Vijaya Mehta, a pioneering determine in fashionable Indian theatre and cinema, has handed away on the age of 91.
IMAGE: The incomparable Vijaya Mehta. {Photograph}: Sort courtesy Movie Historical past Pics/X
Key Factors
- Legendary theatre director and actor Vijaya Mehta handed away at 91.
- Mehta was a co-founder of Mumbai’s influential Rangayan theatre group and in addition directed acclaimed movies like Rao Saheb and Pestonjee.
- Vijaya Mehta carved a definite place for herself in Indian parallel cinema with memorable performances in acclaimed movies corresponding to Kalyug and Celebration.
Theatre doyenne Vijaya Mehta died on June 30 at her residence. She was 91.
Fondly referred to as Bai, Mehta was a pioneering director, actor and producer who reshaped fashionable Indian theatre and cinema.
‘She by no means raised her voice. She raised your requirements’
IMAGE: Anupam Kher and Naseeruddin Shah in Pestonjee.
The information of her demise was shared by Anupam Kher on his Instagram account. Expressing his grief, Kher dropped an emotional video and publish, recalling Vijaya Mehta’s immense contribution to theatre and cinema.
‘VIJAYA MEHTA- THE ICONIC LEGEND! Deeply saddened to study in regards to the passing of #VijayaMehta. One of many best theatre minds India has ever produced, an distinctive filmmaker, and above all, a outstanding human being.
I had the privilege of working with Vijaya Bai in Rao Saheb and Pestonjee. I had already performed a couple of movies by then and thought I understood one thing about performing. However each rehearsal along with her jogged my memory how huge the ocean of this craft actually is.
‘In entrance of her knowledge, her understanding of human behaviour, and her extraordinary sensitivity, I fortunately grew to become a scholar once more,’ Kher wrote.
‘She by no means imposed her data. She illuminated it. She by no means raised her voice. She raised your requirements. Her self-discipline got here wrapped in grace, her heat in humility, and her brilliance in simplicity.
‘The cruelest factor about dying is that inside moments of listening to the information, we’re pressured to talk about somebody we love prior to now tense. The guts takes for much longer to just accept what the thoughts has simply been informed.’
Kher thanked his ‘Vijaya Bai’ for her ‘generosity, affection, steerage, and for reminding so many people that performing just isn’t about performing… it’s about understanding life.’
‘You’ll all the time stay current within the numerous actors, administrators and college students whose lives you touched. Om Shanti.’
‘She bestowed a brand new identification upon Marathi in addition to Indian theatre’
IMAGE: Vijaya Mehta and Naseeruddin Shah on the units of Pestonjee. {Photograph}: Sort courtesy Movie Historical past Pics/X
Maharashtra Tradition Minister Ashish Shelar wrote on X: ‘Heartfelt Tribute. The information of the passing of veteran theatre director Vijaya Mehta is extraordinarily heartbreaking.
‘By her extraordinary directorial fashion, inventive imaginative and prescient, and unwavering dedication to the artwork of theatre, she bestowed a brand new identification upon Marathi in addition to Indian theatre. The imprint of her work will proceed to encourage numerous artists. Could her soul attain everlasting peace. And will the Mehta household discover the energy to get better from this sorrow — that is my prayer on the ft of the Lord.’
Awards and Contributions
IMAGE: Vijaya Mehta joins the forged of the Marathi play Barrister. {Photograph}: Sort courtesy Movie Historical past Pics/X
Born Vijaya Jaywant on November 4, 1934, in Baroda, she educated underneath Ebrahim Alkazi and Adi Marzban. Her honours embrace the Padma Shri in 1986, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Course in 1975, Tagore Ratna in 2012, and a Nationwide Movie Award for Greatest Supporting Actress.
She was one of many founding members of Mumbai’s Rangayan theatre group, alongside famend playwright Vijay Tendulkar and veteran actors Arvind Deshpande and Shreeram Lagoo. Her six-decade profession included staging landmark performs like Ek Shoonya Bajirao and Ajab Nyay Vartulacha, and directing acclaimed movies corresponding to Rao Saheb and Pestonjee.
Vijaya Mehta carved a definite place for herself in Indian parallel cinema with memorable performances in acclaimed movies corresponding to Kalyug and Celebration.
Pictures curated by Satish Bodas/Rediff
