Sandhya Shantaram
Encyclopedia
Sandhya Shantaram is an Indian actress. She is best known for her appearances in various Hindi
and Marathi
films directed by her husband V. Shantaram
.
after he became involved with her sister Jayashree. She later married him after Jayashree left him. In 1952 Sandhya debuted as an actress in his Marathi
film Amar Bhoopali
in the role of a vocalist, the object of poet Honaji Bala's desire. She went on to feature in most of Shantaram's films. In her next film Teen Batti Char Raasta she played an impoverished girl who is considered unattractive because of her dark skin, but who is secretly a radio star with a beautiful singing voice. For the role Sandhya wore dark makeup. As she had no formal dance training, she underwent intensive instruction in classical dance from co-star Gopi Krishna
for the film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje. The two play Kathak
dancers who are preparing for an important competition, but face opposition from their dance guru when they fall in love. The film was very successful and went on to win four Filmfare Awards
as well as the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
. Sandhya starred opposite her husband in the film Do Aankhen Barah Haath
where she played Champa, a toyseller who fascinates the warden and inmates as she walks outside their jail. In Navrang she played the plain wife of the titular character, a poet, who creates a fantasy image of her as his beautiful and sensuous muse. The film contained the Holi
song "Arreh Jaa Reh Hat Natkhat" where Sandhya dances with an elephant wearing ghungroo
. She next starred in Stree, (1961) a film version of Shakuntala
's story from the Mahabharata
. As the epic mentions that Shukunlanta and her son Bharata
lived in the wilderness among lions, Shantaram decided to include real lions in some scenes. Sandhya did not have a double for these scenes; she prepared by shadowing a lion tamer and practicing in the cage with the lions. Sandhya's last major role was in the Marathi version of Pinjra
; her character falls in love with a schoolteacher played by Shriram Lagoo
in his film debut.
In 2009, she made a special appearance at the award ceremony for the V. Shantaram Awards to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Navrang.
Hindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
and Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
films directed by her husband V. Shantaram
V. Shantaram
V. Shantaram is a renowned Indian filmmaker, film producer and actor. He is most known for his films like Dr...
.
Career
Sandhya was discovered by V. ShantaramV. Shantaram
V. Shantaram is a renowned Indian filmmaker, film producer and actor. He is most known for his films like Dr...
after he became involved with her sister Jayashree. She later married him after Jayashree left him. In 1952 Sandhya debuted as an actress in his Marathi
Marathi language
Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken by the Marathi people of western and central India. It is the official language of the state of Maharashtra. There are over 68 million fluent speakers worldwide. Marathi has the fourth largest number of native speakers in India and is the fifteenth most...
film Amar Bhoopali
The Immortal Song
The Immortal Song is a 1951 Indian film directed by Rajaram Vankudre Shantaram. It was entered into the 1952 Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Grand Prize of the Festival....
in the role of a vocalist, the object of poet Honaji Bala's desire. She went on to feature in most of Shantaram's films. In her next film Teen Batti Char Raasta she played an impoverished girl who is considered unattractive because of her dark skin, but who is secretly a radio star with a beautiful singing voice. For the role Sandhya wore dark makeup. As she had no formal dance training, she underwent intensive instruction in classical dance from co-star Gopi Krishna
Gopi Krishna (dancer)
Gopi Krishna was an Indian dancer, actor and choreographer.- Life and career :Gopi Krishna was born into a family of Kathak dancers. His maternal grandfather Pandit Sukhdev Maharaj was a teacher of Kathak and his aunt Sitara Devi is a Kathak dancer who has performed around the world...
for the film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje. The two play Kathak
Kathak
Kathak is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dances, originated from Uttar Pradesh, India. This dance form traces its origins to the nomadic bards of ancient northern India, known as Kathaks, or storytellers...
dancers who are preparing for an important competition, but face opposition from their dance guru when they fall in love. The film was very successful and went on to win four Filmfare Awards
Filmfare Awards
The Filmfare Awards are presented annually by The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Hindi language film industry of India. The Filmfare ceremony is one of the oldest and most prominent film events given for Hindi films in India. The awards were...
as well as the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi
The National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi awards the best regional film in Hindi language. Initially the award was known as the President's Silver Medal for Best Feature Film in Hindi. The winners in this category are:...
. Sandhya starred opposite her husband in the film Do Aankhen Barah Haath
Do Aankhen Barah Haath
Do Aankhen Barah Haath is a 1957 Hindi film directed by the Indian film director V. Shantaram, who also starred in the film. It is considered one of the classics of Hindi cinema and is based on morals of Gandhian philosophy. It won a Silver Bear at the 8th Berlin International Film Festival and it...
where she played Champa, a toyseller who fascinates the warden and inmates as she walks outside their jail. In Navrang she played the plain wife of the titular character, a poet, who creates a fantasy image of her as his beautiful and sensuous muse. The film contained the Holi
Holi
Holi , is a religious spring festival celebrated by Hindus. Holi is also known as festival of Colours. It is primarily observed in India, Nepal, Pakistan, and countries with large Indic diaspora populations following Hinduism, such as Suriname, Malaysia, Guyana, South Africa, Trinidad, United...
song "Arreh Jaa Reh Hat Natkhat" where Sandhya dances with an elephant wearing ghungroo
Ghungroo
A Ghungroo, also known as Ghunghroo or Ghunghru or Salangai is one of many small metallic bells strung together to form Ghungroos, a musical anklet tied to the feet of classical Indian dancers. The sounds produced by Ghungroos vary greatly in pitch depending on their metallic composition and size...
. She next starred in Stree, (1961) a film version of Shakuntala
Shakuntala
In Hindu mythology Shakuntala is the wife of Dushyanta and the mother of Emperor Bharata. Her story is told in the Mahabharata and dramatized by Kalidasa in his play Abhijñānaśākuntalam .-Etymology:Rishi Kanva found her in forest as a baby surrounded by Shakunta birds...
's story from the Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
. As the epic mentions that Shukunlanta and her son Bharata
Bharata (emperor)
Bharata was a legendary emperor of India, and is referred to in Hindu and Jain mythology. He was son of King Dushyanta and Shakuntala and thus a descendant of the Lunar Dynasty of the Kshatriya caste. Bharata conquered all of greater Greater India, uniting it into a single entity which was named...
lived in the wilderness among lions, Shantaram decided to include real lions in some scenes. Sandhya did not have a double for these scenes; she prepared by shadowing a lion tamer and practicing in the cage with the lions. Sandhya's last major role was in the Marathi version of Pinjra
Pinjra (film)
Pinjra , is a Marathi film made in 1972. The film is directed by V. Shantaram. In 1973 this film was remade in Hindi.-Plot Summary:Pinjra is the tragic story of a school teacher and a dancer. The 'cage' here is a metaphor for life. The dancer dies as she falls for the teacher & is unable to save him...
; her character falls in love with a schoolteacher played by Shriram Lagoo
Shriram Lagoo
Dr. Shreeram Lagoo is an Indian film and theatre actor, in Hindi and Marathi. He is known for his character roles in films. He has acted in over 100 Hindi and Marathi films, over 40 Marathi, Hindi and Gujarati plays, and has directed over 20 Marathi plays. He is considered one of the greatest...
in his film debut.
In 2009, she made a special appearance at the award ceremony for the V. Shantaram Awards to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Navrang.
Filmography
- 1952 Amar BhoopaliThe Immortal SongThe Immortal Song is a 1951 Indian film directed by Rajaram Vankudre Shantaram. It was entered into the 1952 Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Grand Prize of the Festival....
- 1952 Parchhaiyan
- 1953 Teen Batti Char Raasta
- 1955 Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje
- 1958 Do Aankhen Barah HaathDo Aankhen Barah HaathDo Aankhen Barah Haath is a 1957 Hindi film directed by the Indian film director V. Shantaram, who also starred in the film. It is considered one of the classics of Hindi cinema and is based on morals of Gandhian philosophy. It won a Silver Bear at the 8th Berlin International Film Festival and it...
- 1959 Navrang
- 1959 Maragatham
- 1960 Ranadheera Kanteerava
- 1961 StreeStreeStree is a 1961 Indian fantasy film directed by and starring Rajaram Vankudre Shantaram. The film was selected as the Indian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 34th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.-Cast:...
- 1963 Sehra
- 1963 Iruvar Ullam
- 1966 Ladki Sahyadri Ki
- 1971 Jal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin BijliJal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin BijliJal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin Bijli is a 1971 Bollywood romance film directed by Rajaram Vankudre Shantaram , with Sandhya and Abhijeet as leads, along with Vatsala Deshmukh and Dina Pathak.-Cast:*Abhijeet ... Rajkumar Kailash...
- 1972 PinjraPinjra (film)Pinjra , is a Marathi film made in 1972. The film is directed by V. Shantaram. In 1973 this film was remade in Hindi.-Plot Summary:Pinjra is the tragic story of a school teacher and a dancer. The 'cage' here is a metaphor for life. The dancer dies as she falls for the teacher & is unable to save him...
- 1987 Sri Kanaka Mahalakshmi Recording Dance Troupe
- 1989 Hai Hai Nayaka
- 1993 Ladies Special
- 1993 Detective Naarada
- 1994 Prema & Co.
- 1998 KareebKareebKareeb is a 1998 Bollywood film directed by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. It stars Bobby Deol and Neha.- Plot :...