Durjaya was capital of Kamarupa Kingdom under Pala Dynasty (900 –1100 A.D).

Pala Dynasty rulers built their capital on the banks of the Brahmaputra and surrounded it with a rampart and a strong palisade, whence they named it Durjaya (=impregnable). Many wealthy merchants lived there in safety and it boasted of many plastered turrets. Encouraged by the King, the learned men, religious preceptors, and poets made it a place of resort.^[1]

See also[link]

• Varman Dynasty

References[link]

Durga Khote (January 14, 1905−September 22, 1991) was an Indian actress, starting as one of the foremost leading ladies of her times, she remained active in Hindi and Marathi cinema, as well as theatre, for over 50 years, starring in around 200 films and numerous theatre productions.

In 2000, in a millennium issue, India Today named her among "100 People Who Shaped India," as it noted that, "Durga Khote marks the pioneering phase for woman in Indian Cinema"^[1] as she was one of the first women from respectable families to enter the film industry thus breaking a social taboo.^[2]

She also ranks amongst top ten actresses in mother roles in Hindi cinema,^[3] most notable among them were as Jodhabai in K. Asif’s Mughal-e-Azam (1960), as Kaikeyi in Vijay Bhatt’s classic, Bharat Milap (1942); her other memorable roles as mother were in Charnon Ki Dasi (1941), Mirza Ghalib, Bobby (1973) and Bidaai (1974). She was received the highest award in Indian cinema, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1983), for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.

Early life[link]

She was born in a traditional Mumbaikar Goud Saraswat Brahmin family (surname Laud) in present-day Maharashtra. By the age of 26, Durga Khote was a widowed mother with two young sons, Bakul and Harin. She had to seek work in film to support her children. In doing so, she became a pioneer of sorts: She hailed from a traditional family and the film industry was regarded as the preserve of the base and the bawdy. Also, most of the female characters were played by men.

Early career[link]

Durga Khote debuted in a minor role in an obscure 1931 silent film, Farebi Jaal, by the Prabhat Film Company, followed by Maya Machhindra (1932). She was soon promoted to play heroine in the 1932 double version (Hindi and Marathi) Ayodhyecha Raja, another Prabhat film, which was the first-ever Marathi talkie and proved to be a runaway hit, where she essayed the role of Rani Taramati.^[4] There was no looking back for the diffident widow from Kolhapur after that. Indeed, she ventured yet another pioneering trend: Despite working closely with Prabhat Film Company, she broke away from the "studio system" (exclusive contract with a studio to work in its films on a monthly salary) then in vogue and became one of the first "freelance" artistes of that era by working occasionally with the New Theatres, East India Film Co. (both at Calcutta), and Prakash Pictures.

In 1937, she produced and directed a film titled Saathi, making her one of the first women to step into this role in Indian cinema.^[5] The 40s opened for her in a big way, with award-winning performances in Aachary Atre's Payachi dasi(Marathi) and Charnon Ki Dasi (Hindi) (1941) and Vijay Bhatt's classic, Bharat Milap (1942), both of which got her the BFJA Best Actress Award for two consecutive years.

Durga Khote remained active in theatre circuit for many years, especially the Marathi theatre in Bombay. She was actively associated with the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) and worked in several plays for the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh. In 1954, she famously performed the role of Lady Macbeth, in V.V. Shirwadkar's Marathi adaptations of Macbeth, as Rajmukut, The Royal Crown, along with Nanasaheb Phatak.^[6]

Later career[link]

Durga Khote essayed a wide variety of roles over a career that was not only long but also untouched by scandal. She was the inspiration for several generations of Indian actresses, including veterans like the late Shobhna Samarth, who frequently spoke of how she had been inspired by Khote's example.

During later years, she played several important character roles, such as the mother of the protagonist. Her portrayal of Jodhabai, the queen of Akbar torn between duty towards her husband and love towards her son in Mughal-e-Azam (1960) was well received. She went on to play other widely appreciated character roles in later movies such as the role of the grandmother of the heroine in Bobby (1973), the hero's aunt in Abhimaan (1973), and thee really memorableBidaai (1974), where she played a mother, a very sensitive role that can make one cry and received the Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award.

In 1963, she acted in Merchant Ivory's debut film, The Householder (1963),^[7][8] and her final memorable role was in Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Bawarchi (1972).

She acted in over 200 films in her career. By the 1980s she successfully diversified into production of short films, ad films and documentaries by setting up Fact Films and, later, Durga Khote Productions, which produced the Doordarshan TV series Wagle Ki Duniya.

Personal life[link]

Her two sons Bakul and Harin were born during her first marriage with Vijay Mehta. It was a traditional marriage into an orthodox family. Mehta was a theatre doyenne and film director who died young. After she was widowed, Khote had an unsuccessful second marriage to Mohammed Rashid.^[9]

Her grandchildren include Ravi, a filmmaker; granddaughter Anjali Khote; grandson Deven Khote a television producer,^[10] and a noted film producer, making films like Jodhaa Akbar and Life in a Metro.^[11]

Her brother, Nandu Khote, was a noted stage and silent movie actor. His daughter Shobha Khote acted in Hindi films; debuting in Seema (1955), she later directed and produced Marathi films and entered television in the 90s. Viju Khote, most known for his role of Kalia in Sholay (1975) is a noted character actor. Shobha Khote's daughter, Bhavna Balsaver, is an award-winning TV actress. They appeared together in 1993's sitcom Zabaan Sambhalke on DD Metro.^[12][13]

Later in life she wrote her acclaimed autobiography in Marathi which was later translated into English as I, Durga Khote,^[14] and moved to Alibaug, beachfront near Mumbai. She died on September 22, 1991.

Filmography[link]

Awards[link]

• 1942: BFJA Awards: Best Actress: Charnon Ki Dasi (1941)^[15]
• 1943: BFJA Awards: Best Actress: Bharat Milap(1942)^[16]
• 1958: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
• 1968: Padma Shri
• 1970: Maharashtra State Award: Dhartichi Lekre
• 1974: Filmfare Best Supporting Actress Award: Bidaai
• 1983: Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the lifetime recognition award for films from Government of India^[5]

References[link]

1. ^ Women of Substance, India Today.
2. ^ Ten most important women stars in Indian films Gautam Rajadhyaksha, Rediff.com.
3. ^ Memorable Moms The Statesman, October 4, 2008.
4. ^ Profile with photographs
5. ^ ^{a b} Dadasaheb Phalke Award 15th Recipient – 1983 - Durga Khote
6. ^ Shakespeare in India internetshakespeare.uvic.ca
7. ^ Filmography on Allmovie.
8. ^ Filmography on The New York Times.
9. ^ A Durga Khote production, The Times of India, March 5, 2006.
10. ^ Durga Khote profile Washington State University
11. ^ Deven Khote The New York Times.
12. ^ An Interview with Shobha Khote Rediff.com.
13. ^ The Forgotten Bollywood bhai-behan Brigade Bollywood Hungama, August 9, 2006.
14. ^ Autobiography - details from Oxford University Press website
15. ^ 5th Annual BFJA Awards - Awards For The Year 1941 BFJA Awards Official website.
16. ^ 6th Annual BFJA Awards - Awards For The Year 1942 BFJA Awards Official website.

• Film music history - First section titled Until 1935
• Mention of her role in theatre and ads

Further reading[link]

• I, Durga Khote: An autobiography, translated into English by Shanta Gokhale (2006); ISBN 978-0-19-567475-0 & ISBN 0-19-567475-8

External links[link]

• Durga Khote at the Internet Movie Database
• Durga Khote filmography

v t e Bollywood (Hindi cinema) Directors · Actors · Playback singers · Music Directors · Songs · Bibliography Hindi films A–Z—Highest-grossing Films by year: 1930s · 1940 · 1941 · 1942 · 1943 · 1944 · 1945 · 1946 · 1947 · 1948 · 1949 · 1950 · 1951 · 1952 · 1953 · 1954 · 1955 · 1956 · 1957 · 1958 · 1959 · 1960 · 1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969 · 1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979 · 1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989 · 1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012

Vasant Desai (1912–1975) was a Indian film music composer, most remembered for his score in V. Shantaram film, like Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1953), Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955), Vijay Bhatt's Goonj Uthi Shehnai (1959) and Hrishikesh Mukherjee's Guddi (1971) ^[1].

Early life[link]

He born in 1912 into a wealthy family in Sonwad village, Savantwadi state, ruled by the Bhonsale clan, and grew up in Kudal area, also in Konkan belt, Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra in western India.^[2]

Career[link]

He was with the famous Prabhat Film Company since it started making talkies. He acted, sang, and sometimes composed songs in Prabhat's films like Dharmatma and Sant Dnyaneshwar. After learning the craft of music composition, he stuck solely to it since 1940s.

He scored music for a majority of V. Shantaram's films when the latter broke away from Prabhat to form his own film studio. Their relations soured in late 1950s after which Vasantrao Desai never worked for his former mentor again.

He memorable songs are, Hindi Filmi Devotional song, Ae Malik Tere Bande Ham Do Aankhen Barah Haath, 1957. and launched play back singer, Vani Jairam with the song, Bole re papihara in Guddi (1971) ^[3].

^[4] In Marathi, some of his memorable songs are Sanga Mukund kuni ha pahila, Uthi Uthi Gopala from Amar Bhoopali, Ramya hi swargahuni Lanka from Swayamwar zale Seeteche, Deh devache mandir from Preetisangam, Manuskichya shatrusange yuddha amuche suru from Chota jawan

Last recording[link]

Vasant Desai went back home on 22nd December 1975 after a full day recording of a special musical programme at HMV Studios attended by high profile musicians as it was in praise of Indira Gandhi. He stepped into the elevator of his apartment building and due to some technical hitch, the lift began to move, crushing him to death.

Partial filmography[link]

• Shakuntala
• Amar Bhoopali (Marathi)
• Shyamachi Aai (Marathi)
• Molkarin (Marathi)
• Swayamwar zale Seeteche (Marathi)
• Laxmanrekha (Marathi)
• Tooch mazi rani (Marathi)
• Kanchanganga (Marathi)
• Chota jawan (Marathi)
• Dev Deenaghari Dhavala (Marathi Drama)
• Do Phool(1958)
• Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baaje (1955)
• Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1953)
• Toofan Aur Deeya (1956)
• Gunj Uthi Shehnai (1959)
• Dr. Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani (1946) ^[5]
• Yaadein (1964 film)
• Guddi(1971)
• Achanak (1973 film)

References[link]

External links[link]

• Vasant Desai at the Internet Movie Database
• Vasant Desai, Biography

v t e Bollywood (Hindi cinema) Directors · Actors · Playback singers · Music Directors · Songs · Bibliography Hindi films A–Z—Highest-grossing Films by year: 1930s · 1940 · 1941 · 1942 · 1943 · 1944 · 1945 · 1946 · 1947 · 1948 · 1949 · 1950 · 1951 · 1952 · 1953 · 1954 · 1955 · 1956 · 1957 · 1958 · 1959 · 1960 · 1961 · 1962 · 1963 · 1964 · 1965 · 1966 · 1967 · 1968 · 1969 · 1970 · 1971 · 1972 · 1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1977 · 1978 · 1979 · 1980 · 1981 · 1982 · 1983 · 1984 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988 · 1989 · 1990 · 1991 · 1992 · 1993 · 1994 · 1995 · 1996 · 1997 · 1998 · 1999 · 2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012