Meenakshi Shirodkar

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Meenakshi Shirodkar (October 11, 1916 – June 31, 1997), born Ratan Pednekar, was an Indian actress who mainly worked in Marathi films, Marathi theatre, and television. She made her debut in 1938 and continued to act in films until the early 1970s.  She is a grandmother of two Bollywood actresses, Namrata Shirodkar and Shilpa Shirodkar.

Personal life

Shirodkar was born Ratan Pednekar on October 11, 1916 to a Maharashtrian family. She started learning Indian classical music at the early age. In 1936 she married Dr. Shirodkar with whom she had a son. Her granddaughters and Bollywood actresses Namrata Shirodkar and Shilpa Shirodkar also worked in the film industry.[1] Namrata was crowned as Miss India in 1993.[2] On June 4, 1997, Shirodkar died at the age of 80 in Mumbai.[3]

Career

In 1935, Shirodkar joined All India Radio (AIR) where she worked in radio dramas. After her marriage in 1936, she got a film offer from Pandurang Naik, one of the partners in a film company called Hans Pictures. Though Shirodkar declined the offer in the beginning, Naik convinced Shirodkar's husband that she should make film debut.[4]
Shirodkar debuted with a 1938 Marathi film Brahmachari opposite Master Vinayak. The writer of the film, Pralhad Keshav Atre, better known as "Āchārya Atre", changed her name from "Ratan" to "Meenaxi" to suit her big eyes.[4] She created a stir by appearing in a swimsuit in the song "Yamuna Jali Khelu Khel"[5] film and stunned the traditional audience.[3][6] She rose to fame for her then daring act[7][8] and her twin-plait hairstyle in the song but also got criticized heavily.[6][9] The song was sung by Shirodkar herself and became hit.[10] It was also reused in the play by the same name[11] and years later in other films as well.[12] She continued to do several other films with Master Vinayak like Brandichi Batli (1939), Ghar Ki Rani (1940), Amrut (1941), Majhe Bal (1943).[13]
After retiring from major roles in 1950, Shirodkar played a few minor roles in films and joined Marathi theatre with "Nutan Sangeet Natak Mandali".[14] During the period 1950-75, she worked in twelve Sangeet Nataks (musical plays) including Mruchhakatik, Maanaapmaan, Ekach Pyaala and others.[4]

YearFilm TitleRoleLanguage
1938BrahmachariKishoriMarathi / Hindi
1939DevataPushpaMarathi
1939Brandichi Batli / Brandy Ki BotalMalatiMarathi / Hindi
1940LapandavMarathi
1940Ardhangi / Ghar Ki RaniSavitriMarathi / Hindi
1941Amrut / AmritGulabMarathi / Hindi
1941JhoolaHindi
1942JawaniHindi
1943Majhe BalShashiMarathi
1943SangamMarathi
1943AmanatHindi
1943Chimukala SansarMarathi
1944RamshastriMarathi / Hindi
1945Badi MaaUshaHindi
1945PannadaiHindi
1952Pelli Chesi Choodu / Kalyanam Panni PaarTelugu / Tamil
1955RaftarHindi
1957Miss MaryHindi
1958Raj TilakHindi
1966GabanHindi
1968Mere HuzoorHindi
1970MoojrimHindi
1972PakeezahHindi


References

  1. "No full stops". The Hindu. Dec 11, 2004. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  2.  "Miss India Winners 2010-1964". The Times of India. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  3. "Veteran Marathi actress dead". The Indian Express (Mumbai). June 4, 1997. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  4. "आजसारखी विकृती हीच संस्कृती तेव्हा नव्हती!: मिनाक्षी शिरोडकर" [We did not have cultural deterioration, unlike today: Meenakshi Shirodkar]. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  5. Kanvinde, Vaishnavi (July 19, 2010). "मराठी सिनेमात सात दशकांनी बिकीनी" [Bikini after 7 decades in Marathi cinema]. Maharashtra Times (in Marathi). The Times of India. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  6. Karnik, Hemant (August 5, 2012). "काय बघावं..." [What you should see]. Lokmat (in Marathi). Yahoo!. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  7. "Gorgeous Ghatans: The southern belles have made way for Bollywood's new glam girls—the Mumbai bombshells". Outlook. February 28, 1996. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  8. "A potpourri of trivia for cinephiles & nerds". The Sunday Guardian. September 16, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  9. "स्मिता गोंदकरला झालयं तरी काय?" [What has happened to Smita Gondkar]. Loksatta (in Marathi). The Indian Express. March 16, 2012. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  10. "Meenakshi Shirodkar". Cineplot.com. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  11. "अशोक पत्की" [Ashok Patki]. Maharashtra Times. The Times of India. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  12. Kanvinde, Vaishnavi (December 9, 2011). "यमुनाजळी खेळू खेळ..." [Yamuna Jali Khelu Khel]. Lokprabha (in Marathi). The Indian Express. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  13. "हिंदी सिनेमा का सफ़र -3 (पुराने जमाने में भी हिट थीं जोड़ियां)" [The journey of Hindi cinema - 3 (Hit pairs from golden era)] (in Hindi). Janokti. October 13, 2010. Retrieved January 15, 2013.
  14.  "ITC Awardee Shrimati Saraswatibai Rane passes away". ITC Sangeet Research Academy. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
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