Who Was Lalitha Lajmi? Noted Painter, Sister Of Filmmaker Guru Dutt Passes Away

Noted artist Lalitha Lajmi passed away on Monday, 13 February, at the age of 90. Taking to Twitter, the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) shared the news of her demise.

"With profound grief and sorrow NGMA, Mumbai, Ministry of Culture, Government of India shares the news of demise of the veteran artist and printmaker Smt. Lalitha Lajmi who left for heavenly abode this morning (13.02.2023). Our Deepest Condolences. RIP," NGMA wrote in the caption of the post.

Who Was Lalitha Lajmi?

Lajmi was born to a poet father and a poly-linguistic writer mother in Kolkata in 1932. She was a self-taught artist with a keen interest in classical dance. Over the decades, she held several exhibitions at international art galleries in Paris, London and Netherlands. Lajmi was the sister of Hindi film director, producer, and actor Guru Dutt. Her work was also influenced by Indian films such as those made by her brother, Satyajit Ray and Raj Kapoor.

She married Captain Gopi Lajmi. Her daughter, Kalpana Lajmi, was also a Hindi film director.

Lajmi began painting in 1961, after her uncle brought her a box of colours. She used to work at an art school and work with underprivileged and disabled children.

Author Yasser Usman, whose latest book Guru Dutt: An Unfinished Story focuses on the "personal struggle" of the late director-actor, said Guru Dutt's sister Lalita Lajmi still regrets not being able to help him.

“While researching for this book, his sister told me they could have saved him. He was crying for help. He was not talking to them. And, that remains a major regret in his brother’s and his sister’s life," he said.

NGMA described Ms Lajmi as an "unparalleled watercolourist". Through her work, she usually narrated a layered history of the modern Indian woman in the decades that followed Independence.

"Often her works reflect the hidden tensions between men and women, captured in their different roles. Yet, her women are not meek individuals, but assertive and individualistic, with a strong autobiographical element," NGMA said.

Notably, Lajmi played a small cameo in Aamir Khan starrer Taare Zameen Par, as the chief guest for the intra-school art competition.

Suggested Reading:Filmmaker Kalpana Lajmi passes away at 64