Bhanu Athaiya

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Bhanu Athaiya née Rajopadhye (Marathi: ???? ???????; born 28 April 1929) is an Indian costume designer, having worked in over 100 films, since the 1950s, with noted filmmakers like Guru Dutt, Yash Chopra, Raj Kapoor, Ashutosh Gowariker, and international directors like Conrad Rooks and Richard Attenborough.

She made her debut as a film costume designer with the film C.I.D. in 1956, and followed it up with other Guru Dutt classics like Pyaasa (1957), Chaudhvin Ka Chand (1960) and Sahib Bibi Aur Ghulam (1962). In her career spanning 50 years she has received numerous awards. She won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design (shared with John Mollo) for her work in the 1982 film, Gandhi. She became the first Indian to win an Academy Award. She also won two National Film Awards, in 1991 and 2002.

In March 2010, Athaiya released her book The Art of Costume Design, published by Harper Collins. On January 13, 2013, Athaiya presented a copy of the book to the Dalai Lama.

On February 23, 2012, it was reported that Athaiya wished to return her Academy Award to The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences because she felt that her family will not be able to take care of the trophy after her demise. On December 15, 2012, it was confirmed that the trophy had been returned to The Academy.

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Biography

Bhanu Athaiya was born Bhanumati Annasaheb Rajopadhye in Kolhapur in Maharashtra. She was the third of the seven children born to Annasaheb and Shantabai Rajopadhye. Athaiya's father, Annasaheb was a painter. He died when Athaiya was nine years old.

Her education in art began early. An art teacher used to come home to teach her drawing. Later after finishing her schooling, she enrolled at Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai. She graduated from there in fine arts with top honors, winning a gold medal and a fellowship. She was also nominated a member of the Progressive Artists' Group, founded by Francis Newton Souza.

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Career

Athaiya started her career as a freelance fashion illustrator for various women's magazines in Bombay, including the 'Eve's Weekly'. Later when its editor opened a boutique, she asked Athaiya to try designing dresses, hereupon she discovered her flair for designing clothes. Her success as a designer soon led to her switching career paths. Her career began by designing clothes for Guru Dutt's films, starting with C.I.D. (1956). She soon became a part of the Guru Dutt team.

A tribute was paid to her body of work at the opening of the South Asian International Film Festival, New York in November 2005.

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Personal life

Athaiya was married to Satyendra Athaiya, a poet and occasional lyricist for Hindi films. The marriage ended in separation, and she never remarried. The couple has one daughter, who currently resides with her family in Kolkata. Athaiya currently resides in Mumbai.