Nandita honoured for 'Maati Maay'

Actor Nandita Das has bagged the Chatrapati V Shantaram Award (2006) for her performance in Chitra Palekar's directorial debut 'Maati Maay' (Marathi).The first ever Marathi awards event, dedicated to the memory of the legendary filmmaker, has been convened by his grandson and producer Chaitanya Shantaram ( son of ex- Sheriff and film studio owner Kiran Shantaram). The jury comprising of noted Marathi media personalities bestowed this special award to Nandita for doing a Marathi language film despite being a non-Maharashtrian. The event was held in the city on the pre-Gudi Padva occasion.

Chaitanya said, "Unfortunately, Nandita is shooting overseas and may not be able to make it for the event. But we shall definitely make up for it when she visits Mumbai."

Incidentally, Nandita, who has acted in various regional language films, had always wanted to do a Marathi film. Known for getting into the skin of her characters, the dusky actor had shaved off her head when she was part of the original cast of Deepa Mehta's 'Water' before the film ran into troubled waters. Her other notable films are 'Fire' and 'Earth'.