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{{short description|Indian actress, singer}}{{EngvarB|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Shanta Apte
| image = Shanta_Apte_(1937).jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Shanta in ''[[Gopal Krishna (1938 film)|Gopal Krishna]]'' (1938)
| birth_date = 1916
| birth_place = Dudhni, Maharashtra, [[British India]]
| death_date = {{Death year and age|1964|1916}}
| death_place = [[Andheri]], [[Bombay, Maharashtra]], India
| birth_name = Shanta Apte
| occupation = Singer-actress
| years_active = 1932–1958
| spouse =
}}

'''Shanta Apte''' (1916–1964) was an Indian actress-singer who worked in [[Marathi language|Marathi]] and [[Hindi]] cinema.<ref name="Thoraval2000">{{cite book|author=Yves Thoraval|title=The cinemas of India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-OpkAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=27 June 2015|date=1 February 2000|publisher=Macmillan India|isbn=978-0-333-93410-4|page=27}}</ref> Renowned for her roles in films like ''[[Duniya Na Mane]]/Kunku'' (1937) and ''[[Amar Jyoti]]'' (1936) under the [[Prabhat Films]] banner, she was active in [[Indian cinema]] from 1932 to 1958. Apte's impact on Marathi cinema "paralleled" that of [[Kanan Devi]] in [[Cinema of West Bengal|Bengali cinema]].<ref name="RajadhyakshaWillemen2014">{{cite book|author1=Ashish Rajadhyaksha|author2=Paul Willemen|author3=Professor of Critical Studies Paul Willemen|title=Encyclopedia of Indian Cinema|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SLkABAAAQBAJ&pg=PA44|accessdate=26 June 2015|date=10 July 2014|publisher=Routledge|isbn=978-1-135-94318-9|pages=88–|chapter=Devi, Kanan}}</ref> Along with Kanan Devi, Apte is cited as one of the "great singing stars" from before the playback singing era.<ref name=Indiancinema>{{cite web|title=Shanta Apte|url=https://wiki.indiancine.ma/wiki/Shanta%20Apte|website=wiki.indiancine.ma|publisher=Indiancine.ma|accessdate=24 June 2015}}</ref> Apte began her career in films playing the role of a young [[Radha]] in the Marathi film ''Shyamsunder'' (1932). She joined Prabhat Films acting in her first Hindi language film ''[[Amrit Manthan (film)|Amrit Manthan]]'' in (1934).<ref name="Streeshakti">{{cite web|title=Shanta Apte|url=http://www.streeshakti.com/bookS.aspx?author=16|website=streeshakti.com|publisher=Streeshakti.com|accessdate=26 June 2015}}</ref>

She brought a change in the static style of song renditions in films with her "spontaneous gestures and eye movements". A "woman of rare mettle", she staged a hunger strike in 1939 at the Prabhat Studios gate following a disagreement regarding a clause in her contract.{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} Cited as a "domestic guerrilla" following her roles in films like ''Kunku/Duniya Na Mane'', she became an inspirational role-model for a generation of college students.<ref name="Joshi2002">{{cite book|author=Lalit Mohan Joshi|title=Bollywood: Popular Indian Cinema|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xsEuVL1aGE0C&pg=PA163|accessdate=24 June 2015|year=2002|publisher=Lucky Dissanayake|isbn=978-0-9537032-2-7|pages=163–}}</ref>

Claimed to be the highest paid female screen star in Marathi-language cinema, her "star" status with the audiences as early as 1937 was acknowledged by the cine-magazine editor [[Baburao Patel]] in the December 1937 issue of ''[[Filmindia]]'', in an editorial titled "India Has No Star".<ref name=Patel>{{cite journal|last1=Patel|first1=Baburao|title=India Has No Star|journal=Filmindia|date=December 1937|volume=3|issue=8|url=https://archive.org/stream/filmindia19373803unse#page/n17/mode/2up/search/Shanta+Apte|accessdate=26 June 2015}}</ref>

She was also one of the earliest Indian cinema actors to write her autobiography ''Jau Mi Cinemat'' (Should I join Films) in Marathi.{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}}

==Early years==
Born in 1916 in Dudhni, [[Maharashtra]], India,<ref name="CareersDigest">{{cite book|title=Careers Digest|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=byDNAAAAMAAJ|accessdate=26 June 2015|volume=1|year=1964|page=383}}</ref> in a Maharashtrian Brahmin family, Apte was the daughter of a station master.<ref name=Filmindia>{{cite journal|last1=Patel|first1=Baburao|title=Questions And Answers|journal=Filmindia|date=December 1938|volume=4|issue=12|pages=23|url=https://archive.org/stream/filmindia193804unse#page/n355/mode/2up/search/Shanta+Apte|accessdate=26 June 2015}}</ref> Following her father's inclination towards singing, the young Apte took up it up, rendering [[bhajan]]s at the local [[Ganesh festival]]s in [[Poona]]. She studied music at the Maharashtra Sangeet Vidyalaya in Pandharpur.<ref name="Sathe">{{cite web|last1=Sathe|first1=V. P.|title=Article-Profile Shanta Apte (1977)|url=http://cineplot.com/shanta-apte-profile/|website=cineplot.com|accessdate=24 June 2015}}</ref>

She was introduced in films as a child artiste at the age of nine years, by the actor-director [[Baburao Pendharkar]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}} The "guidance" of her older brother Baburao Apte, who acted in Apte's first film ''Shyamsunder'' as Radha's husband, was stated to be a help in her rise to stardom.<ref name="Joshi1984">{{cite book|author=G. N. Joshi|title=Down melody lane|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H40IAQAAMAAJ|accessdate=24 June 2015|year=1984|publisher=Orient Longman|isbn=978-0-86131-175-0|page=29}}</ref>

==Career==

===1930s===
[[File:Amar_Jyoti_1936.jpg|thumb|right|[[Durga Khote]], Shanta Apte and Vasanti in ''[[Amar Jyoti]]'' (1936)]]
Apte started her acting career when she was discovered at the age of nine years by Baburao Pendharkar and then cast in the [[Bhalji Pendharkar]]-directed film ''Shyamsunder''. The film is stated to be the first Marathi film to celebrate a "silver jubilee" (25 weeks) in a single theatre.<ref name="Raj2009">{{cite book|author=Ashok Raj|title=Hero Vol.1|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tgo9BAAAQBAJ&pg=PT13|accessdate=26 June 2015|date=1 November 2009|publisher=Hay House, Inc|isbn=978-93-81398-02-9|pages=13–|chapter=2-The Formative Phase of Indian Cinema}}</ref>

In 1934, she was cast as the hero's sister in ''[[Amrit Manthan (film)|Amrit Manthan]]'', directed by [[V. Shantaram]] for [[Prabhat Films]]. The film was a "box-office bonanza" and a big break for Apte. It was the first Hindi talkie film to celebrate a silver jubilee and was screened at International Film Festival, Venice. The film was the first to have a run of 25 weeks (silver jubilee) at a theatre.<ref name="Prabhatfilm">{{cite web|title=Amrit Manthan|url=http://www.prabhatfilm.com/films.htm|website=prabhatfilm.com|publisher=Prabhatfilm.com|accessdate=26 June 2015}}</ref> Apte rendered four solo songs under the music direction of Keshavrao Bhole, including the first recorded filmi ghazal, "Kamsini Mein Dil Pe Gham Ka".

1936 saw Apte acting in the V. Shantaram-directed ''[[Amar Jyoti]]''. It co-starred [[Durga Khote]], Vasanti and [[Chandra Mohan (Hindi film actor)|Chandra Mohan]] and was Prabhat Film banner's first film to have playback singing.<ref name="Prabhatfilm, Amar Jyoti">Prabhatfilm, Amar Jyoti</ref>

In 1937, she acted in V. Shantaram's ''[[Duniya Na Mane]]'', also called ''The Unexpected'', where she played the role of a young girl, Nirmala, who is married to a rich old widower, played by [[Keshavrao Date]]. She protests and refuses to acknowledge him as her husband. In the end, the old man realises what he's done and commits suicide, leaving a note where he asks Nirmala to remarry.<ref name=NYT>{{cite news|last1=Crow|first1=Jonathan|title=Duniya Na Mane|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/253929/Kunku/overview|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306122131/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/movie/253929/Kunku/overview|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 March 2016|department=Movies & TV Dept.|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=2016|accessdate=26 June 2015}}</ref> Shanta sang an English song in the film, a version of H. W. Longfellow's ''Psalm of Life''. The same year, she acted in the Marathi version of the film called ''Kunku''.<ref name=Streeshakti /> The film proved to be the biggest success of her career and is still acclaimed by critics.{{Citation needed|date=January 2017}}

In 1938, Apte acted in another famous film from Prabhat Films, directed by V. Shantaram, called ''Gopal Krishan''.

===1940s===
[[File:Shanta_Apte_Duhai.jpg|thumb|right|Shanta Apte in a still from ''[[Duhai]]'' (1943)]]
In 1941, Apte acted in ''Savithri'', a [[Tamil language|Tamil]] film, which also had [[M. S. Subbalakshmi]] playing the role of [[Narada|Narad]].<ref name="Santosh">{{cite book|author=Manish Kumar 'Santosh'|title=M.S Subbalakshmi|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tXhwBgAAQBAJ&pg=PP8|accessdate=26 June 2015|date=10 January 2001|publisher=Prabhat Prakashan Children books, Biography|isbn=978-93-5186-330-4|pages=8–}}</ref> Apte acted with [[Noor Jehan]] in ''[[Duhai]]'' (Curse) in 1943, a social melodrama where Noor Jehan played the second lead.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Datta|first1=V. S.|title=Heroine SHANTA APTE whipped top journalist in his chamber|url=http://activeindiatv.com/entertainment/18227-heroine-shanta-apte-whipped-top-journalist-in-his-chamber-|website=activeindiatv.com|publisher=Active India|accessdate=26 June 2015}}</ref> The film was directed by Vishnu Vyas, it had music by [[Rafiq Ghaznavi]] and [[Pannalal Ghosh]].

In 1946, Apte acted in four films with ''Subhadra'' being a "mythological comedy", which was produced and directed by [[Master Vinayak]] and co-starred [[Yakub (actor)|Yakub]], Ishwarlal and [[Lata Mangeshkar]].<ref name=ReviewSubhadra>{{cite journal|last1=Patel|first1=Baburao|title=Review-Subhadra|journal=Filmindia|date=September 1946|volume=12|issue=9|pages=57|url=https://archive.org/stream/filmindia194814unse#page/n689/mode/2up/search/Subhadra|accessdate=26 June 2015}}</ref> Subhadra had Apte and Lata Mangeshkar singing together in the song "Main Khili Khili Phulwari", under the music direction of [[Vasant Desai]].<ref name="RajadhyakshaWillemen2014 ch. Subhadra (1946)">ch. Subhadra (1946)</ref> Then came ''[[Uttara Abhimanyu]]'', directed by [[Sarvottam Badami]] for Paras Pics and co-starring [[Shahu Modak]]; ''Panihari'' directed by V. M. Gunjal starred [[Surendra (actor)|Surendra]] and Yakub; and ''Valmiki'', directed by Bhalji Pendharkar, with both Prithviraj and Raj Kapoor acting in the film.

Shanta Apte thus had the rare distinction of singing and acting with the three "iconic female singers" of Indian cinema: with M. S. Subbulakshmi in ''Savithri'' (1941), with Noor Jehan in ''Duhai'' (1943) and with Lata Mangeshkar in ''Subhadra'' (1946).<ref name="Ranchan2014">{{cite book|author=Vijay Ranchan|title=Story of a Bollywood Song|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=p3h2AgAAQBAJ&pg=PT23|accessdate=27 June 2015|date=2 January 2014|publisher=Abhinav Publications|pages=23–|chapter=The Rebel Commoner|id=GGKEY:9E306RZQTQ7}}</ref>

===1950s===
The 1950s saw fewer films from Shanta Apte. She acted in Marathi films like [[Raja Paranjpe]]'s ''Jara Japoon'' (Be Careful) in 1950, with [[Keshavrao Date]] and [[Leela Chitnis]], ''Kunkvacha Dhani'' (1951), directed by Datta Dharamadhikari, ''Tai Teleen'' (1953), directed by K. P. Bhave, and ''Mulu Manek'' (1955), directed by Manhar Rangildas Raskapur.

Her last two films were in Hindi, ''Chandi Puja'' starring [[Nirupa Roy]], [[Manhar Desai]] and [[Prem Adib]] and directed by Raman B. Desai, and the last released film ''Ram Bhakta Vibhishan'' in 1958,<ref name=Streeshakti /> directed by Samar Chatterjee, with the same star cast as ''Chandi Puja''.

==Personal life==
Apte has been referred to as a woman who "symbolized women power both on and off the screen".<ref name=VSD>{{cite web|last1=Dutta|first1=V. S.|title=Heroine SHANTA APTE whipped top journalist in his chamber|url=http://activeindiatv.com/entertainment/18227-heroine-shanta-apte-whipped-top-journalist-in-his-chamber-|website=activeindiatv.com|publisher=Active India|accessdate=17 October 2015}}</ref> According to K. A. Abbas, commenting on the vitriolic writings of the cine-magazine editor [[Baburao Patel]] of ''Filmindia'', "there was only one example of a spirited star like Shanta Apte taking the law in our own hands when she came to Baburao's office and hit him with a cane…".<ref name="Abbas1977">{{cite book|author=Khwaja Ahmad Abbas|title=I Am Not an Island: An Experiment in Autobiography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SLIJAQAAIAAJ|accessdate=26 June 2015|year=1977|publisher=Vikas Publishing House|isbn=978-0-7069-0477-2|page=200}}</ref> She defied her contractual agreement with Prabhat Films when it hampered her from acting in outside films and decided to stage a fast in front of the studio gates. She was released from her contract by Prabhat Films.<ref name=VSD />

Ten years after Shanta Apte's death, actress [[Nayana Apte]] declared herself to be her daughter. Nayana claimed Apte married a distant cousin in 1947 and left him when she was three months pregnant.<ref name=Sathe /><ref name=veethi>{{cite web|title=Shanta Apte Biography|url=http://www.veethi.com/india-people/shanta_apte-profile-6922-14.htm|website=veethi.com|publisher=veethi.com|accessdate=27 June 2015|ref=Cinema}}</ref><ref name=nainaapte>{{cite web|title=Naina Apte|url=https://nainaapte.wordpress.com/|website=nainaapte.wordpress.com|publisher=nainaapte|accessdate=27 June 2015}}</ref> According to Vijay Ranchan in his book "Story of a Bollywood Song", in the section on Shanta Apte titled "The Rebel Commoner", Shanta was unmarried but had a daughter, the Marathi film and stage actress, Nayana Apte.<ref name="Ranchan2014"/>

==Death==
Apte died of a heart attack following a six-month illness, on February 24, 1964, at her residence in [[Andheri]], Mumbai, Maharashtra.<ref name=CareersDigest />

== Filmography ==
List of films:<ref name=citwf>{{cite web|title=Shanta Apte|url=http://www.citwf.com/detailPerson.asp?personID=76357&sortOn=YEAR&sortBy=UP|website=citwf.com|publisher=Alan Goble|accessdate=27 June 2015}}</ref>
* ''Shyamsundar'' (1932)
* ''[[Amrit Manthan (film)|Amrit Manthan]]'' (1934)
* ''[[Amar Jyoti]]'' (1936)
* ''Rajput Ramani'' (1936)
* ''[[Duniya Na Mane]]''/''[[Kunku]]'' (1937)
* ''Wahan'' (1937)
* ''[[Gopal Krishna (1938 film)|Gopal Krishna]]'' (1938)
* ''Savithri'' (1941) Tamil
* ''[[Apna Ghar]]''/ Aple Ghar (1942)
* ''Zamindar'' (1942)
* ''[[Duhai]]'' (1943)
* ''[[Mohabbat (1943 film)|Mohabbat]]'' (1943)
* ''Bhagya Lakshmi'' (1944)
* ''Kadambari'' (1944)
* ''Sawan'' (1945)
* ''[[Panihari]]'' (1946)
* ''[[Subhadra (film)|Subhadra]]'' (1946)
* ''[[Uttara Abhimanyu]]'' (1946)
* ''[[Valmiki (1946 film)|Valmiki]]'' (1946)
* ''Mandir'' (1948)
* ''Bhagyarekha'' (1948)
* ''Main Abla Nahin Hoon'' ((1949)
* ''Swayamsiddha'' (1949)
* ''Jaga Bhadyane Dene Aahe'' (1949) (Marathi)
* ''Shilanganache Sone'' (1949) (Marathi)
* ''Jara Japoon'' (1950) (Marathi)
* ''Kunkvacha Dhani'' (1951) (Marathi)
* ''Tai Teleen'' (1953) (Marathi)
* ''Mulu Manek'' (1955) (Marathi)
* ''Chandi Puja'' (1957)
* ''Ram Bhakta Vibhishan'' (1958)

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0032550}}
* {{Bollywood Hungama person|shanta-apte}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shanta Apte}}
[[Category:Indian film actresses]]
[[Category:1964 deaths]]
[[Category:1916 births]]
[[Category:People from Maharashtra]]
[[Category:Actresses in Hindi cinema]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian actresses]]

Shanta Apte - Revision history

LatonyaOconnor: Content refined for better accuracy

imported>Citation bot: Removed parameters. | Use this bot. Report bugs. | Suggested by Abductive | Category:1964 deaths | #UCB_Category 2578/4113