Anita Guha
Anita Guha in Chhoo Mantar
Born(1939-01-17)17 January 1939
Died20 June 2007(2007-06-20) (aged 68)
Years active1953–1989
SpouseManik Dutt

Anita Guha (17 January 1939 – 20 June 2007) was an Indian 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), Lukochuri (1958) and Sanjog (1961).

Career

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

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.

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
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

References

  1. "Santoshi Maa Anita Guha dead". The Times of India. 20 June 2007. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013.
  2. "Anita Guha, 70s, actress – Entertainment News, Obituary, Media – Variety". Variety. Archived from the original on 9 July 2010. Retrieved 20 April 2020.
  3. "1st Filmfare Awards 1953" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 June 2009. Retrieved 13 December 2007.
  4. "Anita Guha dead". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 20 June 2007. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2012.
  5. Kahlon, Sukhpreet. "Anita Guha, a different 'Maa' in Indian cinema – Death anniversary special". Cinestaan.com. Archived from the original on 25 June 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  6. The Telegraph – Calcutta : etc Archived 29 June 2007 at the Wayback Machine The Telegraph (Kolkata)
  7. On playing Santoshi Ma Archived 19 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine Rediff.com.
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