In 1974, a documentary filmmaker Shyam Benegal made his debut as a movie director with the film Ankur.
He selected actors either from theatre or regional cinema. So we had an Odia film actor Sadhu Meher, Kannada film actor Anant Nag, Marathi Priya Tendulkar, daughter of famous Marathi playright Vijay Tendulkar and a new actress Shabana Azmi, daughter of celebrated Urdu poet Kaifi Azmi, Shabana had until then had done some small appearances in flop films. The film was made on a shoestring budget of 3 lakhs and was an art house cinema sans the commercial elements but the raw performances of the actors and the brilliant cinematography of the film made the film quite watchable.
The film released without any expectations but became one of the biggest hits of the art house genre earning close to a crore rupees. Shyam Benegal became an established filmmaker, Shabana Azmi won the National Film award for Best Actress (and will go on to win 4 more and become one of the greatest actresses of Indian cinema). Anant Nag did many films in Hindi as well ad Kannada and was a star in Kannada cinema and did great films in Hindi parallel cinema as well including Gehrayee, Manthan, Kalyug etc. Sadhu Meher who played Shabana Azmi’s mute husband, won the National award for Best Actor making it the second occassion in Indian cinema (after Dastak in 1970) when both the Best Actor and Actress National award came from the same film.
Alas, Sadhu Meher didn't had a lasting career in Hindi cinema and not many people know him by name or face and he remained largely restricted to Odia cinema despite giving a wonderful performance. He has worked in many award winning movies and was recognised with a Padma Shri but he didn't get great work or recognition in mainstream Indian cinema.
Priya Tendulkar got her share of recognition much later with the TV show Rajini in the 1980’s. She did worked in many films and TV shows but Rajini gave her lasting fame.
Very few people know that this was also the debut film of Dilip Tahil who has a blink and miss role in the film. Dilip Tahil became popular only after Buniyad TV show in 1986.