ANITA GUHA ,INDIAN -BENGALI ,HINDI ACTRESS BORN 1932 JANUARY 17 - JUNE 20,2007

 

ANITA GUHA ,INDIAN -BENGALI ,HINDI ACTRESS 

BORN 1932 JANUARY 17 - JUNE 20,2007

Anita Guha was an Indian Bengali actress who usually played mythological characters in films. She became known for playing the title role in Jai Santoshi Maa (1975). Previously, she had played Sita in other mythological films; Sampoorna Ramayana (1961), Shree Ram Bharat Milap (1965) and Tulsi Vivah (1971). Besides this, she also played notable roles in films such as Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959), Purnima (1965), Pyar Ki Rahen (1959), Gateway of India (1957), Dekh Kabira Roya (1957) and Sanjog (1961).

Career[edit]

She came to Mumbai in the 1950s as a beauty pageant contestant when she was 15 years old.^[1] She became an actress there and made her film debut in Tonga-wali (1955). She moved on to hit films such as Dekh Kabira Roya (1957), Sharada (1957),^[2] and Goonj Uthi Shehnai, for which she earned nomination in Filmfare Award for Best Supporting Actress category, the only nomination of her career.^[3] In 1961, she appeared as Sita, in Babubhai Mistry's Sampoorna Ramayana, which made her a household name.^[4]

But it was her title role in Jai Santoshi Maa (1975) that brought her the most fame.^[5] She had never even heard of goddess Santoshi until she was offered the role, as this was a little-known goddess. It was only a guest appearance, and her scenes were shot in 10–12 days. She fasted during the shooting.^[6] The low-budget pic was a surprise hit, and broke box office records while becoming a cultural phenomenon. The goddess Santoshi now became a famous goddess, and women all over India worshipped her. People treated the movie theatres showing Jai Santoshi Maa as a temple, bringing offerings of food, leaving slippers at the door. Guha claimed that people came to her asking her to bless them, as they perceived her to be a real goddess. However, she never became a devotee of the goddess herself, claiming that she was a devotee of the goddess Kali.^[7]

Other mythological films she acted in include Kavi Kalidas (1959), Jai Dwarkadesh (1977) and Krishna Krishna (1986). She wasn't happy that she became typecast as a mythological actress, because acting offers eventually stopped coming her way. Her earlier credits include period films such as Sangeet Samrat Tansen (1962), Kan Kan Mein Bhagwan (1963) and Veer Bhimsen (1964). She played Rajesh Khanna's adoptive mother in the huge hit Aradhana (1969).

Personal life[edit]

She was married to actor Manik Dutt; they had no biological children. They adopted a girl child later . After her husband's death, she lived alone in Mumbai where she died of cardiac failure on 20 June 2007. Anita Guha is the maternal aunt of actor Prema Narayan. Prema is the daughter of her sister Anuradha Guha

DEATH ANNIVERSARY

ANITA GUHA (17th January,1939 - 20th June, 2007)

Anita Guha was an Indian actress known for portraying mythological roles on silver screen. Perhaps her most popular role is for the movie, Jai Santoshi Maa, regarded as one among the popular all-time blockbusters in the history of Hindi cinema. Her most noted films are all time classic movies of Hindi cinema, particularly — Aradhana (1969), Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959), Purnima (1965), Pyar Ki Rahen (1959), Gateway of India (1957), Dekh Kabira Roya (1957) and Sanjog (1961). Her portrayal of Sita in Hindu mythological movies like Sampoorna Ramayana (1961), Shree Ram Bharat Milap (1965) and, Tulsi Vivah (1971) has made her an iconic figure onscreen.

She came to Mumbai during early 1950's to participate in a beauty pageant. She was only 15 year old then. Later she stayed in Bollywood to do many iconic roles for movies. She debut big screen with Tangewali in 1955. Later she appeared in movies like "Dekh Kabira Roya" (1957) and Sharada (1957). In 1961, she was casted in the role of Sita in Sampoorna Ramayan, which made her household name. Though she gained popularity through this role, she got telecasted to similar mythological and Bhakti roles. In 1969 she played Rajesh Khanna's adoptive mother in the blockbuster hit Aradhana. But it was Jai Santoshi Maa which brought her real credit. The movie not only collected huge amount at box office, but also gave tough

competition to the historical film of Bollywood, Sholay released in the same year.

The low budget Santhosh Maa was a roaring hit at box office and declared as All-time blockbuster. She had never even heard of goddess Santoshi until she was offered the role and she played the guest appearance of Goddess Santhoshi. The shooting was completed in just 10-12 days. After the release of the movie, Goddess Santoshi became popular and people worshipped theaters as temples and left sandals outside doors before stepping in. But later she received similar kind of roles only, for which she really felt uncomfortable.

Her other noted roles include - "Kavi Kalidas (1959), "Jai Dwarkadheesh" (1977) and 'Krishna Krishna" (1986), "Sangeet Samrat Tansen" (1962), "Kan Kan Mein Bhagwan" (1963), "Veer Bhimsen" (1964). The popular track of Sanjog — Woh bhooli dastan was pictured on Anita. She was married to actor Manik Dutt; they had no children.

Other mythological movies she acted in include "Dekh Kabira roya" (1957), "Kavi Kalidas (1959) "Jai Dwarkadheesh" (1977) and "Krishna Krishna" (1986). She wasn't happy that she got typecast as a mythological actress, because acting offers finally terminated coming her way. Her earlier credits include period movies such as "Sangeet samrat Tansen" (1962), "Kan kan mein bhagwan" (1963), "Veer Bhimsen" (1964). She played Rajesh Khanna's adoptive mother in the immense hit "Aradhana" (1969).

She was married to actor Manik Dutt ; they had no children. After her husband's decease, she lived alone in Mumbai where she died of cardiac failure on June 20, 2007. The actress, who was in her 70s and was ailing for some time, died at a private hospital in Mumbai. Guha counted yesteryear's actresses Mala Sinha and Helen among her friends. Enquiries at Mala Sinha's home revealed that she attended Guha's last rites.

Even though films are not made on mythological concepts in Bollywood now, but this trend has always been very strong. And a special actress of such films has been Anita Guha. Today's audience will not recognize this actress of the bygone era but will not be able to forget the actress who played Santoshi Maa in the 1975 film Jai Santoshi Maa. Of course, this character has been immortalized by Anita Guha.

Career started like this

Anita Guha made her Bollywood debut in 1950 with Tangawali. In 1959, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the Filmfare Awards for Goonj Uthi Shehnai. After this he acted in films based on many mythological stories.

Sita 3 times in 10 years

After the poet Kalidas in 1959, Anita Guha played the role of Sita in the entire Ramayana in 1961. The film was a big hit. After this, she again played the role of Sita in Shri Ram Bharat Milap in 1965 and Tulsi Vivah in 1971. However, as soon as she gained popularity, she became typecast in such films.

The character of Maharani Padmini

In 1964, Anita Guha played the lead role in the film Maharani Padmini. This is the same story on which Sanjay Leela Bhansali made Padmavat with Deepika Padukone. The surprising thing is that there was no ruckus about this story then.

Mother could not be herself

Although Anita Guha had a good married life with Manik Dutta, but this actress, who plays Sita Maiya and Jai Santoshi Maa, was deprived of becoming a mother in real life. This thing bothered him a lot.

Victim of leucoderma

During the downfall of her career, Anita Guha had white patches on her face. To hide them, she often used to wear heavy makeup. However, Anita Guha, who was once a makeup addict, came on this stage and started hating cosmetic looks. He died of a heart attack on 20 June 2007 at the age of 68.

Filmography[edit]

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1953	Bansher Kella
1955	Tonga-wali		Debut
	Duniya Gol Hai	Devi Diya Kumari
1956	Yahudi Ki Beti
	Ankh Ka Nasha	Asha Devi
	Chirakumar Sabha
	Chhoo Mantar	Ratnavali
1957	Harjit
	Ustad	Mrs Rosy
	Sharada	Padma
	Pawan Putra Hanuman
	Gateway of India	Kishore's Girlfriend
	Ek Jhalak
	Dekh Kabira Roya	Rekha
1958	Kal Kya Hoga
	Lukochuri
	Stand
	Mayabazar	Surekha
	Farishta	Bagga's Daughter
	Bhala Aadmi
1959	Tipu Sultan
	Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan	Karnataki	Raj Nartaki
	Maharani Padmini
	Pyar Ki Rahen
	Kavi Kalidas	Pushpavali
	Goonj Uthi Shehnai	Ramkali	Nominated for Filmfare Award for Best Supporting
	Chacha Zindabad	Renu
1960	Rikshawala
	Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh	Anita Singh
	Angulimaal	Guru Mata
1961	Sanjog	Laali
	Sampoorna Ramayana	Seeta
1962	Sangeet Samrat Tansen	Hansa	Love interest of Tansen
1963	Naag Jyoti
	Kan Kan Men Bhagwan	Roopa
	Dev Kanya
1964	Veer Bhimsen
	Roop Sundari
	Mahasati Anusuya
1965	Shahi Raqasa
	Sant Tukaram
	Shree Ram Bharat Milan	Sita
	Shankar Sita Ansuya	Sita
	Sati Nari	Rajkumari Malavati
	Purnima	Vandana Mehra
	Maharaja Vikram
	Jahan Sati Wahan Bhagwan	Mandakini / Gandharv Kanya
1966	Lab Kush
1969	Hanuman Chalisa
	Aradhana	Foster mother of Suraj	Credited as Anita Dutt
	Sati Sulochana	Naagkumari Sulochana
1971	Tulsi Vivah	Goddess Lakshmi
1972	Anuraag	Rajesh's mother
1973	Jhoom Utha Akash
	Gharibi Hatao
1974	Jab Andhera Hota Hai	Mrs. Manorama Bhardwaj
1975	Mahapavan Teerth Yatra
	Jai Santoshi Maa	Goddess Santoshi	Popular & Memorable role
	Biwi Kiraya Ki
	Badnaam
1976	Ladki Bholi Bhali	Raju's Mother
	Nagin	Sunita's Sister
	Jai Mahalaxmi Maa
	Do Khiladi	Mamta Singh
1977	Anand Ashram	Chandramukhi
	Solah Shukrawar	Kaushalya
	Jai Dwarkadheesh	Revati
	Jai Ambe Maa
1978	Tumhare Liye	Sheela devi
1979	Guru Ho Jaa Shuru	Sheela's mom
1981	Sampoorna Santoshi Maa Ki Mahima
	Fiffty Fiffty	Ranimaa
1983	Navaratri
	Sati Naag Kanya	Sati Anasuya
1984	Prarthana
1986	Krishna-Krishna	Revati
1989	Socha Na Tha
1991	Lakhpati	Rambha	(final film role)

Awards and nominations[edit]

• 1960: Filmfare Award
  • Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award: Goonj Uthi Shehnai: Nominated