Anita Guha dead

Mumbai, June. 20 (PTI): Anita Guha, who played the role of 'Santoshi Ma' in the 1975 blockbuster 'Jai Santoshi Ma', died here following cardiac failure.

The actress, who was in seventies and was ailing for some time, died at a private hospital following cardiac failure after midnight on Tuesday, hospital sources said.

Guha, who came to Mumbai from Bengal to appear in a national beauty pageant in the 50s when she was 15, stayed back to play major roles in several films.

She became a household name when she played the role of Sita in the film 'Sampoorna Ramayan'. This was followed by 'Jai Santoshi Ma' which was a huge hit at the box office.

Guha played major roles in films like 'Purnima' (1965), 'Pyar Ki Rahen' (1959), 'Gateway of India' (1957), 'Dekh Kabira Roya' (1957) and 'Sanjog' (1961). The last film had the memorable track by Madan Mohan sung by Lata Mangeshkar -- 'Woh bhooli dastan lo phir yaad aa gayee.'

Guha did not have any children but counted yesteryear's actresses Mala Sinha and Helen among her friends. Enquiries at Mala Sinha's home revealed that she had gone to attend Guha's last rites.
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They still call me Santoshi Maa: Anita Guha
by Subhash K Jha

Her mind is alert. Her attitude is warm humble and gracious. Anita Guha who rose to national mystification after playing Santoshi Maa in the 1975 film is back in the news.

"People have forgotten my real name," she chuckles. " Iss baat ki taqleef hoti thi. Lekin ab achcha lagta hai. People would be scared of approaching me, thinking I was a real goddess. That didn't seem right. I'm after all a mere mortal.

I remember how embarrassing it would be when elderly ladies would come and sit at my feet. That was painful. Even today when I go out on the roads they call me Santoshi Maa.

Even kids call me by that name. I guess my image of the Goddess lingers. I can't complain. Our Hindu religion and its mythology are ideals that we must uphold. I'm glad to have given the country a new goddess to worhship. Today's generation must know about Santoshi Maa. In fact I want mythological films to be revived."

Vijay Sharma's Jai Santoshi Maa was released during the same year as Ramesh Sippy's Sholay.

"Our film was made on a shoe-string budget," recalls Anita. "It was just some lakhs. I still remember when the producer came to me saying they were making a film on Santoshi Maa. I had never heard of this goddess.

The producer explained who the goddess was, and that they wanted to make a mix of a social and a mythological film. Since I was known for being part of both kinds of films I readily agreed.

They told me I was a guest artiste in Jai Santoshi Maa. I had to give dates only for 10-12 days. The footage shot was interspersed throughout the film. The film started, got stalled, we thought it wouldn't be completed. Then the producer who loves me a lot came back and we revived the project. The rest is history."

Anita Guha had done a large number of mythological films before Jai Santoshi Maa. "My role as Sita in Sampoorna Ramayan was a big hit. But before mythologicals I was known for doing socials like Sanjog which had Madan Mohan Saab and Lataji's immoral melodies like Wohbhuli dastaan lo phir yaad aa gayi.

But after Sampoorna Ramayan I was labeled a mythological heroine. I wasn't too happy with that. But I had no choice. Then the mythologicals stopped. I stopped working.

Then I came back in mothers' roles with Shakti Samanta's Aradhana. That's where I first put grey in my hair. Then Sharmilee, Anurag, Anand Ashram ….lots more. It's strange but people don't recognize my colleagues. But they haven't forgotten me… I don't like being called Santoshi Maa, though I'm a god-fearing woman."

Now work has ceased. After her husband actor Manik Dutt's death she lives all alone in Mumbai. "I'm tired and I don't feel like working. Today when you talked to me woh bhooli dastaan phir yaad aa gayi. I've no children. But I don't feel bad about it.

All the children of my relatives are like my own. And when people point at me and call me Santoshi Maa I feel the whole world is my family.

Yes I do have friends in the film industry, like Mala Sinha, Helen and Salman Khan's parents I keep going to Kolkata to meet friends and relatives. Iss terah se time pass ho jata hai. I know after the telecast of Jai Santoshi Maa on June 4 I'll be accosted on the roads. I'm looking forward to that.

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FILMS THAT ANITA APPEARS IN:


As Artiste
Socha Naa Tha (1989)
Kala Dhanda Goray Log (1986)
Krishna Krishna (1986)
Navratri (1985)
Fifty Fifty (1981)
Jai Ambe Maa (1981)
Tumhare Liye (1978)
Jai Ambe Maa (1977)
Solah Shukrawar (1977)
Anand Ashram (1977)
Do Khiladi (1976)
Jai Mahalaxmi Maa (1976)
Anari (1975)
Biwi Kiraye Ki (1975)
Jai Santoshi Maa (1975)
Love In Bombay (1975)
Mahapavan Teerthyatra (1975)
Charitraheen (1974)
Jab Andhera Hota Hai (1974)
Garibi Hathao (1973)
Tulsi Vivah (1971)
Hanuman Chalisa (1969)
Jahan Sati Wahan Bhagwan (1965)
Maharaja Vikram (1965)
Mahasati Ansuya (1965)
Purnima (1965)
Sant Tukaram (1965)
Sati Naari (1965)
Shankar Seeta Ansuya (1965)
Shree Ram Bharat Milap (1965)
Hameer Hatth (1964)
Maharani Padmini (1964)
Roop Sundari (1964)
Veer Bhimsen (1964)
Dev Kanya (1963)
Kan Kan Men Bhagwan (1963)
Naag Jyoti (1963)
Sangeet Samrat Tansen (1962)
Sampoorna Ramayana (1961)
Sanjog (1961)
Angulimala (1960)
Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh (1960)
Rikshavala (1960)
Chacha Zindabad (1959)
Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959)
Kavi Kalidas (1959)
Pyar Ki Rahen (1959)
Samrat Prithviraj Chauhan (1959)
Tipu Sultan (1959)
Bhala Admi (1958)
Farishta (1958)
Kal Kya Hoga (1958)
Maya Bazar (1958)
Taxi Stand (1958)
Pawan Putra Hanuman (1957)
Sharada (1957)
Ustad (1957)
Dekh Kabira Roya (1957)
Ek Jhalak (1957)
Ankh Ka Nasha (1956)
Choomantar (1956)
Yahudi Ki Beti (1956)
Duniya Gol Hai (1955)
Tangawali (1955)

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Sholay ki Maa!
Anita Jai Santoshi Maa Guha recalls what the 1975 film, telecast last Sunday, meant to her. By SKJ

Her mind is alert. Her attitude warm, humble and gracious. Anita Guha, who rose to national mystification after playing Santoshi Maa in the 1975 film, is back in the news. “People have forgotten my real name,” she chuckles. “Is baat ki taqleef hoti thi. Lekin ab achchha lagta hai. People would be scared of approaching me, thinking I was a real goddess. That didn’t seem right. I’m after all a mere mortal. I remember how embarrassing it would be when elderly ladies would come and sit at my feet. That was painful. Even today when I go out on the roads they call me Santoshi Maa. Even kids call me by that name. I guess my image of the goddess lingers. I can’t complain. Our Hindu religion and its mythology are ideals that we must uphold. I’m glad to have given the country a new goddess to worship. Today’s generation must know about Santoshi Maa. In fact, I want mythological films to be revived.” Vijay Sharma’s Jai Santoshi Maa was released during the same year as Ramesh Sippy’s Sholay.

“Our film was made on a shoestring budget,” recalls Anita. “It was just some lakhs. I still remember when the producer came to me saying they were making a film on Santoshi Maa I had never heard of this goddess. The producer explained who the goddess was, and that they wanted to make a mix of a social and a mythological film. Since I was known for being part of both kinds of films I readily agreed. They told me I was a guest artiste in Jai Santoshi Maa. I had to give dates only for 10-12 days. The footage shot was interspersed throughout the film. The film started, got stalled, we thought it wouldn’t be completed. Then the producer who loves me a lot came back and we revived the project. The rest is history.” Anita Guha had done a large number of mythological films before Jai Santoshi Maa. “My role as Sita in Sampoorna Ramayan was a big hit. But before mythologicals I was known for doing socials like Sanjog which had Madan Mohan Saab and Lataji’s immortal melodies like Woh bhooli daastaan lo phir yaad aa gayi. But after Sampoorna Ramayan I was labelled a mythological heroine. I wasn’t too happy with that. But I had no choice. Then the mythologicals stopped. I stopped working. Then I came back in mother’s roles with Shakti Samanta’s Aradhana. That’s where I first put grey in my hair. Then Sharmeelee, Anurag, Anand Ashram?lots more. It’s strange but people don’t recognise my colleagues. But they haven’t forgotten me. I don’t like being called Santoshi Maa, though I’m a God fearing woman.”

Now work has ceased. After her husband actor Manik Dutt’s death she lives all alone in Mumbai. “I’m tired and I don’t feel like working. Today when you talked to me, woh bhooli daastaan phir yaad aa gayi. I’ve no children. But I don’t feel bad about it. All the children of my relatives are like my own. And when people point at me and call me Santoshi Maa I feel the whole world is my family. Yes, I do have friends in the film industry, like Mala Sinha, Helen and Salman Khan’s parents. I keep going to Calcutta to meet friends and relatives. Is tarah se time pass ho jaata hai. I know after the telecast of Jai Santoshi Maa on Star Gold, I’ll be accosted on the roads. I’m looking forward to that.”

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On playing Santoshi Ma

When Anita Guha signed on for Jai Santoshi Maa decades ago, she probably had no idea how the film would lift her to instant stardom, even to the point of actually being worshipped by people.

Released in 1975, the same year as Sholay, the film became a blockbuster hit. People looked up to it so much that they would actually remove their shoes before stepping inside theatres. Guha went on to star in quite a few other films -- she even played mother to Rajesh Khanna in Aradhana -- but her growing fame for the religious classic surprised her.

Now, Jai Santoshi Ma will be aired on television for the first time this Sunday. rediff.com asks Guha what she feels about it.

Has Santoshi Maa touched your life? Has Santoshi Maa touched your life?[/B]

Yes, in a strange way. I still remember the first day of shooting. I hadn't eaten breakfast, assuming I would eat something after arriving at the sets. But, as the day went by, I was so busy that I completely forgot to eat. The director asked me to have a bite, but I couldn't because I was in costume. I decided to eat after the shot. When we finished, I realised I had not eaten the entire day. From that point, everytime I played the character, I would fast.

How did your life change after the film?

I wouldn't say it changed, but it felt strange when older women would want to touch my feet. I remember someone placing a new born baby in my arms, asking me to bless the child. Some time ago, I received a call from an Ashram in Ujjain. A woman there managed to get my number and called me. She kept asking if she could she talk to Jai Santoshi Maa. I told her I was the same person, but she kept insisting on wanting to talk to the real Santoshi Maa.

Is there any message you would like to give younger generations now watching the film?

I would like parents to tell their children that they should watch this film. The younger generations should know about our culture and traditions.

A still from Jai Santoshi Maa Have you become a Santoshi Maa devotee after the movie?

No. I am devotee of Kali Maa.

Jai Santoshi Maa is being remade today. Do you think it will achieve the same kind of success?

I cannot predict its success, but it will definitely different. Let's wait and see.

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