Journey So Far
Bhawana Somaaya commenced her career in the late 70’s as Chief Reporter with Free Press Journal’s film weekly titled Cinema Journal then moved to Super as Special Correspondent. In 1981 joined Movie as Assistant Editor and in 1985 was promoted as Joint Editor. In 1989 launched zee magazine with Chitralekha Publication and continued as founding editor for over a decade. In 2000 joined as Editor Chief Screen, a film weekly of The Indian Express Group. In 2012 was appointed as Editor Chief Block Buster. Her involvement with Hindi Cinema has not always been as a commentator.
Critical of the unrealistic, stereotypical costumes of the Hindi film heroine, she had taken up a challenge from Shabana Azmi in the 80’s and turned costume designer for actor. Bhawana Somaaya did five films for Shabana –
- Masoom
- Aaj Ka Mla
- Kamyaab
- Bhavna
- Main Azaad Hoon
and one marathon teleserial for Deepa Sahi in Tamas
She is the recipient of several prestigious awards and has contributed columns to various publications like
- The Observer
- The Afternoon
- Janmabhoomi Pravasi
- Phoolchchab
- The Hindu
- The Hindustan Times
- Pioneer
- Newstime
- Sandesh
- The Hans india
- The Indian Express North American Edition
Bhawana Somaaya has been on the Advisory Panel of CBFC. She has to her credit twelve books in a span of 14 years which include
- Amitabh Bachchan – The Legend
- Salaam Bollywood
- Take 25 – Star Insights & Attitudes
- The Story so far
- Cinema – Images & Issues
- Hema Malini – Authorized Biography
- Fragmented Frames
- Krishna – The God who lived as Man (translation)
- Bachchanalia
- Amitabh Lexicon
- Mother Maiden Mistress
- Talking Cinema
- Once Upon A Time In India
- Keshava: A Magnificent Obsession
- Chalo Cinema
- Shaping of The Seed: The Ancient Wisdom of Garbh Sanskaar
- Letters To Mother: Translated from the Gujarati Saakshi Bhaav
- On Camera Off Camera—Pages from the Past
Bhawana Somaaya has been writing on cinema for over 40 years and is the author of 18 books. Somaaya is currently the Film Expert with Radio Channel 92.7 BIG FM and shares Bollywood updates every morning. She does Friday review of films on radio and weekly columns for Janmabhoomi Pravasi, The Hans India & the Indian Express North America, The Quint (online). She has served two terms on the Advisory Panel of Central Board of Film Certificate.
She is the only journalist today visible in all the mediums – Radio/ Web/ TV and Print. Her eleventh book Mother Maiden Mistress on the portrayal of women in cinema released in 2012. Her twelfth book Art of Cinema: Conversations with Actors & Filmmakers by Harper & Collins is now on stands.
