Mumbai, July 4, 2023 – As the critically acclaimed film ‘Satya’ completes 25 years since its release on July 3, Urmila Matondkar, who portrayed the character of Vidya in the path-breaking movie, took to social media to express her disappointment at being snubbed by award ceremonies that year.
In a tweet on Tuesday, Urmila shared stills of her character and emphasised how her portrayal of the simple and naive chawl girl stood in stark contrast to the glamorous roles she had played in her career. Despite her compelling performance, Urmila lamented the lack of recognition and accolades, stating, “But NO, what did that have to do with ‘acting’… so no awards and not even nominations. So sit down and don’t talk to me about favouritism and nepotism… just saying.”
Released in 1998, ‘Satya,’ directed by Ram Gopal Varma, garnered critical acclaim and went on to win several awards that year. The film showcased powerful performances by Urmila Matondkar, Manoj Bajpayee, Shefali Shah, and JD Chakravarthy. Manoj Bajpayee’s portrayal of Bhiku Mhatre earned him a National Award for Best Supporting Actor, while the film secured six Filmfare Awards, including Best Film (Critics) and Best Actor (Critics) for both Manoj Bajpayee and Shefali Shah. Other awards included Best Background Score for Sandeep Chowta, Best Editing for Apurva Asrani and Bhanodaya, and Best Sound Design for H. Sridhar.
However, Urmila’s tweet has sparked a discussion about the subjectivity and biases within award ceremonies, raising questions about whether unconventional roles receive their due recognition.
Apart from her remarkable film career, Urmila Matondkar’s foray into politics has also garnered attention. In March 2019, she joined the Indian National Congress and contested the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. After experiencing a defeat, Urmila resigned from the party, citing “internal politics” as the reason. Later in December 2020, she joined Shiv Sena, marking a significant shift in her political affiliation.
In 2020, Urmila found herself embroiled in a war of words with fellow actor Kangana Ranaut. During an interview, Urmila urged Kangana to introspect about the alleged drug culture in her home state of Himachal Pradesh before levelling accusations against the entire Bollywood industry. In response, Kangana made derogatory remarks about Urmila’s acting career and suggested that if Urmila could receive a political ticket, she could as well.
Urmila Matondkar was last seen on the silver screen in the 2018 film ‘Blackmail.’ Since then, she has primarily focused on her political endeavours while continuing to be an influential voice in the entertainment industry.
As ‘Satya’ celebrates its 25th anniversary, Urmila Matondkar’s tweet serves as a reminder of the complex dynamics of recognition and acknowledgment in the world of cinema, sparking conversations about the need for more inclusive and unbiased approaches to honouring exceptional performances.
By: Tanya Chantola