Too Samarth for her time!

November 17 marks the birth centenary of one of India’s well-known actresses of the pre-Independence era - Shobana Samarth.

In today’s world, when it is common place for heroes and heroines to launch their offsprings in cinema, this silver screen icon was a trendsetter who produced the debut ventures of both her two talented daughters- Nutan (‘Hamari Beti’, 1950) and Tanuja (‘Chhabili’, 1960).

She also represented a family which went on to spend four generations in the film industry, beginning with her mother and continuing her legacy after her daughters through her grandchildren Mohnish Bahl and Kajol bringing up the latest generation, who are still continuing to be seen in the movie world.

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I came in after the era of silent films. My first film was in 1935 while the talkies had come to India in 1931. Those were the days of Vanmala, Shanta Apte, Durga Khote, Leela Chitnis, Akhtari Bai, Husn Bano - Shobhana

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In an era where conservatism ruled the roost and women were hardly encouraged to enter the movie world with a dubious reputation, Shobana, whose original name was Saroja, had everything going for her, with just minor hiccups here and there.

Hailing from a comfortable background with her family being in the banking industry, Shobana managed to find a handsome husband for herself who a foreign was returned person having interests in cinematography.

An interview published in the news portal, www.rediff.com in 1999 contains interesting highlights about her career. Her first film, ‘Nigahen Nafrat’ released in 1935, a few months after she was married. Her first daughter Nutan was born in June, 1936.

"I came in after the era of silent films. My first film was in 1935 while the talkies had come to India in 1931. Those were the days of Vanmala, Shanta Apte, Durga Khote, Leela Chitnis, Akhtari Bai, Husn Bano," says Shobhana.

She narrates her experiences from those days. "My first film was made in Urdu and Marathi. I did not know any Urdu.

When I was given my dialogues, I was so naive that I used to learn the whole sentence and deliver it proudly," she smiles. "The rest of the unit used to be in splits. I worked hard and learnt some Urdu later."

After ‘Nigahen Nafrat’ in which she starred with Master Vinayak and B Pendharker, she acted in about 50 films, including ‘Do Deewane’ (with Motilal and Yakub), ‘Kokila’ (with Motilal and Sabita Devi), ‘Pati Patni’ (with Wasti and Yakub), ‘Sadhana’ (with Premadeeb),

‘Apni Nagariya’ (with Nazir), ‘Mata’ (with Chandrakant Kardar), ‘Nayi Duniya’ (with Jairaj), ‘Savera’ (with Aroon who is actor Govinda's father), ‘Shobha’ (with Shahu Modak). The last was directed by her husband Kumarsen.

But Shobhana is best known for her portrayal of Sita in ‘Ram Rajya’. So evocative was this performance that she became the eternal Sita in the audience's minds.

This was ironical because Shobhana was one of the most unconventional actresses of her time.

Her affair with co-star Moti Lal whom she called a ‘good friend’ split her marriage and still, it is reported that she had an amicable settlement with her spouse who went on to direct films with her later too.

Shobana had a tempestuous relationship with Moti Lal, as she revealed in the same interview which was not devoid of ferocious fights between the two. Yet, love triumphed as she loved him for the way he presented himself.

100 years down the line, a few of the above traits are still a rarity among modern heroines who are richer, sassier and more in public eye.

After all, the film industry from its transition to the talkie era has seen enough which has been contemporary and worth remembering years later, of which Shobhana’s eventful life is a sure illustration.