasionally with theNew Theatres,East India Film Co. (both at Calcutta), and Prakash Pictures.
In 1936, she played Saudamini inAmar Jyoti,which is one of her most memorable roles.[8][9]The characters played by her were very much like her regal personality and she commanded a screen presence even in front of legendary actors like Chandra Mohan, Sohrab Modi and Prithviraj Kapoor.[10]
In 1937, she produced and directed a film titledSaathi,making her one of the first women to step into this role inIndian cinema.[11]The 40s opened for her in a big way, with award-winning performances in Aachary Atre'sPayachi Dasi(Marathi) andCharnon Ki Dasi(Hindi) (1941) andVijay Bhatt's classicBharat Milap(1942), both of which got her theBFJA Best Actress Awardfor two consecutive years.
Durga Khote remained active in the theatre circuit for many years, especially theMarathi theatrein Mumbai. She was actively associated with theIndian People's Theatre Association(IPTA) and worked in several plays for the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh. In 1954, she famously performed the role ofLady MacbethinV.V. Shirwadkar's Marathi adaptations ofMacbeth,asRajmukut,The Royal Crown,along with Nanasaheb Phatak.[12]
Later career
[edit]Durga Khote played a wide variety of roles over a career that was not only long, but also untouched by scandal. She was the inspiration for several generations of Indian actresses, including veterans such as the lateShobhna Samarth,who frequently spoke of how she had been inspired by Khote's example.
During later years, she played several important character roles, such as the mother of the protagonist. Her portrayal ofJodhabai,the queen ofAkbartorn between duty towards her husband and love towards her son inMughal-e-Azam(1960) was highly acclaimed and earned her a nomination for theFilmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.In 1963, she acted inMerchant Ivory's debut filmThe Householder(1963).[13][14]
She went on to play other widely appreciated character roles in later movies, such as the role of the grandmother of the heroine inBobby(1973), the hero's aunt inAbhimaan(1973), and the very memorableBidaai(1974), where she played a mother, which earned her the Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Her final memorable role was inSubhash Ghai'sKarz(1980), where she played the role of the mother ofRaj Kiranand later, mother toRishi Kapoor,who played the role of Raj Kiran's reincarnation after the screen death of Raj Kiran in the film.
She acted in over 200 films in her career. By the 1980s she successfully diversified into production of short films, ad films and documentaries by setting up Fact Films and later, Durga Khote Productions, which produced theDoordarshanTV seriesWagle Ki Duniya.
Personal life
[edit]Durga Khote was married when she was a teenager to Vishwanath Khote, of her own caste and similar social background, in amatch arranged by their parents.It was a traditional marriage into an orthodox family, and the couple lived a harmonious and happy life. They had two sons. Vishwanath was a mechanical engineer who had graduated fromBanaras Hindu University.His family was upper middle class, with modern English education and high social standing; his ancestors had been prominent bankers.
Unfortunately, Vishwanath Khote died young, when Durga was 26. She and her sons continued to reside with her in-laws, as is traditional in India, but she was not comfortable with her dependent, especially because her father-in-law was no more, and they were dependent on other family members financially. She thus felt compelled to make a living any which way she could, and the opening in films happened entirely by chance. The fact that she came from a modern and English-educated family meant that, even as a widow, she was able to act in films, which was derided as a disreputable profession in those days.
She thus raised her two sons, Bakul and Harin, single-handedly. Both of them went on to be well-settled in life. But she suffered the loss of her son Harin, who predeceased her and died in his 40s. Harin was married toVijaya Jaywant,and they were the parents of two sons.[15]After Harin's early death, his widow married aParsiman named Farrokh Mehta and became famous as the film-makerVijaya Mehta.
Durga Khote's grandchildren include her grandson Ravi, a filmmaker; granddaughter Anjali Khote, an actress; and grandson Deven Khote, a successful producer who is one of the co-founders of UTV, and who has also directed a film.[16]Deven Khote is noted for producing films such asJodhaa AkbarandLife in a Metro.[17]
Durga Khote's brother-in-law, Nandu Khote (brother of Vishwanath), was a noted stage and silent movie actor. Two of Nandu's children also became actors in the film industry. His sonViju Khote(1941-2019) was an actor perhaps best known for his role of "Kalia" inSholay(1975). Nandu's daughter is the actressShubha Khote,who debuted inSeema(1955) and worked as a heroine in several films before moving to character roles. Still later, she moved to directing and producing Marathi films and also entered television in the '90s. Shubha's daughter,Bhavana Balsavar,is also an award-winning TV actress who appeared in sitcoms likeDekh Bhai DekhandZabaan Sambhalkebefore deciding to settle down and raise a family.[18][19]Thus, the acting profession which was pioneered by Durga Khote in her family has been embraced by her late husband's family.
Durga Khote also had some rather improbable, distinguished relatives with no connection to films. The socialite and politicianSharda Mukherjee(née Sharada Pandit), who herself served as governor of the states ofGujaratandAndhra Pradesh,and who was the wife ofSubroto Mukherjee,India's firstChief of the Air Staff,was Durga Khote's first cousin (her mother's sister's daughter). Sharda Mukherjee's paternal uncle, Ranjit Sitaram Pandit, was the husband ofJawaharlal Nehru's sisterVijayalakshmi Pandit.
Later in life, Durga Khote wrote an autobiography inMarathi,entitledMee, Durga Khote,which was translated into English asI, Durga Khote,[20]and moved toAlibaug,nearMumbai.Durga Khote died on 22 September 1991.
Filmography
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1931 | Farebi Jaal | ||
1932 | Maya Machhindra | Queen | Hindi / Marathi film |
1932 | Ayodhyecha Raja | Taramati | Hindi/Marathifilm |
1933 | Rajrani Meera | Meera | |
1933 | Patit Pawan | ||
1934 | Seeta | Seeta | |
1935 | Jeevan Natak | Miss Queen | |
1935 | Inquilab | Miss Renee | |
1936 | Amar Jyoti | Saudamini | |
1937 | Pratibha | Pratibha | |
1938 | Saathi | ||
1938 | Nandakumar | ||
1939 | Adhuri Kahani | Harbala | |
1940 | Yamla Jat | ||
1940 | Narsi Bhagat | Manekbai | Gujarati/ Hindi film |
1940 | Geeta | Durga | Hindi / Marathi film |
1941 | Charnon Ki Dasi | Vidya's mother-in-law | Hindi / Marathi film |
1942 | Vijay | ||
1942 | Bharat Milap | Maharani Kaikeyi | Hindi / Marathi film |
1943 | Zameen | ||
1943 | Tasveer | Vidya Devi | |
1943 | Prithvi Vallabh | Mrinalvati | |
1943 | Mahatma Vidur | ||
1943 | Mahasati Ansuya | ||
1943 | Kurbani | ||
1944 | Maharathi Karna | Kunti | |
1944 | Dil Ki Baat | ||
1945 | Veer Kunal | ||
1945 | Phool | ||
1945 | Pannadai | ||
1945 | Lakharani | Bichwa | |
1945 | Gaon Ki Gori | ||
1946 | Rukmini Swayamvar | ||
1946 | Maharani Minaldevi | ||
1946 | Hum Ek Hain | Zamindari Ma | |
1948 | Seeta Sawayamwar | ||
1948 | Anjuman | ||
1949 | Jeet | Ratan's mother | |
1949 | Singaar | Kishan's Mother | |
1949 | Maya Bazaar | ||
1950 | Surajmukhi | ||
1950 | Nishana | ||
1950 | Magroor | ||
1950 | Har Har Mahadev | ||
1950 | Beqasoor | ||
1950 | Alakh Niranjan | ||
1950 | Hamara Ghar | ||
1951 | Sazaa | ||
1951 | Nandkishore | ||
1951 | Nai Zindagi | ||
1951 | Hum Log | Mother | |
1951 | Hamari Shaan | ||
1951 | Aaram | Sita | |
1952 | Sandesh | ||
1952 | Narveer Tanaji | ||
1952 | Mordhwaj | ||
1952 | Lal Kunwar | ||
1952 | Hyderabad Ki Nazneen | Mrs. Jwala Prasad | |
1952 | Aandhiyan | ||
1953 | Naulakha Haar | Devla | |
1953 | Dharma Pathni | Nataraj's Wife | |
1953 | Shikast | ||
1953 | Naag Panchami | Rani Sanka | |
1953 | Mashooka | ||
1953 | Malkin | ||
1953 | Chacha Chowdhury | ||
1953 | Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu | ||
1954 | Mirza Ghalib | Amma, Chaudvin's mother | |
1954 | Maan | ||
1954 | Lakeeren | ||
1954 | Laila | ||
1955 | Adl-E-Jahangir | Mallika-e-Jahangeer | |
1955 | Shri Ganesh Vivah | ||
1955 | Madh Bhare Nain | ||
1955 | Jagadguru Shankaracharya | ||
1955 | Haseena | ||
1956 | Rajdhani | ||
1956 | Patrani | Raj Mata | |
1956 | Parivar | ||
1956 | Insaaf | ||
1956 | Harihar Bhakti | ||
1956 | Dwarikadheesh | ||
1956 | Justice | ||
1957 | Talaash | ||
1957 | Ram Hanuman Yuddha | ||
1957 | Musafir | Mrs. Nilambar Sharma | |
1957 | Mera Salaam | ||
1957 | Bhabhi | Ratan's aunt | |
1957 | Bade Sarkar | Sumitra Maan Singh | |
1958 | Gopichand | ||
1959 | Ardhangini | Prakash's mom | |
1959 | Raj Tilak | ||
1959 | Maine Jeena Seekh Liya | ||
1959 | Ghar Ghar Ki Baat | ||
1960 | Parakh | Rani Ma, J.C. Roy's mother | |
1960 | Mughal-E-Azam | MaharaniJodha Bai | Nominated –Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress |
1960 | Usne Kaha Tha | Paro | |
1960 | Love in Simla | Sonia's grandmother | |
1961 | Ek Ladki Saat Ladke | ||
1961 | Senapati | ||
1961 | Kismet Palat Ke Dekh | ||
1961 | Do Bhai | Gopi's Mother | |
1961 | Bhabhi Ki Chudiyan | Prabha's mother | |
1962 | Son of India | Head Nun | |
1962 | Rungoli | Subhagi | |
1962 | Man-Mauji | Dr. Mohan's mother | |
1962 | Main Shadi Karne Chala | ||
1963 | The Householder | Prem's mother | |
1963 | Mujhe Jeene Do | Dhara Khan's Mom | |
1964 | Benazir | ||
1964 | Tere Dwaar Khada Bhagwan | ||
1964 | Shagoon | Uncredited | |
1964 | Main Suhagan Hoon | ||
1964 | Kaise Kahoon | ||
1964 | Door Ki Awaaz | Prakash's mother | |
1965 | Purnima | Sharda R. Lal | |
1965 | Kaajal | Rani Sahiba | |
1965 | Janam Janam Ke Saathi | ||
1965 | Do Dil | Ranimaa | |
1966 | Anupama | Ashok's mother | |
1966 | Sagaai | Sheel's mother | |
1966 | Pyar Mohabbat | Rajmata Rajeshwari | |
1966 | Devar | Gopinath's Mom | |
1966 | Daadi Maa | Daadi Maa / Maharani | |
1967 | Chandan Ka Palna | Mrs. Radha Laxmidas | |
1968 | Sunghursh | Mrs. Bhawani Prasad | |
1968 | Sapno Ka Saudagar | Peter's mother | |
1968 | Jhuk Gaya Aasman | Mrs. Saxena | |
1969 | Pyar Ka Sapna | Sudha's mother | |
1969 | Ek Phool Do Mali | Leela | |
1969 | Jeene Ki Raah | Janki | |
1969 | Dharti Kahe Pukarke | Parvati | |
1970 | Khilona | Thakurain Singh | |
1970 | Dhartichi Lekaren | ||
1970 | Umang | Aunti Ji | Uncredited |
1970 | Gopi | Kunwar's Mother | |
1971 | Anand | Renu's mother | Guest Appearance |
1971 | Chingari | Mohan's Mother | |
1971 | Ek Nari Ek Brahmachari | Rajlaxmi S. Chaudhary | |
1971 | Banphool | Haria's maternal grandma | |
1972 | Bawarchi | Seeta Sharma | |
1972 | Shararat | Harry's mother | |
1972 | Raja Jani | Rajmata | |
1972 | Mere Bhaiya | Avinash's mother | |
1972 | Mangetar | ||
1973 | Sone Ke Hath | Vijay Khanna's mother | |
1973 | Abhimaan | Durga Mausi | |
1973 | Bobby | Mrs. Braganza | |
1973 | Namak Haraam | Somu's mother | |
1973 | Door Nahin Manzil | Dadima | |
1973 | Agni Rekha | Durga | |
1974 | Bidaai | Parvati | Won – Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress |
1974 | Insaaniyat | Ram's mother | |
1974 | Dil Diwana | Vijay's Dadimaa | |
1975 | Khushboo | Brindaban's mother | |
1975 | Kala Sona | Mrs. Ranjeet Singh | |
1975 | Chaitali | Manish's mother | |
1975 | Vandana | Rakesh's Mother | |
1975 | Biwi Kiraya Ki | ||
1976 | Jaaneman | Ronnie's mother | |
1976 | Jai Bajrang Bali | Devi Maa Anjani | |
1976 | Shaque | Mrs. Bannerjee | |
1976 | Rangila Ratan | ||
1977 | Saheb Bahadur | Meena's grandmother | |
1977 | Paheli | Brij Mohan's mother | |
1977 | Paapi | Ashok's mother | |
1977 | Naami Chor | ||
1977 | Do Chehere | Daadima | |
1977 | Darling Darling | ||
1977 | Chor Sipahee | Mrs. Khanna, Raja's mother | |
1977 | Chacha Bhatija | Mrs. D'Silva | |
1980 | Karz | Mrs. Shanta Prasad Verma | |
1981 | Sangdil | ||
1983 | Daulat Ke Dushman | Sunil's mother | (final film role) |
Awards
[edit]Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1942 | Charnon Ki Dasi[21] | BFJA Awards:Best Actress | Won |
1943 | Bharat Milap[22] | BFJA Awards:Best Actress | Won |
1958 | – | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award | Awarded |
1968 | – | Padma Shri,fourth highest civilian award by the Government of India. | Awarded |
1970 | Dhartichi Lekre | Maharashtra State Award | Won |
1974 | Bidaai | Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress | Won |
1983 | – | Dadasaheb Phalke Award,the lifetime recognition award for films fromGovernment of India[11] | Awarded |
Honours and recognitions
[edit]A postage stamp, bearing her face, was released byIndia Postto honour her on 3 May 2013.
References
[edit]- ^Women of SubstanceArchived8 January 2009 at theWayback Machine,India Today.
- ^Ten most important women stars in Indian filmsArchived21 March 2009 at theWayback MachineGautam Rajadhyaksha,Rediff.
- ^Memorable MomsThe Statesman,4 October 2008.
- ^Kumar, Anuj (6 March 2014)."Divas in a duel".The Hindu.ISSN0971-751X.Retrieved9 January2022.
- ^ab"Welcome to Muse India".Archived fromthe originalon 5 April 2015.Retrieved15 January2015.
- ^"Durga Khote Profile on Cineplot".Archivedfrom the original on 15 March 2014.Retrieved13 March2014.
- ^"Profile with photographs".Archived fromthe originalon 18 January 2006.Retrieved22 January2006.
- ^Ashok Raj (1 November 2009).Hero Vol.1.Hay House, Inc. pp. 45–.ISBN978-93-81398-02-9.Retrieved9 February2015.
- ^Tilak Rishi (2012).Bless You Bollywood!: A Tribute to Hindi Cinema on Completing 100 Years.Trafford Publishing. pp. 155–.ISBN978-1-4669-3963-9.Retrieved9 February2015.
- ^Kahlon, Sukhpreet."Durga Khote, the formidable trailblazer of Hindi and Marathi cinema: Anniversary special".Cinestaan.Archivedfrom the original on 22 February 2020.Retrieved14 January2020.
- ^abDadasaheb Phalke Award 15th Recipient – 1983 – Durga KhoteArchived30 May 2009 at theWayback Machine.Ultraindia. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
- ^Shakespeare in IndiaArchived3 March 2016 at theWayback Machineinternetshakespeare.uvic.ca
- ^Filmography on AllmovieArchived31 August 2023 at theWayback Machine.
- ^Filmography on The New York Times[dead link].
- ^Shanta Gokhale(26 November 2012)."Life at play".Pune Mirror.Archived fromthe originalon 17 February 2013.
- ^Durga Khote profileWashington State University
- ^Deven KhoteThe New York Times
- ^An Interview with Shobha KhoteArchived21 May 2011 at theWayback MachineRediff.
- ^The Forgotten Bollywood bhai-behan Brigade[dead link]Bollywood Hungama,9 August 2006.
- ^"Autobiography – details from Oxford University Press website".Archived fromthe originalon 11 March 2007.Retrieved18 January2006.
- ^5th Annual BFJA Awards – Awards For The Year 1941Archived8 January 2010 at theWayback MachineBFJA AwardsOfficial website.
- ^6th Annual BFJA Awards – Awards For The Year 1942Archived8 January 2010 at theWayback MachineBFJA AwardsOfficial website.
Further reading
[edit]- I, Durga Khote: An autobiography,translated into English byShanta Gokhale(2006);ISBN978-0-19-567475-0&ISBN0-19-567475-8
External links
[edit]- Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
- 20th-century Indian actresses
- Actresses in Marathi theatre
- Actresses in Hindi cinema
- Actresses in Marathi cinema
- 1905 births
- 1991 deaths
- Actresses from Mumbai
- Bengal Film Journalists' Association Award winners
- Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts
- Dadasaheb Phalke Award recipients
- Women autobiographers
- Indian autobiographers
- Indian women non-fiction writers
- 20th-century Indian women writers
- 20th-century Indian biographers
- Film producers from Mumbai
- Indian women film producers
- Indian stage actresses
- Businesswomen from Maharashtra
- Filmfare Awards winners
- People on stamps