Bhakti Barve or Bhakti Barve Inamdar

Bhakti Barve or Bhakti Barve Inamdar (10 September 1948 – 12 February 2001) was a noted Indian film, theatre and television actress in Marathi, Hindi, and Gujarati. She is most known for her role in Kundan Shah's comedy classic Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983), where she acted alongside Naseeruddin Shah, Satish Shah and Ravi Basvani.^[1]

In theatre which was her mainstay, she was associated with leading groups like Theatre Unit, Indian National Theatre, and Rangayan, and is remembered for performances in plays like, "Ti Phularani", "Nag Mandala", "Aayee Retire Hote Aahe" and "Hands Up". She was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Marathi theatre Acting in 1990, by India's National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama ^[2], apart from Maharashtra Gaurav Puraskar, and Abhinay Puraskar. She was married to actor, Shafi Inamdar, who had died in 1996 ^[3].

Personal life

Barve was born in 1948, Sangli, Maharashtra. Even in her school days she participated in Sudha Karmarkar's productions of children's theatre.

Career

Bhakti began her career by acting for Sudha Karmarkar's Little Theatre. She also had a short stint as announcer on All India Radio, Mumbai and later as a news reader on Mumbai Doordarshan (India's National broadcaster), and presenter of `coming-next-week' programme, Saptahiki, while with Doordarshan she also performed the role of Ahirnani, the poetess-saint, in critically acclaimed DD produced telefilm, Bahinabai.

Later she shot into fame after her memorable performance in Marathi drama Ajab nyaya vartulacha (`Strange Justice of the Circle`) in 1973, C. T. Khanolkar's adaptation of Brecht`s Caucasian Chalk Circle, Mohan Rakesh`s Adhe-adhure, “Ti Phul Rani” (Flower Queen) (1975), P.L. Deshpande's noted adaptation of GB Shaw's Pygmalion and in Jay Lerner's My Fair Lady. She acted in many TV serials and dramas, besides Hindi films, Kundan Shah's Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983) and Govind Nihlani's Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa (1998). She was also the chairperson of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Sammelan ^[4].

Later in career she performed a solo act, Pu La Fulrani Aani Mee, which she had incidentally gone to perform at Wai when died on 12 February 2001, in a car accident. Her car rammed on an electric pole near Panvel on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, while returning to Mumbai from Wai in Satara district after performing at a stage show^[5][6][6]

Filmography

• Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro (1983)
• Hazaar Chaurasi Ki Maa (1998).
• "Jannat Talkies"
• Rishtey (TV series) - Episode: 102, (Season 3)
• "Gharkul"

References

1. ^ The Oxford companion to Indian theatre, by Ananda Lal. Oxford University Press, 2004. ISBN 0195644468. page 37.
2. ^ Bhakti Barve Inamdar 1990 Sangeet Natak Akademi Award Official listing.
3. ^ Tee Phulrani leaves an aching void on stage and screen Screen (magazine), 16 February 2001.
4. ^ Bhave award for Karmarkar Indian Express, 6 November 1998.
5. ^ TV, stage actress Bhakti Barve dies in car accident Indiantelevision, 12 February 2001.
6. ^ ^{a b} The petite dame takes her final bow Indian Express, 13 February 2001.