For the unversed souls, Shabana Azmi is the actor with the most National Film Awards
In the world of cinema, especially in the Indian film industry across various regions, it is incredibly challenging for an actor to carve out a space in both commercially successful and critically acclaimed or artistic films. Among this group of elites is Shabani Azmi, the versatile actor who requires no introduction.
As she turns 75 this September, we take a look at the roles that won her five National Film Awards, the most by an actor in the industry.
Directed and written by Shyam Benegal, this is one of the most important films in the history of Indian parallel cinema. The film won three National Film Awards, of which one went to Azmi in the Best Actress category. The film heavily revolves around the character of Azmi, who plays a young woman from a lower caste and poor economic background with a deaf-mute alcoh*lic husband. Shabana Azmi played the role of how women balanced numerous domestic and societal issues, portraying the harsh life of rural women in the 1970s.
A cheating husband, a maid who left her daughter alone for a tragic reason, and a woman with only INR 2,000 in her purse – Arth brought the best out of Shabana Azmi. The character of Azmi did not return to her husband and instead agreed to take care of her maid’s daughter. She did not even accept a marriage proposal from another man and chose to be a brave, independent woman in the 1980s, living alone, earning a living, and taking care of a child.
(Credit- The Print)
One of the finest works of legendary director Mrinal Sen, Khandar portrays how, once upon a time, marriages of women were arranged without their consent or their emotions involved. And in several cases, the chosen groom never married, which also damaged women’s reputations in a society with an orthodox mindset. Khandar portrays Shabana Azmi, who is set to be married to a man, but the man marries someone else in the city and never returns for her.
The year is 2025, and yet, in many parts of India, economically powerful people in villages exploit poor villagers. Paar depicts the life of a poor couple in a village who rebel against a landlord. The film not only earned Azmi her fourth National Film Award but also gained her a nomination for the Venice International Film Festival. Apart from Azmi, the film featured a stellar cast that included Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, and Utpal Dutt.
Directed by Vinay Shukla, Godmother is a biographical film on the life of Santokben Jadeja, a m*fia boss who operated in Porbandar in Gujarat in the 1980s and 1990s. The film won a total of six National Film Awards. This was Azmi’s fifth National Film Award, won in 1999.
Since 1999, despite working in several other critically acclaimed or artistic films and nailing each role, Azmi has not gained another award. As we celebrate her 75th birthday, we certainly hope a few more will join her trophy cabinet.
