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Sanjay Surkar

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Sanjay Surkar
Born(1959-08-19)19 August 1959[1]
Deoli, Bombay State, India
Died27 September 2012(2012-09-27) (aged 53)[2]
Pune, Maharashtra, India
NationalityIndian
Occupationdirector

Sanjay Surkar (19 August 1959 – 27 September 2012) was a Marathi film director. He won three National Film Awards for the films Rao Saheb (1996), Tu Tithe Mee (1998) and Gharabaher (1999) in Best Feature Film in Marathi category. Along with films, Surkar had also worked in television and theatre.

Early life

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Surkar was born on 19 August 1959 at Deoli in Wardha district of Maharashtra state. He earned his Bachelor of Commerce degree from G. S. Commerce College in 1983. From the Nagpur University he took his bachelor's degree and Masters in Fine Arts specialising in Dramatics.[1][3]

Career

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Early works in theatre

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Surkar entered into entertainment industry from the theatre medium. Brought up in Nagpur, he worked with numerous plays doing back stage works as well as acting in his school and college days. In Nagpur, he worked on many plays for children. While still doing his Bachelor in Fine Arts from Nagpur University, Surkar along with actor Girish Oak and Pramod Bhusari conducted various workshops. Surkar then moved to Mumbai and continued his theatre work with commercial plays like Chafa Bolena, Preetisangam and Tu Fakta Ho Mhan. His plays like Vansh, Bonsai, No Exit, The Wall, etc. made to various state level competitions. He was first introduced to television through the serial No Problem, where he received his first chance to work with film medium.[4] He got an opportunity to assist director Kanchan Nayak in the 1989 Marathi film Kalat Nakat. Produced by Smita Talwalkar, the film handled the delicate topic of extra-marital affair, its effects on families and children. The film ended with the positive message of keeping the family-ties together and won the National Film Award in the Best Marathi film category.[5] The film also marked the beginning of Surkar-Talwalkar team which would create many films and television shows in future.

Chaukat Raja and critical acclaim

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In 1991, Surkar directed his first independent feature film Chaukat Raja that was produced by Smita Talwalkar under her banner "Asmita Chitra". This family drama was a journey of a mentally challenged boy Nandu. While playing on swings in childhood along with his friend Minal, Nandu hurts his head and is disabled. Nandu grows up into a man, played by Dilip Prabhavalkar, but still considers himself a child. Sulabha Deshpande played the role of his mother and elder Minal's role was played by Talwalkar. Prabhavalkar received Best Actor award granted by the Government of Maharashtra[6] and with critical acclaims to the film, Surkar was noticed as a director.

In 1993 when Talwalkar produced her first directorial venture Sawat Mazhi Ladki, Surkar assisted her in direction. The comedy drama plot showed a 40 plus married doctor, played by Mohan Joshi, falling for his 20 something assistant doctor. The assistant doctor's role was played by Varsha Usgaonkar and Neena Kulkarni portrayed the role of doctor's housewife. His next project Aaplee Maanse (1993) was a family drama film with an ensemble cast of many notable actors of the Marathi film industry that included Prashant Damle, Mohan Joshi, Sudhir Joshi, Sachin Khedekar, Reema Lagoo, Dilip Prabhavalkar, Ashok Saraf and Renuka Shahane. In 1994 he directed Yadna which received seven awards at the Maharashtra State Film Award.[3]

In the following years, Surkar directed three notable films of his career. Rao Saheb (1996), Tu Tithe Mee (1998) and Gharabaher (1999) won him National Film Awards as director of Best Marathi feature films. Rao Saheb was a story of local politics in Maharashtra. Tu Tithe Mee was a story of an old couple, played by Mohan Joshi and Suhas Joshi, coping with their next-gen family and was produced by Talwalkar. The film was later adopted in Hindi as Baghban (2003). The 1999 film Gharabaher dealt with the topic of hypocrisy towards women and problems in their empowerment. For giving the "wonderfully controlled performance" of a corrupt politician in the film, Mohan Joshi was presented with a Special Jury Award at the 47th National Film Awards.[7] Mrinal Kulkarni also received Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Actress for her role in this film.

Continuing direction

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In 2004, the Surkar-Talwalkar team brought to viewers Saatchya Aat Gharat, a film that questioned western culture's influence on teenagers.[8][9] Surkar also went on to direct films on various social issues. His 2009 film Sukhant was a struggle story of an old woman who meets a car accident which puts her in tetraplegia. To end her life with dignity and save troubles of her family, she pleads for euthanasia. Jyoti Chandekar played the lead role in the film, while Atul Kulkarni and Kavita Lad played supporting leads.[10] In 2011, Surkar debuted in Bollywood with the film Stand By. With lead roles played by Siddharth Kher and Adinath Kothare, the plot was about the internal politics in football.[11] The film did not do well at the box-office.[12]

Apart from films, Surkar continued his work through television serials, both in Marathi and Hindi. In Marathi he directed shows like Noopur, Sukanya and Un Paus. The show Avantika with Mrinal Kulkarni playing the title lead role, won numerous awards for her and made her a household name.[13] In 2009, he directed the Hindi television show Aapki Antara which is about a 5-year-old girl Antara who has autism. In 2010 he went on to produce the TV show Dhoondh Legi Manzil Humein, which was loosely based on his film Gharabaher.

Surkar had also conceived a film on the life of freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak.[14]

Death

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He died on 27 September 2012[15] of a sudden heart attack while on the sets of his upcoming film Laathi.[16] The film was the debut for actress Padmini Kolhapure as a producer and was later directed by Mahesh Aney.[17] He was also working on the script of an upcoming film to be directed by Nitin Chandrakant Desai on the life of Indian freedom fighter Lokmanya Tilak.[18][19]

Selected filmography

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Films

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Year Title Notes
1989 Kalat Nakalat As assistant director
1991 Chaukat Raja First feature film
Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Film
1993 Savat Mazi Ladki As assistant director
1993 Aaplee Maanse Maharashtra State Film Award for Best Second Film
1994 Yadna
1996 Rao Saheb National Film Award for Best Marathi Feature Film
1998 Tu Tithe Mee National Film Award for Best Marathi Feature Film
1999 Gharabaher National Film Award for Best Marathi Feature Film
2004 Saatchya Aat Gharat
2006 Aai Shappath..!
2006 Anandache Jhaad
2007 Sakhi
2007 Aawahan
2008 Ek Daav Sansaracha
2008 Tandala
2009 Master Eke Master
2010 Ranbhool
2009 Sukhant
2011 Stand By Hindi film
Laathi Posthumous release,
later directed by Mahesh Aney

Television

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Year Title Production house Channel
Eka Haatachi Taali
Raoo
Noopur
Akashdeep Hindi serial
1998 Sukanya
1998 Avantika Asmita Chitra Zee Marathi
1998 Un Paus Asmita Chitra
2009–2010 Aapki Antara Zee TV
2010–2011 Dhoondh Legi Manzil Humein STAR One
As Producer[8]

Theatre

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Title Notes
To Ek Kshan[20]

Awards

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National Film Awards
Shared with producers K. B. Joshi and Ravindra Surve
Citation: For depicting the struggle for power of ambitious politicians in a most effective manner.[3]
Shared with producer Smita Talwalkar
Citation: For shedding light on the plight of the old and the ageing and the crumbling of the joint family system in a novel and entertaining format of a love story. Beautiful performance by Mohan Joshi and Suhas Joshi are the highlights of the film.[21]
Shared with producers Ratan Madan and Narendra Shinde
Citation: For depicting the hypocrisy exercised by man in complete contradiction of declared socio-political positions and a total reversal of behaviour when it comes to power and lust. It draws attention to the inherent problems in the empowerment of women.[7]
Other awards

References

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  1. ^ a b "'फिल्मसिटी'च्या संजयदृष्टीचा दुःखांत". Maharashtra Times (in Marathi). Nagpur. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  2. ^ "Film director Sanjay Surkar passes away". The Times of India. Pune. 28 September 2012. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  3. ^ a b c d "44th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  4. ^ Kazi, Raj (28 September 2012). "झपाटलेलं "आनंदाचं झाड'". Sakal (in Marathi). Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  5. ^ "37th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  6. ^ Dr. Mandpe, Asha (24 April 2011). "Different faces of a versatile actor". Mumbai Mirror. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  7. ^ a b "47th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
  8. ^ a b Sarfare, Sapna (30 January 2011). "I like to bring out issues of those who have been ignored". Pune Mirror. Archived from the original on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  9. ^ "Film exorcises shock of city rape case". The Times of India. 22 August 2004. Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 8 January 2013.
  10. ^ Sunil Nandgoankar, Sunil (27 November 2009). "Eye-opener: Sukhant". Screen. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  11. ^ Wagh, Nikita. "STAND BY is about internal politics played alongwith [sic] the game". Glamsham. Archived from the original on 19 March 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  12. ^ Parkar, Shaheen (27 August 2011). "Stand By – Movie review". DNA. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  13. ^ "Interview with actor Mrinal Kulkarni". Indiantelevision.com. 26 November 2003. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  14. ^ Sanjay Surkar passes away
  15. ^ "Noted Marathi director Sanjay Surkar passes away". Zee News. 27 September 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  16. ^ Phadke, Aparna (29 September 2012). "The day the ever-smiling Sanjay Surkar cried". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  17. ^ Farida Khanzada (27 February 2014). "Padmini Kolhapure's debut production venture, Lathi, ready for release". Indian Express. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  18. ^ Kharde, Pallavi (28 September 2012). "Tribute: Surkar was looking forward to film's release". DNA. Retrieved 14 January 2013.
  19. ^ Sanjay Surkar passes away
  20. ^ "Marathi film industry loses an icon". Indian Express. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
  21. ^ "46th National Film Awards" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 10 January 2013.
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