Renowned filmmaker Sumitra Bhave passes away; Neena Kulkarni mourns the demise of the veteran director

Acclaimed Marathi filmmaker Sumitra Bhave, aged 78, passed away today (April 19).
As per the latest reports, the notable director and writer was suffering from age-related issues. She was admitted to a hospital in Pune where she breathed her last. Many Marathi celebs, who were featured in Sumitra's films, are paying tribute to her on social media and veteran actress Neena Kulkarni is one of them.

Neena mourned her demise in a lengthy note. She wrote, "Zindagi Zindabad, Bhais Barabar, Gho Mala Asla Hava..I feel fortunate that I got the opportunity to experience your cinematic vision. Smoothly and simply the cinema used to get flourished. It was fun shooting with you..'Chan Distay' has been your sentence after seeing the craft. You have written and made such big cinemas that the list of them is huge. Sumitratai, your last movie 'Dithi' was based on spirituality and that was a different experience. After watching the movie, I called you and I have kept our long conversation in my memory now.”
Neena further wrote, "Sheer genius ...strong social statements, women empowerment messages, woven into engrossing story-telling...that’s what made her films brilliant. Be it short films, feature films, series, her statements shone through her creations. A #NationalAwardwinner many times over, she remained simple in living and high in thinking. ..#sumitrabhave 🙏🏼🌷"
Sumitra Bhave has helmed several hit films which received several accolades. She has directed popular films along with her co-director Sunil Sukhtankar namely Doghi, Dahavi Fa, Vastupurush, Devrai, Badha, Ek Cup Chya, Samhita, Astu, Kaasav, to name a few.
Sumitra and Sunil later won a National Award for Kaasav at the 64th National Film Awards. It became the fifth Marathi film to succeed in this category. She has also even won the Best Film Award for Astu at New York Indian Film Festival.