- Nutan
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For the Telugu film actor, see Nutan Prasad.
Nutan 
Nutan in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Anari (1959)Born Nutan Samarth
4 June 1936
Bombay, Bombay Presidency, IndiaDied 21 February 1991 (aged 54)
IndiaYears active 1950–1991 Spouse Rajnish Behl (1959–1991) (her death) Children Mohnish Behl Nutan Behl (née Samarth) (4 June 1936 – 21 February 1991), better known as Nutan (Marathi: नूतन), was an Indian actress. She appeared in more than 70 Hindi films in a career spanning over four decades. Regarded as one of the finest female actors in the history of Hindi cinema,[1][2] Nutan was noted for playing unconventional parts, and her performances often received praise and accolades.[3]
Nutan started her career at the age of 14 in the 1950 film Hamari Beti, directed by her mother Shobhna Samarth. She subsequently starred in such films as Nagina and Humlog (both 1951). Her role in Seema (1955) garnered her wider recognition and a Filmfare Award for Best Actress. She continued playing leading roles through the 1960s until the late 1970s and went on win the award on four other occasions for her roles in Sujata (1959), Bandini (1963), Milan (1967) and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978). Some of her other films of this period include Sone Ki Chidiya (1958), Anari (1959), Chhalia (1960), Tere Ghar Ke Saamne (1963), Saraswatichandra (1968), Anuraag (1972) and Saudagar (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 as Saajan Ki Saheli (1981), Meri Jung (1985) and Naam (1986). Her performance in Meri Jung earned her a sixth and last Filmfare Award, this time in the Best Supporting Actress category. Nutan holds the record of five wins of the Best Actress Award at Filmfare, which was held only by her for over 30 years until it was matched by her niece Kajol in 2011; she is overall the most-awarded actress in the female acting categories at Filmfare, with six awards alongside Jaya Bachchan.[4]
Nutan was married to Rajnish Behl from 1959 till her death of cancer in 1991. Their son, Mohnish Behl is a character actor in Hindi films and television.
Contents
Early life
Nutan was born into a Marathi family of four children as Nutan Samarth to director-poet Kumarsen Samarth and his actress wife Shobhna Samarth. Nutan was the eldest child of actress Shobhana Samarth. She had three other siblings, 2 younger sisters and a younger brother. Her younger sister Tanuja is also an actress, and Chatura, who did not work in Bollywood. Her parents separated when she was still a child. Kajol is Tanuja's daughter and Nutan's niece and is also a successful actress.
Career
Nutan is related to many of the screen stars of the past fifty years (see Mukherjee-Samarth family (film)).
She started her career as actress as a fourteen-year-old in Hamari Beti (1950). This film was produced by her mother, Shobhana. In 1952 she was the winner of Miss India.
Her first big break was Seema, for which she won her first Filmfare Best Actress Award. She followed her success with a romantic comedy, Paying Guest, in which she co-starred with Dev Anand. In 1959 she starred in two hit films, Anari (with Raj Kapoor) and Bimal Roy's Sujata (with Sunil Dutt). In the 1960s and 1970s she had many more successful films including Chhalia (1960), Saraswatichandra (1968), Devi (1970) and Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978).
In 1960 she starred opposite Raj Kapoor once again in Manmohan Desai's Chhalia. She received another Filmfare nomination for the role. 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."[5]
In 1964, Nutan starred in Bimal Roy's socio-realist Bandini as Kalyani, a young prisoner who was convicted after poisoning the wife of her lover (Ashok Kumar). The story follows her life in prison and how later she has to make a choice between her past love and a young prison doctor (Dharmendra) who fell in love with her. Nutan had to be persuated to act in the film as she had quit acting post marriage.[6] Bandini was a major critical success, which was attributed by critics mostly to Nutan's portrayal, which regarded as one of the finest performances in the history of Hindi cinema.[7] The film won the Filmfare Award for Best Movie and she received her third Best Actress Award. The Bengal Film Journalists' Association, while ranking the film as the third-best Indian film of the year, acknowledged her with the Best Actress (Hindi section) award.[8] Author and critic Dinesh Raheja wrote, "Sans screaming hysteria-nics, 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."[9] Film and theatre critic Gautaman Bhaskaran wrote for The Hindu, "Nutan as Kalyani gave perhaps her career's best performance. Splendidly expressive, her understated role is something that cannot be easily matched by today's painted heroines. Fear and anger show up so lividly in Nutan's eyes that they haunt you long after you have walked out of the theatre."[10] In 2010, Filmfare included her performance in its "80 Iconic Performances" list.[11] Anupama Chopra included the film in her list of "The 20 Best Hindi Films Ever Made", calling her role "one of Hindi cinema’s most complex and fully realized female characters," and further noting, "This was the role of a lifetime and Nutan, who ... gave it all. Her face raged with a grand passion and a quiet grace."[12]
Her fourth Filmfare Award came for Milan (1967). She starred opposite Amitabh Bachchan in 1973's Saudagar (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 in Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki (1978). For this performance, she received an eighth Filmfare career nomination and won her fifth Filmfare best actress award, at the age of 42. She thus became a record holder in the category, having won five award 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 in Saajan ki Saheli (1981), as an ignorant, jealous wife to a husband who knowingly befriends the daughter she abandoned at childbirth.
In the remaining 1980s she played roles in blockbuster films such as Meri Jung (1985), Naam (1986) and Karma (1986). Karma was notable for being the first time she was paired with actor Dilip Kumar. For Mere Jung she won a Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her last film released while she was alive was Kanoon Apna Apna in 1989. She died in 1991 of cancer. Two of her films Naseebwala (1992) and Insaniyat (1994) were released after her death.
Legacy
Nutan was noted for her willingness to play unconventional roles and several of her roles were labelled "path-breaking". M.L. Dhawan from The Tribune wrote, "When squeakers and screamers ruled the roost, 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." According to Dhawan, "a fleeting expression on her face conveyed much more than dialogue," and he further noted her for accepting only roles in which "she either played the main part or at least shared equal footing with the male counterpart."[3][13]
According to Encyclopaedia Britannica, Nutan "developed a natural acting style under Bimal Roy's direction."[14]
Actresses like Sadhana, Smita Patil noted Nutan as their influence.[15] Sadhana was once quoted as saying, "If there was any actress I modelled myself in the lines of it was the versatile Nutan in Seema, Sujata and Bandini. Parakh was a film where I really followed Nutan."[16] Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali said of her, "They don't make actresses like her anymore."[17]
In 2011, Rediff.com listed her as the third-greatest actress of all-time.[18]
Nutan’s narrative as a human being is depicted in a book “Nutan – Asen Mi Nasen Mi” written by famous marathi author Lalita Tamhane. The book can be summarized as one describing Nutan’s life experiences, interactions with co-actors / family / friends etc. as told by her to Lalita Tamhane.
Personal life
On 11 October 1959, she married naval Lieutenant-Commander Rajnish Behl. Their son, Mohnish Behl, born in 1963, later entered films as well.
Nutan died in February 1991, of cancer, at the age of 54.
Awards and nominations
Filmfare Awards
- Filmfare Best Actress Award – Won
1956 Seema – Gauri
1959 Sujata – Sujata
1963 Bandini – Kalyani
1967 Milan – Radha
1978 Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki – Sanjukta Chouhan - Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award – Won
1985 Meri Jung - Filmfare Best Actress Award – Nomination
1960 Chhalia – Shanti
1973 Saudagar – Mahjubhi - Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award – Nomination
1973 Saudagar – Mahjubhi
1973 Anuraag – Anu Rai
1978 Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki[19] – Sanjukta Chouhan
Other Awards
- BFJA Best Actress Award (Hindi) – Won
1963 Bandini[20] – Kalyani
1973 Milan[21] – Radha
1974 Saudagar[22] – Mahjubhi
National honour
- 1974: Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour by the Government of India.
Filmography
Year Title Character Notes 1950 Hamari Beti Daughter 1952 Shisham 1953 Laila Majnu Laila 1954 Shabaab 1955 Seema Gauri 1956 Heer Heer 1957 Baarish Chanda Paying Guest Shanti Zindagi Ya Toofan 1958 Chandan Dilli Ka Thug Kabhi Andhera Kabhi Ujala Sone Ki Chidiya Lakshmi Aakhri Daao 1959 Anari Aarti Sohanlal Kanhaiya Shanno Sujata Sujata 1960 Basant Chhabili Chhalia Shanti Manzil Pushpa 1962 Soorat Aur Seerat 1963 Bandini Kalyani Dil Hi To Hai Jameela Tere Ghar Ke Samne Sulekha 1964 Chandi Ki Deewar 1965 Khandaan Radha Rishte Naate Savitri 1966 Chhota Bhai Chilaka Gorinka Telugu film Dil Ne Phir Yaad Kiya Ashoo Kalapi 1967 Dulhan Ek Raat Ki Nirmala Laat Saheb Milan Radha 1968 Gauri Gauri Saraswatichandra Kumud Sundari 1969 Bhai Bahen Mala 1970 Maa Aur Mamta Maya Devi Devi Maharaja Yaadgaar Bhavna 1972 Anuraag Anu Rai Grahan 1973 Saudagar Mahjubhi 1975 Jogidas Khuman 1978 Ek Baap Chhe Bete Main Tulsi Tere Aangan Ki Sanjukta Chouhan Saajan Bina Suhagan 1980 Saajan Ki Saheli Kunti Kumar 1982 Jiyo Aur Jeene Do 1983 Rishta Kagaz Ka Suman 1984 Yeh Kaisa Farz 1985 Yudh Savitri Devi Paisa Yeh Paisa Laxmi Meri Jung Aarti Deepak Verma 1986 Sajna Sath Nibhana Shobha Rana Karma Mrs Vishwa Pratap Singh Naam Jaanki Kapoor 1988 Main Tere Liye 1989 Kanoon Apna Apna Mrs. Singh Mujrim Yashoda 1992 Naseebwala Sharda 1994 Insaniyat Shanti Devi References
- ^ "The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum - Article". Tribuneindia.com. 2002-05-26. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020526/spectrum/main9.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ "rediff.com, Movies: Forever Nutan". Rediff.com. http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/feb/05din.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ a b "The Sunday Tribune - Spectrum". Tribuneindia.com. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060226/spectrum/main8.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ Nutan Upperstall.
- ^ "From the FIlmfare files...reviews from the 1960s". Filmfare (January 2002). http://downloads.movies.indiatimes.com/site/jan2002/ifocus3.html. Retrieved 2011-09-27.
- ^ "Bandini: A Bimal Roy gem". Hindustan Times. 2003-05-30. http://www.hindustantimes.com/Bandini-A-Bimal-Roy-gem/Article1-2890.aspx. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ "Bollywood Divas". Hindustantimes.com. 1936-06-04. http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/slideshows/50s/50-3.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ "69th & 70th Annual Hero Honda BFJA Awards 2007". Web.archive.org. 2010-01-08. http://web.archive.org/web/20100108082149/http://www.bfjaawards.com/legacy/pastwin/196427.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ "rediff.com, Movies: Classics Revisited: Bandini". Rediff.com. http://www.rediff.com/entertai/2002/feb/28dinesh.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ "A classic convict". The Hindu. 2000-01-08. http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/2000/01/08/stories/1308110i.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ "80 Iconic Performances 7/10". Filmfare. 2010-06-07. https://www.filmfare.com/articles/80-iconic-performances-710-988.html. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ Chopra, Anupama. "Top 20 Movie Reviews". NDTV. http://www.anupamachopra.com/20reviews.php. Retrieved 2011-09-23.
- ^ Dhawan, M.L. (2007-12-09). "Queens of hearts". The Tribune. http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20071209/spectrum/main6.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ Encyclopaedia Britannica (India) Pvt. Ltd; Gulzar; Govind Nihalani; Saibal Chatterjee (2003). Encyclopaedia of Hindi cinema. Popular Prakashan. ISBN 978-81-7991-066-5. http://books.google.com/books?id=8y8vN9A14nkC. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
- ^ "A rare resonance". Deccanherald.com. 2011-02-19. http://www.deccanherald.com/content/139169/banner-300x250.swf. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ Das Gupta, Ranjan (2008-09-05). "Sadhna worked wonders". The Hindu (Chennai, India). http://www.hindu.com/fr/2008/09/05/stories/2008090550840400.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ Team, Hitlist (2009-10-26). "Sanjay Bhansali the movies i loved growing up". Mid-day.com. http://www.mid-day.com/entertainment/2009/oct/261009-informer-4.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ Sen, Raja (2011-06-29). "Readers Choice: The Greatest Actresses of all time". Rediff.com. http://www.rediff.com/movies/slide-show/slide-show-1-greatest-actresses-of-all-time/20110629.htm. Retrieved 2011-09-22.
- ^ Filmfare - the full coverage
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ [2][dead link]
- ^ "37th Annual BFJA Awards". BFJA. Archived from the original on 2008-04-22. http://web.archive.org/web/20080422070342/http://www.bfjaawards.com/legacy/pastwin/197437.htm. Retrieved 2011-02-23.[dead link]
External links
Filmfare Award for Best Actress 1954-1960 Meena Kumari (1954) · Meena Kumari (1955) · Kamini Kaushal (1956) · Nutan (1957) · Nargis (1958) · Vyjayanthimala (1959) · Nutan (1960)
1961-1980 Bina Rai (1961) · Vyjayanthimala (1962) · Meena Kumari (1963) · Nutan (1964) · Vyjayanthimala (1965) · Meena Kumari (1966) · Waheeda Rehman (1967) · Nutan (1968) · Waheeda Rehman (1969) · Sharmila Tagore (1970) · Mumtaz (1971) · Asha Parekh (1972) · Hema Malini (1973) · Dimple Kapadia & Jaya Bachchan (1974) · Jaya Bachchan (1975) · Lakshmi (1976) · Raakhee Gulzar (1977) · Shabana Azmi (1978) · Nutan (1979) · Jaya Bachchan (1980)
1981-2000 Rekha (1981) · Smita Patil (1982) · Padmini Kolhapure (1983) · Shabana Azmi (1984) · Shabana Azmi (1985) · Dimple Kapadia (1986) · Not awarded (1987) · Not awarded (1988) · Rekha (1989) · Sridevi (1990) · Madhuri Dixit (1991) · Sridevi (1992) · Madhuri Dixit (1993) · Juhi Chawla (1994) · Madhuri Dixit (1995) · Kajol (1996) · Karisma Kapoor (1997) · Madhuri Dixit (1998) · Kajol (1999) · Aishwarya Rai (2000)
2001–present Karisma Kapoor (2001) · Kajol (2002) · Aishwarya Rai (2003) · Preity Zinta (2004) · Rani Mukerji (2005) · Rani Mukerji (2006) · Kajol (2007) · Kareena Kapoor (2008) · Priyanka Chopra (2009) · Vidya Balan (2010) · Kajol (2011)
Complete list · (1954–1960) · (1961–1980) · (1981–2000) · (2001–present)
Categories:- 1936 births
- 1991 deaths
- Indian actors
- Indian film actors
- Hindi film actors
- Indian Hindus
- Femina Miss India winners
- Filmfare Awards winners
- Marathi people
- Filmfare Best Actress Award – Won
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