Sandhya Shantaram | |
|---|---|
 Sandhya in 1957 | |
| Born | Vijaya Deshmukh 22 September 1931 Kochi, Kingdom of Cochin, India |
| Died | 4 October 2025 (aged 94) Mumbai, Maharashtra, India |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Known for | Pinjra |
| Spouse | |
| Relatives | Vatsala Deshmukh (sister) |
Sandhya Shantaram (née Vijaya Deshmukh; 22 September 1931 – 4 October 2025), known mononymously as Sandhya, was an Indian actress. She is best known for her appearances in various Hindi and Marathi films directed by her husband V. Shantaram, in 1950s-1960s, most notably Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955), Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1957), Navrang (1959), Marathi film Pinjra (1972) and Amar Bhoopali (1951).
Early life and career
Sandhya was born on 22 September 1931.[1] She was discovered by V. Shantaram[2] when he was seeking new faces to cast for his film Amar Bhoopali (1951). What struck the filmmaker was that she had a good voice, one that strangely resembled that of his second wife, the actress Jayshree.[3] She later married him after Jayshree left him. In 1952, Sandhya debuted as an actress in his Marathi film Amar Bhoopali in the role of a vocalist, the object of poet Honaji Bala's desire.[4] She went on to feature in most of Shantaram's films. In her next film Teen Batti Char Raasta (1953), she played an impoverished girl named Kokila who is considered unattractive because of her dark skin, but who is secretly a radio star with a beautiful singing voice. Like her name, she resembled the black bird koel which sings beautifully. For the role, Sandhya wore dark makeup.
As she had no formal dance training, she underwent intensive instruction in classical dance from co-star Gopi Krishna for the film Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje. The two play Kathak dancers who are preparing for an important competition, but face opposition from their dance guru when they fall in love. The film was very successful and went on to win four Filmfare Awards as well as the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.[5] Sandhya starred opposite her husband in the film Do Aankhen Barah Haath, where she played Champa, a toy seller who fascinates the warden and inmates as she walks outside their jail.[6] In Navrang, she played the plain wife of the titular character, a poet, who creates a fantasy image of her as his beautiful and sensuous muse.[7] The film contained the Holi song "Arre Ja Re Hatt Natkhat", where Sandhya dances with an elephant wearing dancing bells ghungroo.
She next starred in Stree (1961), a film version of Shakuntala's story from the Mahabharata. As the epic mentions that Shakuntala and her son Bharata lived in the wilderness among lions, Shantaram decided to include real lions in some scenes. Sandhya did not have a double for these scenes; she prepared by shadowing a lion tamer and practicing in the cage with the lions.[8] Sandhya's last major role was in the Marathi version of Pinjra; her character is that of a tamasha artiste who falls in love with a school teacher out to reform her, played by Shriram Lagoo in his film debut.[9]
In 2009, she made a special appearance at the V. Shantaram Awards ceremony to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Navrang.[10]
Death
Sandhya died on 4 October 2025, at the age of 94 due to age related issues.[11][12][13]
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | Amar Bhoopali | Gunawati | Marathi | [14] |
| 1952 | Parchhain | Kishori | Hindi | [citation needed] |
| 1953 | Teen Batti Char Raasta | Shyama/Kokila | [15] | |
| 1955 | Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje | Neela Devi | [16] | |
| 1958 | Do Aankhen Barah Haath | Champa | [17] | |
| 1959 | Navrang | Jamuna/Mohini | [18] | |
| 1961 | Stree | Stree | Hindi | [19] |
| 1963 | Sehra | Angara | ||
| 1966 | Ladki Sahyadri Ki | Rani Paigaonkar | Hindi Marathi |
[20] |
| 1971 | Jal Bin Machhli Nritya Bin Bijli | Alaknanda "Alka" Verma | Hindi | |
| 1972 | Pinjara | Chandrakala Chandrawalkar | Marathi | [21] |
| 1975 | Chandanachi Choli Ang Ang Jali | Gaura | [22] |
Awards
- Filmfare Award Marathi for Best Actress for Pinjara[23]
- Filmfare Award Marathi for Best Actress for Chandanachi Choli Ang Ang Jali
In popular culture
- In the 2018 Marathi biopic Ani... Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar, Amruta Khanvilkar paid homage to Sandhya's legacy by portraying her and recreating the iconic song "Tumhawar Keli Mi Marji Bahal" from Pinjara.[24] The film is ranked as one of the highest grossing Marathi films of 2018.[25]
References
- ^ We have lost not only a talented actress but one of the most iconic dancers in our country: Kiran Shantaram on legendary actress Sandhya Shantaram. Times Of India. 5 October 2025.
- ^ "Director Vankudre Shantaram". Chicago Tribune. 30 October 1990. p. 11.
- ^ Kahlon, Sukhpreet. "Dedicated to her art: The journey of Sandhya Shantaram". cinestaan.com. Cinestaan. Archived from the original on 27 February 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
- ^ Mujawar, Isak (1969). Maharashtra: birthplace of Indian film industry. Maharashtra Information Centre. p. 98.
- ^ "State Awards for Films: Film in India, 1956" (PDF). Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India. 28 April 1957. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ Krishnan, Raghu (25 May 2003). "The eyes have it". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 15 May 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ Dinesh Raheja, Jitendra Kothari (1996). The hundred luminaries of Hindi cinema. India Book House Publishers. p. 29. ISBN 81-7508-007-8.
- ^ Heidi Rika Maria Pauwels (2007). Indian literature and popular cinema: recasting classics. Psychology Press. pp. 71–72. ISBN 978-0-415-44741-6.
- ^ Ramachandran, T.M. (January 1977). "Newfangled Techniques". Film World. 13.
- ^ "Rani Mukherji, Prakash Raj win V Shantaram awards". The Indian Express. 22 December 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2011.
- ^ "Sandhya Shantaram Death: 'पिंजरा' फेम ज्येष्ठ अभिनेत्री संध्या शांताराम यांचं निधन". Lokmat. 4 October 2025. Retrieved 4 October 2025.
- ^ "'पिंजरा' सिनेमाला नृत्यसाज चढवणारा चेहरा काळाच्या पडद्याआड, ज्येष्ठ अभिनेत्री संध्या शांताराम यांचं निधन". Maharashtra Times (in Marathi). Retrieved 4 October 2025.
- ^ "Actor Sandhya Shantaram passes away at 87". The Indian Express. 5 October 2025. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
- ^ अमर भोपाली -Amar Bhoopali - Marathi Super Hit Movie l Panditrao Nagarkar, Lalita Pawar, Sandhya, retrieved 14 December 2023
- ^ Garga, Bhagwan Das (1996). So Many Cinemas: The Motion Picture in India. Eminence Designs. ISBN 978-81-900602-1-9.
- ^ "rediff.com, Movies: Classics Revisited: Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje". Rediff.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ "Google Doodle pays tribute to V Shantaram. Here is everything you should know about the Do Aankhen Barah Haath director". The Indian Express. 18 November 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ "The Hindu : A navrang of Shantaram's films". 23 June 2003. Archived from the original on 23 June 2003. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ Hungama, Bollywood (24 January 2020). "Aaj Madhuvatas Dole Lyrics | Aaj Madhuvatas Dole Song Lyrics - Bollywood Hungama". Bollywood Hungama. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ "Hindi Film Songs - Ladki Sahyadri Ki (1966) | MySwar". myswar.co. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ Lal, S. (1 January 2008). 50 Magnificent Indians Of The 20Th Century. Jaico Publishing House. ISBN 978-81-7992-698-7.
- ^ "Prime Video: Chandanachi Choli Anga Anga Jali". primevideo.com. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
- ^ "'पिंजरा' तयार होतांना पडद्यामागे या १० इंटरेस्टिंग गोष्टी घडत होत्या". 31 March 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
- ^ टीम, एबीपी माझा वेब (7 November 2018). "'आणि... डॉ. काशिनाथ घाणेकर'मध्ये 'तुम्हावर केली...'ला नवा साज". marathi.abplive.com (in Marathi). Retrieved 22 February 2025.
- ^ "Flashback 2018: Aapla Manus to Mauli, 10 Marathi movies that were released in 2018 and have earned in millions | Entertainment News". www.timesnownews.com. Retrieved 22 February 2025.
