The Best of Smita Patil

Subah (1983)

Smita already shared tremendous chemistry with Girish Karnad in an earlier film, Manthan. Subah cast them together again but as a combative couple.

Jabbar Patel made this film in Marathi as Umbartha and in Hindi as Subah. Released within a few months of Arth, here was Smita in a role and a performance that was a striking contrast.

After the abandonment of Arth with its somewhat over-the-top, melodramatic histrionics, Smita was full of quiet reserve and dignity in Subah.

In the film, Smita takes up a job as the superintendent of a Mahila ashram, far away from home and husband. There are moments of serenity (the wonderful song: Tum Asha Vishwasa Hamare) but Smita has to also tackle the demands of a tough job. Her husband, she finds, is not so supportive after all; and Smita eventually finds her strength within her own self.

Said to be a personal favourite of Smita's, Subah is another film with a strong femininst message: all women should discover their own identity. Smita pulls the theme together with her strong central performance.

Also read: 'Smita was not to be swayed'

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