https://indianpedia.org/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Bhawana_SomaayaBhawana Somaaya - Revision history2026-08-01T04:22:25ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.45.4https://indianpedia.org/index.php?title=Bhawana_Somaaya&diff=491092&oldid=prevRaymondLoewentha at 06:02, 6 February 20262026-02-06T06:02:33Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{short description|Indian historian}}<br />
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = Bhawana Somaaya<br />
| image = Bhawana Somaaya.jpg<br />
| alt = <br />
| caption = Bhawana Somaaya in 2000<br />
| birth_name = <br />
| birth_date = <!-- {{Birth date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{Birth-date and age|Month DD, YYYY}} --><br />
| birth_place = <br />
| death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|df=yes|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{Death-date and age|Month DD, YYYY|Month DD, YYYY}} (death date then birth date) --><br />
| death_place = <br />
| other_names = <br />
|years_active = 1978–present<br />
| occupation = film critic, [[film historian]],<br /> Editor ''[[Screen (magazine)|Screen]]'' (2000–2007)<br />
| known_for = <br />
|website= {{URL|http://www.bhawanasomaaya.com/}}<br />
}}<br />
<br />
''' Bhawana Somaaya'''<ref>Her name is often misspelled as Bhavana Somaiya or Bhavana Somaya.</ref> is an Indian film journalist, critic, author and historian. She has been honoured with the [[Padma Shri]] in the year 2017 by the [[President of India]] [[Pranab Mukherjee]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ians/humbled-honoured-to-receive-padma-shri-bhawana-somaaya-117012800525_1.html|title=Humbled, honoured to receive Padma Shri: Bhawana Somaaya|last=IANS|date=28 January 2017|work=Business Standard}}</ref> Starting her career as film reporter in 1978, she went to work with several film magazines, through the 1980s and 1990s. Eventually, she remained editor of ''[[Screen (magazine)|Screen]]'', a leading film magazine, from 2000 to 2007. She has written over 13 books on history of [[Hindi cinema]] and biographies of [[Bollywood]] stars, including ''Salaam Bollywood'' (2000), ''[[The Story So Far (book)|The Story So Far]]'' (2003) and her trilogy, ''Amitabh Bachchan – The Legend'' (1999), ''Bachchanalia – The Films And Memorabilia of Amitabh Bachchan'' (2009) and ''Amitabh Lexicon'' (2011).<ref>{{cite web | title = March of the botox brigade| url = http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110723/saturday/main1.htm|date=23 July 2011| access-date = 18 August 2013 |work= [[The Tribune (Chandigarh)]]}}</ref><ref name=tribune11/><br />
<br />
==Early life and background==<br />
Somaaya was born and brought up in Mumbai. She is the youngest child among her eight siblings.<br />
<br />
She did her schooling from [[Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, Mumbai|Our Lady of Good Counsel High School]] in [[Sion, Mumbai]] and is also trained in [[Bharatnatyam]] dance at ''Vallabh Sangeetalaya'' in [[Andheri West]].<br />
<br />
After her schooling, she did her graduation in Psychology and acquired a degree in L.L.B. (Criminology) from [[Government Law College, Mumbai]], University of Mumbai. She also studied Journalism at [[K. C. College]], Mumbai.<ref name=film/><br />
<br />
==Career==<br />
[[File:Bhavna Somaiya, Jaya Prada at the launch of T P Aggarwal's trade magazine 'Blockbuster' 04.jpg|thumb|left|160px|Bhawana Somaaya (left) and actress [[Jaya Prada]] at the launch of trade magazine ''Blockbuster'', 2012. ]]<br />
Somaaya started her career as a film journalist and columnist with in 1978, and writing the column, "Casually Speaking" in film weekly, ''Cinema Journal'' published by ''[[The Free Press Journal]]''. After working in ''Super'' magazine (1980–1981), she joined the ''Movie'' magazine published by [[India Book House]] as an assistant editor and became co-editor in 1985, and worked here till 1988. In 1989, she became the editor of ''G'', a film magazine by [[Chitralekha (weekly)|Chitralekha Group]]. This was followed by her tenure as editor of noted film weekly, ''[[Screen (magazine)|Screen]]'' from 2000 to 2007.<ref name=film>{{cite web| title = "Mr. Bachchan never compliments me" – Bhawana Somaaya| url = http://www.filmfare.com/interviews/mr-bachchan-never-compliments-me-bhawana-somaaya-3675.html|author= Farhana Farook|date=12 July 2013| access-date = 18 August 2013|publisher=Filmfare}}</ref><ref name=jour>{{cite web| title =Bhawana Somaaya: Journalist| url =http://www.bhawanasomaaya.com/Jurnalist.html#| access-date =19 August 2013| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130128130355/http://bhawanasomaaya.com/Jurnalist.html| archive-date =28 January 2013| url-status =dead}}</ref><br />
<br />
Meanwhile, she has also worked as costume designer, for actress [[Shabana Azmi]] in films like ''Kaamyaab'' (1984), ''[[Bhavna]]'' (1984), ''[[Aaj Ka M.L.A. Ram Avtar]]'' (1984) and ''[[Main Azaad Hoon]]'' (1989).<ref>{{IMDb name|1133259}}</ref><br />
<br />
[[File:Aamir Khan at 92.7 BIG FM to promote Satyamev Jayate 03.jpg|thumb|[[Aamir Khan]] with Bhawana Somaaya at 92.7 BIG FM studio to promote ''Satyamev Jayate'' series, 2012. ]]Over the years, her columns have appeared in publications like ''[[The Observer]]'', ''[[Afternoon (newspaper)|Afternoon]]'', ''[[Janmabhumi|Janmabhoomi]]'', ''[[The Hindu]]'', ''[[The Hindustan Times]]'' and ''[[Indian Express]]''.<ref>{{cite web| title = Bhawana Somaaya Columns, Leading Columnist|work=The Indian Express | url = http://www.indianexpress.com/columnist/bhawanasomaaya/ | access-date = 19 August 2013}}</ref> In 1999, she started her career as an author, with biography, ''Amitabh: The Legend''. This led to biographies of other film celebrities like [[Hema Malini]], plus two more book of [[Amitabh Bachchan]], ''Bachchanalia – The Films And Memorabilia of Amitabh Bachchan'' (2009) and ''Amitabh Lexicon'' (2011).<ref name=tribune11>{{cite web | title = Bollywood chronicler|author=Aradhika Sharma|work=The Sunday Tribune| url =http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110814/spectrum/book9.htm |date= 14 August 2011 |access-date = 19 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Bhawana Somaaya: The Amitabh Bachchan I know| url = http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bhawana-somaaya-the-amitabh-bachchan-i-know/293122-8-66.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120922223410/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/bhawana-somaaya-the-amitabh-bachchan-i-know/293122-8-66.html| url-status = dead| archive-date = 22 September 2012|date=19 September 2012| access-date = 19 August 2013|publisher=CNN-IBN}}</ref> ''Bachchanalia'' was co-authored by the Osians Centre for Archiving, Research & Development (CARD) and also included publicity material from the 40 years of his film career.<ref>{{cite web| title = Osian launches Bachchanalia | url = http://ibnlive.in.com/news/osian-starts-its-publishing-house-with-bachchanalia/81906-8.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110109185332/http://ibnlive.in.com/news/osian-starts-its-publishing-house-with-bachchanalia/81906-8.html| url-status = dead| archive-date = 9 January 2011|publisher=CNN-IBN|date=4 January 2009 | access-date = 19 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title='Bachchanalia' – the Big B as hero, lover, conman|work=The Hindu|url=http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200901241280.htm|date=24 January 2009|access-date=19 August 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234252/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/009200901241280.htm|archive-date=30 December 2013}}</ref> She has also written books on [[Hindi cinema]] history, ''Salaam Bollywood'' (2000) and ''Take 25 – Star Insights and Attitudes'' (2002), which was released by actress [[Rekha]] at a function in Mumbai and entailed Somaaya's 25 years as a film journalist.<ref>{{cite web| title = Of a bygone era|url =http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/04/05/stories/2002040500940200.htm|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20030908042132/http://hindu.com/thehindu/fr/2002/04/05/stories/2002040500940200.htm|url-status =dead|archive-date =8 September 2003|date=5 April 2002| work = [[The Hindu]]| access-date = 19 August 2013}}</ref> This was followed by ''[[The Story So Far (book)|The Story So Far]]'' (2003) published by ''[[Indian Express]]''<ref>{{cite web| title = Ode to Bollywood| url = http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/18347/|date=13 February 2003| access-date = 19 August 2013|work=The Indian Express}}</ref> and ''Talking Cinema: Conversations with Actors and Film-Makers'' (2013).<br />
<br />
Shifting to television, in 2008, when she joined Swastik Pictures, a television production company, which made TV series, ''[[Amber Dhara]]'' as a media consultant.<ref name=mint>{{cite web| title = Bhawana Somaaya joins Swastik Pictures|work=[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]|url =http://www.livemint.com/Consumer/R38ACFB2JhzvcFLZWqW31I/Bhawana-Somaaya-joins-Swastik-Pictures.html|date= 21 February 2008| access-date = 19 August 2013 <br />
}}</ref> In May 2012, she started appearing on air, as a Friday-film reviewer, [[BIG FM 92.7]], Reliance Media's FM radio station.<ref>{{cite web| title = Bhawana Somaaya to host Paisal Vasool show on BIG FM| url = http://www.medianewsline.com/bhawana-somaaya-to-host-paisal-vasool-show-on-big-fm/| publisher = .medianewsline.com| access-date = 19 August 2013| archive-date = 31 December 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131231002246/http://www.medianewsline.com/bhawana-somaaya-to-host-paisal-vasool-show-on-big-fm/| url-status = dead}}</ref> In 2012, she joined ''Blockbuster'', the newly launched film trade magazine. In 2019, she started a podcast on epilog media - #MeriKahani with Bhawana Somaaya.<ref name=jour/> Currently, she is the Entertainment Editor at 92.7 Big FM Radio network.<br />
<br />
She is a classical dancer, a podcaster and author of 19 books. Her books are a point of reference for students studying cinema at Whistling Woods, Mumbai, Manipal University, Mangalore and JNU, Delhi. Apart from books on cinema, she has also written [https://www.amazon.in/Keshava-Magnificent-Obsession-Bhawana-Somaaya/dp/9387779394 Keshava: A Magnificent Obsession] and [https://www.amazon.in/Shaping-Seed-Ancient-Wisdom-Sanskaar-ebook/dp/B07ZZ8F8JD Shaping of The Seed: The Ancient Wisdom of Garbh Sanskaar] She has even translated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Gujarati books ''Saakshi Bhaav'' and ''Aankh Aa Dhanya Chhe'' into English as ''Letters to Mother and Letters to Self'' in 2020 and 2022 respectively.<br />
<br />
== Humanitarian and social causes ==<br />
Ms. Somaaya is an Advisor with an NGO called [https://www.dhaiakshar.org/ Dhai Akshar] and a founder member with four others at Share & Care Foundation Mumbai.<br />
<br />
==Works==<br />
* {{cite book|author=Bhawana Somaaya|title=Amitabh Bachchan: The Legend|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VSxlAAAAMAAJ|year =1999|publisher=Macmillan India Limited|isbn=978-0-333-93355-8}}<br />
* {{cite book|author=Bhawana Somaaya|title=Salaam Bollywood: The Pain and the Passion|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DPZkAAAAMAAJ|year=2000|publisher=Spantech & Lancer|isbn=978-1-897829-54-7}}<br />
* {{cite book|author=Bhawana Somaaya|title=Take 25: Star Insights & Attitudes|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H-_8AQAACAAJ|year=2002|publisher=Sambhav Publishers|isbn=978-81-901354-1-2}}<br />
* {{cite book|author=Bhawana Somaaya |title=[[The Story So Far (book)|The Story So Far]] |year=2003|publisher=Indian Express Group}}<br />
*{{cite book|author=Bhawana Somaaya|title=Cinema Images And Issues|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SGaNuOL8Ob4C|year=2004|publisher=Rupa Publications|isbn=978-8129103703}}<br />
* {{cite book |author=Bhawana Somaaya |editor=Malvika Singh |title=Freeing the Spirit: The Iconic Women of Modern India |chapter=Lata Mangeshkar |year=2006 |publisher=New York |isbn=978-0-14-310082-9}}<br />
* {{cite book|author=Bhawana Somaaya|title=[[Hema Malini: The Authorized Biography]]|year=2007|publisher=Lotus Collection|isbn=978-81-7436-467-8}}<br />
* {{cite book|author=Bhawana Somaaya|title=Fragmented Frames: Reflections of a Critic|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HQ3Yi9VPU8QC|year =2008|publisher=Pustak Mahal|isbn=978-81-223-1016-0}}<br />
* {{cite book|author=Bhawana Somaaya|title=Krishna-The God Who Lived As Man|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hqLKwKPZllAC|year = 2008|publisher=Pustak Mahal|isbn=978-81-223-1027-6}}<br />
* {{cite book|author=Bhawana Somaaya|title=Bachchanalia: The Films and Memorabilia of Amitabh Bachchan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8DlePgAACAAJ|year=2009|publisher=Osian's-Connoisseurs of Art|isbn=978-81-8174-027-4}}<br />
* {{cite book|author1=Bhawana Somaaya|author2=Jigna Kothari|author3=Supriya Madangarli|title=Mother Maiden Mistress: Women in Hindi Cinema, 1950–2010|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dtec0Ykfo1sC|year=2012|publisher=HarperCollins, India|isbn=978-81-7223-859-9}}<br />
* {{cite book|author=Bhawana Somaaya|title=Amitabh Lexicon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jBBetwAACAAJ|year=2011|isbn=978-8122311891|publisher=Pustak Mahal}}<br />
* {{cite book |title=Talking Cinema: Conversations with Actors and Film-Makers |author=Bhawana Somaaya |publisher=HarperCollins |year=2013 |isbn=978-9350296455 |url=http://www.harpercollins.co.in/BookDetail.asp?Book_Code=3824 |access-date=19 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809002507/http://harpercollins.co.in/BookDetail.asp?Book_Code=3824 |archive-date=9 August 2013 |url-status=dead }}<br />
* Bhawana Somaaya (2017). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=V4PZDQAAQBAJ Once Upon A Time in India]''. Penguin Random House India. {{ISBN|9780143426028}}<br />
* Bhawana Somaaya (2018). [https://books.google.com/books?id=QWdptgEACAAJ ''Keshava: A Magnificent Obsession'']. Fingerprint! Publishing'''.''' {{ISBN|9789387779396}}<br />
* Bhawana Somaaya (2019). ''Chalo Cinema.'' Navbharat Sahitya Bhandar. {{ISBN|978-93-82779-07-0}}<br />
* Bhawana Somaaya (2019). ''Shaping of The Seed: The Ancient Wisdom of Garbh Sanskaar''. Aslan Reads. {{ISBN|978-9385898372}}<br />
* Bhawana Somaaya (2020). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=rbXlDwAAQBAJ Letters to Mother]''. Harper Collins'''.''' {{ISBN|978-9353576325}}<br />
* Bhawana Somaaya (2021).''[https://books.google.com/books?id=2lK1zgEACAAJ On Camera Off Camera].'' Notion Press {{ISBN|978-1-63997-633-1}}<br />
* Bhawana Somaaya (2022). ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=FSRvzwEACAAJ Letters To Self – Translated from the Gujarati by Bhawana Somaaya]''. Fingerprint. {{ISBN|978-93-5440-549-5}}<br />
<br />
== References ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
* {{official website|http://www.bhawanasomaaya.com/}}<br />
<!-- per [[WP:ELMINOFFICIAL]], choose one official website only --><br />
<br />
{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Literature & Education}}<br />
<br />
{{authority control}}<br />
<br />
{{DEFAULTSORT:Somaaya, Bhawana}}<br />
[[Category:Indian magazine editors]]<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:Writers from Mumbai]]<br />
[[Category:University of Mumbai alumni]]<br />
[[Category:Indian women journalists]]<br />
[[Category:Indian film critics]]<br />
[[Category:Indian columnists]]<br />
[[Category:Indian film historians]]<br />
[[Category:Celebrity biographers]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian biographers]]<br />
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]<br />
[[Category:Journalists from Maharashtra]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian women scientists]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian scientists]]<br />
[[Category:Indian women historians]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian historians]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian women writers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian women non-fiction writers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian women biographers]]<br />
[[Category:Indian women columnists]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian journalists]]<br />
[[Category:Women writers from Maharashtra]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian women writers]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian writers]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Indian journalists]]<br />
[[Category:Indian women film critics]]<br />
[[Category:Indian women magazine editors]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in literature and education]]</div>RaymondLoewentha