Bhanu Athaiya:India's First Oscar-Winning Costume Designer Passes Away.

Costume designer Bhanumati Annasaheb Rajopadhye, popularly called Bhanu Athaiya, breathed her last on Thursday. She was 91. Athaiya, United Nations agency won AN honour for her add the 1983 film "Gandhi", kicked the bucket peacefully in her sleep, her girl Radhika Gupta told PTI.

The last rites occurred at the Chandanwadi crematorium in South Bombay "She kicked the bucket early this morning. Eight years agone, she was diagnosed with a neoplasm in her brain. For the last 3 years, she was ill as a result of one facet (of her body) was paralyzed," her girl aforesaid.

Athaiya, United Nations agency was born in Kolhapur, began her career as dressing up designer in Hindi cinema among Guru Dutt's 1956 superhit "C.I.D.".She won the award for Best Costume style in Richard Attenborough's "Gandhi" beside John Mollo.

In 2012, Athaiya came to her honour to the Academy of flick Arts and Sciences for safe-keeping. During a career spanning five decades including over a hundred films, she won 2 National Awards for Gulzar's mystery drama "Lekin" (1990) and also the amount film "Lagaan" directed by Ashutosh Gowariker (2001

Indian film critic Mayank Shekhar decided to Twitter to commiserate the end and tweeted: "Sad to listen to Bhanu Athaiya, honour winning customer for Gandhi, no more. Also, fictional 'Mumtaz saree' (w/ readymade pleats & zipper) that became a rage when the song within the Shammi Kapoor starred Brahmachari 'Aaj Kal Tere mere Pyar ke charge har zuban par".

"India's initial honour winner, costumer @BhanuAthaiya has kicked the bucket at the age of ninety-one. Having worked in over a hundred films, since the Nineteen Fifties, her eye for detail left an enduring imprint on the aesthetics of the Indian industry. We suggest our deepest condolences to her family," wrote All India Mahila Congress.