Bollywood’s iconic mother
Sulochana Latkar nee Rangu Diwan (1928 – 2023) was a well-known actress who appeared in 250 Hindi films and 50 Marathi films over a six-decade career. She played a variety of parts, including leading roles, supporting characters, and motherly portrayals with depth and sincerity.
Born in the village of Khadaklat, Karnataka, she wed at the age of 15, Aabasaheb Chavan, a member of a landlord family. As her parents had already died from the plague pandemic, she moved to Chikodi withher older brother to the home of her father’s lawyer friend. She soon got a job at a monthly salary of Rs. 30 at film producer Master Vinayak’s Prafulla Pictures firm. Additionally, she also acted as an extra in some films.
Later she joined Jayaprabha, the famed Marathi film company run by Bhalji Pendharkar, who shaped her career and who, after being moved by her expressive eyes, renamed her Sulochana, from the Sanskrit ‘the
one with the beautiful eyes,’which would later catch the attention of the film industry and filmgoers for
decades to come.
With the 1942 release of Marvi, Sulochana made her film debut in Hindi. She debuted in 1943 with a small role in the Marathi film Chimukala Sansar.
She was cast in the 1944 Hindi mythology film Maharathi Karna and in 1948, she was cast in her first lead part in the Marathi film Sasurvaas.
She quit the same year as the studio was set on fire by demonstrators after Mahatma Gandhi wasslain, as Pendharkar was a fervent RSS devotee. Relocating to Pune she began working for Mangal Pictures.
Best known for her leading roles in Marathi films like Meeth Bhakar, Vahinichya Bangdya, Dhakti Jaoo, and Sangte Aika, she also excelled in Laxmi Aali Ghara, Mothi Manse, Jivacha Sakha, Pativrata, Sukhache Sobti, Bhaubheej, Akashganga, Sasu Varchadh Javai, Sadhi Manse and Maratha Tituka Melvava.
She moved to Mumbai (then Bombay) in 1953. Her performance in Anarkali and Baaz were standout performances. She played Kaikeyi in Sampoorna Ramayana, a hit film directed by Babubhai Mistri. Her performance in 1956’s popular mythological play Sati Anusuya directed by Dhirubhai Desai proved problematic since, following the film’s success, she was exclusively
offered religious roles. She also appeared in films starring Raj Kapoor, including Jaagte Raho and Do Ustaad.
Sulochana was offered the role of a mother in the 1959 movie Sujata by director Bimal Roy. Initially hesitant as she was only 30, she eventually accepted the part. There was no turning back for her after it became a success, and she was forever labelled as the ‘Mother of Bollywood’.
She made an enduring impression in Hindi films like Sujata, Kasauti, and Muqaddar Ka Sikandar, portraying a mother figure to top heroes such as Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar, Rajesh Khanna, and Amitabh Bachchan.
She portrayed a mother or a close family member in films with Sunil Dutt as the leading character, in Heera, Jhoola, Ek Phool Char Kante, Chirag, and Bhai Bahen, Reshma aur Shera, Jaani Dushman, Umar Qaid; with Dev Anand in films like Jab Pyar Kisise Hota Hai, Pyar Mohabbat, Johnny Mera Naam, Amir Garib, Joshila and Warrant; and with Rajesh Khanna, notable films such as Kati Patang, Baharon Ke Sapne, Mere Jeevan Saathi, Prem Nagar, Aakraman, Aashiq Hoon Baharaon Ka and Tyaag.
She won several coveted awards during her lifetime : Padma Shri Award (1999), Chitra Bhushan Award(2003); Maharashtra Bhushan Award (2009), Filmfare Lifetime Achievement Award(2004), four Hridaynath Mangeshkar Awards, and Saraswatibai Dadasaheb Phalke Lifetime Achievement Award (2019).
Sulochana, who had respiratory issues, passed away in Mumbai aged 95 and was cremated with State honours.
Radhakrishnan is a Pune based freelance journalist, poet and short story writer.