Thursday marks the 84th birth anniversary of yesteryear Bollywood actor Nutan. She was five times winner of the Filmfare award for best actress, and a recipient of the Padma Shri award by the Government of India, Nutan is highly acclaimed for the versatility in her performances. She did unconventional roles that put her at par with her male contemporaries at a time when feminine roles were hugely characterized by obedience as a symbol of female morality.
Nutan who is now remembered as the beautiful actress who cast her charm on the audience did not reach this base without a struggle. Despite being born in a family of actors and directors, she was often critiqued (especially as a teenager) for not fitting in the conventional ideas of beauty. She was too thin, tall and unstylish when the film industry pitched plump and petite as the trait of a beautiful woman. It was her strong personality that led her to become one of the most popular faces of Indian cinema.
On her birth anniversary let us look at a few of her most cherished films.
Seema (1955)
It was Amiya Chakrabarty’s sensitive social dram, directed from his own story focusing on a young girl who is abandoned by society and finds a second chance at life and love in an orphanage. The part showed off Nutan’s versatility, her expressive eyes, and an inner fierceness that audiences had not yet experienced. It was quite evident, early on, that Nutan could embody any character.
Sone Ki Chidiya (1958)
The film, through the character of Lakshmi (played by Nutan), showcases the misuse widespread in the film industry as against the romanticized, ideal vision that it openly displayed. Here Nutan gives life to the strong-willed Lakshmi, as she fights setbacks, makes her way to becoming a successful actress from a poor economic background, and despite facing various emotional traumas, comes back with an even stronger will.
Sujata (1959)
Nutan plays the role of a Dalit woman brought up in a Brahmin family. She is constantly reminded of her lower caste status and is never fully accepted in the family. At the end of the movie, it is Sujata’s selfless character that saves the life of the mistress of the house. The movie, through the portrayal of Sujata, is a strong analysis of the caste system and joins Dr B. R. Ambedkar’s fight against the same. It also draws from the Chandalika myth in Hinduism as one of its subtexts.
Challiya (1960)
The movie revolves around Shanti (played by Nutan), who gets married the day before the partition and is left divided, while her family moves to India. On being reunited with her family, Shanti experiences physical and emotional trauma as she is accused of being disloyal to her husband. The movie ends at a happy note with the resolution of all problems.
Bandini (1963)
An unusually woman-centric film, with Nutan playing the lead character of Kalyani (or Bandini), a woman serving life imprisonment for murder. The movie explores the soul of its character as it pauses between love and hate, and creates a second narrative from the point of view of the criminal. The movie was a big success and won various awards.
Milan (1967)
The film is one of the movies in Indian cinema which focused on the theme of a new change. Nutan plays the role of two women in different timelines, Radha and Radha Devi. The movie deals with a couple successfully reunited in a new life after death in the previous one.
Introduced to films at the young age of 14 in Hamari Beti (1950), Nutan’s career spread over 30 years with her last two films released afterward in the years 1992 and 1994. She was one of the few actresses of the time, who continued working even after getting married. Her career was a path breaker from the agreements and she continues to be admired for her sophisticated choice of works. She suffered from breast cancer and died in the year 1991, marking the end of an exemplary lifespan.
