Shabana Azmi
Shabana Azmi | |
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Hyderabad State, India | |
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Spouse |
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In office 27 August 1997 – 26 August 2003 | |
Shabana Azmi (born 18 September 1950) is an Indian actress of film, television and theatre. Her career in the Hindi film industry has spanned over 160 films, mostly within independent and neorealist parallel cinema, though her work extended to mainstream films as well as a number of international projects. One of India's most acclaimed actresses, Azmi is known for her portrayals of distinctive, often unconventional female characters across several genres.[1] She has won a record five National Film Awards for Best Actress,[2][3] in addition to six Filmfare Awards and several international accolades. The Government of India honoured her with the Padma Shri in 1998 and the Padma Bhushan in 2012.
The daughter of poet
In addition to acting, Azmi is a social and
Early life and background
Azmi was born into a
Azmi attended
Career
Shabana Azmi does not immediately fit into her rustic surroundings; but her poise and her personality are never in doubt, and in two high-pitched scenes she pulls out all her stops and firmly establishes herself as one of our finest dramatic actresses."
—Satyajit Ray on Azmi's performance in Ankur (1975)[12]
Azmi graduated from the
She went on to receive the National Film Award for Best Actress consecutively for three years from 1983 to 1985 for her roles in Arth, Khandhar and Paar. Godmother (1999) earned her a record-setting fifth National Film Award, taking her tally to five. Azmi's acting has been characterised by a real-life depiction of the roles played by her. In Mandi (1983), she acted as a madam of a whorehouse. For this role, she put on weight and even chewed betel. Real-life portrayals continued in almost all her films. These included the role of a woman named Jamini resigned to her destiny in Khandhar and a typical urban Indian wife, mother and homemaker in Masoom (1983).
She mainly acted in experimental and parallel Indian cinema. Deepa Mehta's Fire (1996) depicts her as a lonely woman, Radha, in love with her sister-in-law. The on-screen depiction of lesbianism (perhaps the first in Indian cinema) drew severe protests and threats from many social groups as well as by the Indian authorities. Her role as Radha brought her international recognition with the Silver Hugo Award for Best Actress at the 32nd Chicago Film Festival and Jury Award for Best Actress at Outfest, Los Angeles.[6] She was the initial choice for Deepa Mehta's Water (2005), which was planned to hit the floors in 2000. A few scenes were already shot. Azmi had to shave her head with Nandita Das to portray the character of Shakuntala. However, due to political reasons, the film was shelved and later shot in 2005 with Seema Biswas replacing Azmi.[14]
Some of her notable films are
Azmi debuted on the small screen in a soap opera titled Anupama. She portrayed a modern Indian woman who, while endorsing traditional Indian ethos and values, negotiated more freedom for herself. She has participated in many stage plays: notable among them include M. S. Sathyu's Safed Kundali (1980), based on The Caucasian Chalk Circle; and Feroz Abbas Khan's Tumhari Amrita with actor Farooq Sheikh, which ran for five years. She toured Singapore on an assignment with the Singapore Repertory Theatre Company, acting in Ingmar Bergman's adaptation of Ibsen's A Doll's House, which was directed by Rey Buono. She toured the UK, Dubai and India with British production Happy Birthday Sunita by Theatre Company RIFCO Arts in 2014. Pointing out the differences in all these media, she once remarked that theatre was really the actor's medium; the stage was the actor's space; cinema was the director's medium; and television was a writer's medium.[citation needed]
Personal life
Azmi was engaged to
Off-screen work
Azmi has been a committed social activist, active in supporting
She has participated in several plays and demonstrations denouncing
She has campaigned against ostracism of victims of AIDS.[19] A small film clip issued by the Government of India depicts an HIV positive child cuddled in her arms and saying: "She does not need your rejection, she needs your love". In a Bengali film named Meghla Akash, directed by Nargis Akter, she played the role of a physician treating AIDS patients.
She has also given her voice to an HIV/AIDS education animated software tutorial created by the nonprofit organisation TeachAids.[23]
Since 1989, she has been a member of the
In 2019 Indian general election, she actively campaigned for Kanhaiya Kumar who contested from Begusarai, Bihar on a Communist Party of India (CPI) ticket.[24]
Filmography
She has acted in more than one hundred
Accolades
Major associations and honours
Civilian award
- 1988: Awarded the Padma Shri by the Government of India.
- 2012: Awarded the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India.[25]
National Film Awards
Azmi has received the National Film Award for Best Actress five times, making her the overall most-awarded actor in the function:[6]
Year | Category | Movie | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1975 | Best Actress | Ankur | Won |
1983 | Arth | Won | |
1984 | Khandhar | Won | |
1985 | Paar | Won | |
1999 | Godmother | Won |
Filmfare Awards
Year | Category | Movie | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1975 | Best Actress | Ankur | Nominated |
1978 | Swami | Won | |
1981 | Thodisi Bewafaii | Nominated | |
1984 | Arth | Won | |
Masoom | Nominated | ||
Avtaar | Nominated | ||
Mandi | Nominated | ||
1985 | Bhavna | Won | |
Sparsh | Nominated | ||
2003 | Best Villain | Makdee | Nominated |
2004 | Best Supporting Actress | Tehzeeb | Nominated |
2006 | Lifetime Achievement Award | Won | |
2017 | Best Supporting Actress | Neerja
|
Won |
2024 | Ghoomer | Nominated | |
Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani | Won |
International awards
Year | Award/Country | Category | Movie | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1993 | North Korea | Best Actress | Libaas | Won |
1994 | Taormina Arte Festival in Italy | Patang | Won | |
1996 | Chicago International Film Festival | Silver Hugo Award for Best Actress | Fire | Won |
1996 | L.A. Outfest | Outstanding Actress in a Feature Film | Won |
Miscellaneous awards and honours
Year | Award | Category | Movie | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1975 | Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards | Best Actress (Hindi) | Ankur | Won |
1984 | Paar | Won | ||
1987 | Ek Pal | Won | ||
1998 | Screen Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Mrityudand | Won |
1999 | Bengal Film Journalists' Association Awards | Best Actress (Hindi) | Godmother | Won |
2003 | Best Supporting Actress (Hindi) | Tehzeeb | Won | |
2004 | Zee Cine Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Won | |
2005 | Screen Awards | Best Performance in an Indian Film in English | Morning Raga | Won |
- 1999: Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image, Significant Contribution to Indian Cinema.[26]
- 2002: Martin Luther King Professorship award by the University of Michigan conferred on her in recognition of her contribution to arts, culture and society.
- 2006: Gandhi International Peace Award, awarded by Gandhi Foundation, London.[27]
- 2007: ANR National Award by the Akkineni International Foundation[28]
- 2009: She was honoured with the World Economic Forum's Crystal Award[29]
- 2012: She was honoured by Bandra Bandstandin Mumbai.
- 2013: Awarded the Honorary Fellowship by the National Indian Students Union UK[30]
- 2018: Power Brands awarded Shabana Azmi the Bharatiya Manavata Vikas Puraskar for being one of the greatest and most versatile thespians of Indian cinema, for being a champion of women's education and a consistent advocate for civil and human rights, equality and peace and for empowering lives every day through the Mijwan Welfare Society.[31]
National awards
- 1988: Yash Bhartiya Award by the Government of Uttar Pradeshfor highlighting women's issues in her work as an actress and activist.
- 1994: Rajiv Gandhi Award for "Excellence of Secularism"
Honorary doctorates
- 2003: She was conferred with an honorary doctorate by the Jadavpur University in West Bengal in 2003.[32]
- 2007: She was conferred with an honorary doctorate in art by Chancellor of the University Brandan Foster by the Leeds Metropolitan University in Yorkshire[33]
- 2008: She was conferred with an honorary doctorate by the Jamia Milia Islamia on Delhi in 2008.[32]
- 2013: She was conferred with an honorary doctorate by Simon Fraser University.[34]
- 2014: She was conferred with an honorary doctorate by TERI University on 5 February 2014.[35]
References
- ^ "Shabana Azmi | FCCI". Journal of Indian Cinema. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
- ^ a b PTI (22 July 2005). "Parallel cinema seeing changes: Azmi". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
- ^ Nagarajan, Saraswathy (18 December 2004). "Coffee break with Shabana Azmi". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 31 December 2004. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
- ^ K., Bhumika (21 January 2006). "Shabana's soap opera". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 31 January 2009.
- ^ Edward A. Gargan (17 January 1993). "In 'Bollywood,' Women Are Wronged or Revered". New York Times.
- ^ ISBN 978-81-7991-066-5.
- ^ "Shabana Azmi presented Akkineni award". The Hindu. 14 January 2007. Archived from the original on 22 October 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
- ^ Kaifi Azmi (28 May 1997). "Kaifi Azmi". Outlook. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
- ^ Shabana Azmi (2 October 2010). "To Abba... with love". Screen. Archived from the original on 19 December 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
- ^ "A conversation with actress and social activist Shabana Azmi". Charlie Rose. 6 March 2006. Archived from the original on 7 July 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
- ^ "Indo-American Arts Council, Inc". Retrieved 7 January 2020.
- ^ Ray, Satyajit (1976). Our Films, Their Films. Orient Longman. p. 103.
- ^ Hyder, Qurratulain (14 July 1974). "Ankur Is First Rate" (PDF). The Illustrated Weekly of India. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ Yuen-Carrucan, Jasmine (1 April 2000). "The Politics of Deepa Mehta's Water". Bright Lights Film Journal. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ "Actor and rebel: Shabana Azmi". filmfare.com. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
- ^ "THE DYNAMIC DYNASTIES: What would the world of films be without them?". Screen. 22 September 2000. Archived from the original on 10 February 2010.
- ^ Ali Peter John (8 December 2000). "Javed Akhtar: It's not so easy". Screen. Retrieved 5 March 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "For Abba with Love by Shabana Azmi". Kaifiyat. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2013.
- ^ a b c "Biographies: A-F". United Nations. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
- The Tribune. Tribune News Service. 12 October 1999. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
- ISSN 1188-9950.
- ^ Rasheeda Bhagat (14 November 2001). "The Indian Muslims trial by fire". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
- ^ "Animated film to educate students on HIV". The Times of India. 26 November 2010. Archived from the original on 6 August 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2010.
- ^ Rohit Kumar Singh (26 April 2019). "Shabana Azmi seek votes for Kanhaiya Kumar, attacks BJP". India Today. Retrieved 5 May 2019.
- ^ "Padma Awards". pib. 27 January 2013. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
- ^ "Archives 1999". Mumbai Academy of the Moving Image. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ^ "2006 Peace Award: Shabana Azmi". Gandhi Foundation. 14 November 2006. Archived from the original on 21 February 2009. Retrieved 24 February 2009.
- ^ "ANR National Award for Rajamouli". The Hindu. 9 September 2017. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
- ^ "WEF honours Amitabh with Crystal Award". The Financial Express. 2 February 2009. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
- ^ "Shabana Azmi, Javed Akhtar get UK fellowship - Indian Express". archive.indianexpress.com. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
- ^ PTI (30 August 2018). "Shabana Azmi, Nandita Das receive Bharatiya Manavata Vikas Puraskar". Business Standard. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
- ^ The Telegraph. Archived from the originalon 12 April 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
- The Telegraph. Calcutta, India. Archived from the originalon 25 October 2012. Retrieved 5 March 2010.
- ^ "Activist Shabana Azmi Receives Honorary Degree - Office of the Vice-President, Research - Simon Fraser University". www.sfu.ca. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
- ^ "TERI university honours Shabana Azmi, Anshu Jain". Business Standard. Press Trust of India. 5 February 2014. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
Notes
- India's 50 Most Illustrious Women (ISBN 81-88086-19-3) by Indra Gupta
- Holt, Julia; Phalke, Shubhra; Basic Skills Agency. Shabana Azmi. London : Basic Skills Agency, 1995. ISBN 1-85990-022-4.
External links
- Shabana Azmi at IMDb
- Shabana Azmi NGO in India
- One on One – Shabana Azmi on YouTube – interview on Al Jazeera English(video, 25 mins)
- Time: Shabana Azmi
- Indian American Arts Council
- Article from the Village Voice Archived 8 November 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- EveryOne campaign brand ambassador: Shabana Azmi