41 years after the death of her parents and brother in an accident, Savita Naiknavare pays a befitting tribute to her actor-father Arun Sarnaik

“But I did not cry — not a tear. People thought I was in shock and tried to make me cry, but I didn’t. That’s how my mother had brought me up, to be brave and responsible at all times. My thoughts shifted to my masi (aunt) who stayed with us: that now she is my responsibility,” recollects the 61-year-old paediatrician.

But finally, the eyes did well. Not just hers, but many others who gathered at the Govindrao Tembe Rangmandir in Kolhapur last month on June 22. It was here at a function presided over by Shahu Maharaj that Savita, now Dr Savita Naiknavare, unveiled a 75-minute documentary on her father, exactly 41 years after his death on June 21, 1984, as a heartfelt tribute to his extraordinary life as a person and an actor.

The documentary, “Pappa Sanga Kunache…” (Papa, tell whose…), was the culmination of a dream long nurtured by the girl who grew up overnight from a carefree tomboy in Kolhapur to a responsible woman after the tragic accident that took away her family.

“My father was just 49, mother 46 and my older brother Sanjay, who was studying engineering, 22 What helped me cope was the independence my mother had instilled in me since childhood,” says Savita recollecting how her mother Anita, a voracious reader, an athlete who played badminton with finesse, and a connoisseur of English films encouraged her to be on the grounds playing sports and carry herself with confidence and courage.

“Look straight into their eyes, don’t be afraid of anyone,” Vimal would say to her.

Savita decided to let that be the credo of her life . The dean of the medical college had given her a month off to help her get over the trauma. “Every week he would send busloads of students to my house to offer support and solace. I returned to my college after a month and the strenuous medicine studies consumed all else,” she says.

Battling infertility

Soon after graduating, in 1991 Savita married Ranjit Naiknavare, hailing from a well-established builder family of Pune. But life was not yet done with challenges for Savita. The couple faced infertility issues and what began was a deeply personal struggle that tested Savita’s strength once again.

A lengthy treatment that involved around 10 IVF cycles in Mumbai and then England strained her but finally resulted in her bearing a daughter and a son.

“That was a tough time of my life. Everything else was put on the back burner. I couldn’t even start my hospital as planned, but I got my children” she smiles.

Her father’s daughter

Around 2020, she decided to embark on a mission to preserve and revive the memory of her father, who was a luminary in the world of Marathi theatre and films.

His journey began in the 1956, when he was spotted for his singing and acting prowess, quickly becoming a celebrated figure in sangeet natak, a form of musical drama.

To Savita, he was not just a star but a father who called her his “lucky charm”, believing his career flourished after her birth.

She began researching for a book about his life and spent long hours at th National Film Archives of India but her efforts were nearly derailed when a computer failure wiped out her files and her efforts of a year and a half.

Undeterred, she shifted her focus to a documentary, collaborating with director Santosh Pathare, who had been highly recommended to her.

Determined to tell her father’s story authentically, Savita insisted on a non-scripted approach, conducting interviews herself, travelling all over Maharashtra and guiding the narrative to capture his essence as an actor, singer, and generous soul.

The documentary, in Marathi with English subtitles, introduces her father’s legacy to a new generation, highlighting his humility and mastery of the tabla, sitar, harmonium, and dholki; and his ability to connect instantly with audiences.Savita’s family, especially her husband Ranjit Naiknavare, rallied around providing critical support and feedback.

After a tremendous response from everyone in Kolhapur, the documentary will have its Pune premier at Balgandharva Rangmandir on August 2, with NCP(SP) chief Sharad Pawar as chief guest and in the presence of actors Mohan Agashe, Nana Patekar, and Jabbar Patel — all of whom held her father in great esteem.

Yet another calling

Incidentally, along the way, Savita also found another calling in life. At an event in Kolhapur, where she was invited as a chief guest, she reconnected with some of her father’s old friends. This inspired her to establish Sneh Dham, an initiative for senior citizens.

Starting in a small bungalow on Apte road in Pune, it grew through word of mouth, eventually expanding to three locations now. Savita poured her heart into creating a space where retirees could find a community offering activities and support, even giving up her medical practice of 22 years as a paediatrician so that she could personally nurture the initiative.

Challenges and solutions

Reflecting on her journey, Savita feels the two profound challenges — of losing her parents and not being able to conceive — shaped her understanding of life’s impermanence. “Everything is destructible. At the end of the day, you need to do something that makes you happy and benefits society,” she smiles.