Nana Patekar, 75, remembered at Mumbai prayer meet

Mumbai’s Marathi film circle gathered at the P.L. Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy in Prabhadevi this week for Aathvanilya Nana, a prayer meet held in memory of Nana Patekar. The actor died on October 8 at the age of 75 after a cardiac arrest at his residence in Dona Paula, Goa.

The gathering carried the Marathi inscription “Swargiya Nana Patekar yancha smrutina ujala”, framing the event as a remembrance of the late actor. For an industry that often mourns in headlines, this was a quieter, more personal goodbye.

A tribute drawn at the threshold

At the entrance, a rangoli recreated Patekar’s character from Natsamrat, the iconic Marathi film that remains one of his most celebrated performances. It was a deliberate choice: a memorial image of a role rather than a portrait, pointing fans back to the work itself.

Actors Shivaji Satam and Rohini Hattangadi, filmmaker Sanjay Jadhav and director Mehul Kumar were among those who attended. The turnout reflected the span of Patekar’s career, which moved between Hindi cinema, Marathi films and the stage rather than sitting neatly in one box.

The choice of venue underlined the Marathi roots of the tribute. The presence of so many theatre-rooted names showed that the loss was not limited to the screen. For Hindi film fans, Patekar’s intensity could dominate a scene; for Marathi cinema, he was a pillar.

State honours and unfinished screen work

Patekar’s last rites were performed on October 8 at his farmhouse in Donje village near Khadakwasla in Pune district. He was cremated with full state honours, a recognition of his contribution to Indian cinema and theatre, and of the social welfare work that ran alongside his acting.

His association with farmers and social causes meant the funeral drew not only film personalities and political leaders but also admirers who knew him beyond the screen. That dual legacy was visible again in Mumbai, where the prayer meet mixed colleagues with fans.

His screen journey is not quite over. Audiences may still see him in projects that are awaiting release. What to keep on the watchlist:

• Shakti Shalini, featuring Aneet Padda
• Eetha, a Marathi biographical drama inspired by the life of Lavani performer Vithabai Narayangaonkar
• Vedantam
• Kuku Ki Kundali
• The Confession of Mary, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival

For our readers, the practical tribute is simple: revisit Natsamrat, and keep these final titles on the radar. A performer’s legacy often reveals itself twice — first in the performances everyone remembers, and later in the work that arrives after they are gone.

Source: The Times of India