Acclaimed writer-director
Sumitra Bhave breathed her last in Pune, aged 78.
She was reportedly battling age-related ailments and was under observation at a private hospital in the city for a while.
Bhave's repertoire includes films like
Kaasav
, Samhita,
Astu
, Welcome Home, Vaastupurush, Dahavi Fa, Devrai and more. Bhave, along with her co-director
Sunil Sukthankar, is regarded as one of the people who changed the landscape of Marathi cinema and brought it critical acclaim. Her films addressed issues ranging from discrimination to mental health. Kaasav, Bhave and Sukthankar's most recent collaboration, won the Swarna Kamal at the National Awards. Bhave had also lent her voice as a narrator to
Chaitanya Tamhane's upcoming film
The Disciple
, which has been executively produced by
Gravity
director Alfonso Cuaron.
With the passing of Bhave, it's the end of an era, to say the least. Besides being a sensible filmmaker, Bhave was also a social activist. Our condolences to her near and dear ones.