UMBARTHA JABBAR PATEL

  • INDIA

    • /

  • MARATHI | HINDI

    • /

  • 1982

    • /

  • 151 mins

Sulabha Mahajan, a trained social worker living as a housewife, is shaken by her lawyer husband’s defense of an accused rapist through character assassination of the victim. Seeking purpose, she becomes superintendent of a women’s reformatory, where she confronts corruption and abuse but is pushed out for challenging the system. Returning home, she discovers her husband’s infidelity and moral hypocrisy. Disillusioned with both institutional and domestic injustice, Sulabha leaves to build an independent life, asserting her dignity and autonomy.

Producer(s) or Production Company :

Jabbar Patel, D.V. Rao

Screenplay :

Vasant Dev, Vijay Tendulkar

Director of Photography :

Rajan Kinagi

Music :

Hridaynath Mangeshkar

Sound :

B. N. Sharma, Sopan Onkar Khadse

Cast :

Smita Patil, Girish Karnad, Shrikant Moghe, Ashalata Wabgaonkar, Daya Dongre, Kusum Kulkarni, Jayamala Kale, Ravi Patwardhan, Pournima Ganu, Radha Karnad, Shriram Ranade, Satish Alekar

Awards - Winner :

National Film Awards 1982 (Best Feature Film in Marathi, Best Actress)

Jabbar Patel, (b. 1939, Pandharpur),trained as a paediatrician, practiced medicine with his wife, transitioned to experimental and political Marathi theatre before moving into cinema. His filmography includes SAMNA (1975), UMBARTHA (1982), JAIT RE JAIT (1977) and DR BABASAHEB AMBEDKAR (2000). His work is defined by literary rigor, social commitment and engagement with questions of gender, caste and justice. He received National Film Awards for JAIT RE JAIT and EK HOTI VIDUSHAK, and the Nargis Dutt Award for MUKTA, and remains a central figure in Indian parallel cinema, influencing generations of artists through theatre, film, writing, and teaching. His legacy continues.