Smita Patil was an Indian film and theatre actress who primarily worked in Hindi and Marathi films. Regarded among the finest and greatest actresses in the history of Indian cinema, Patil appeared in over 80 films, in a career that spanned over a decade. Patil was the recipient of two National Film Awards, a Filmfare Award, two Filmfare Awards Marathi. She received the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian honour in 1985.

The Filmfare Marathi Awards are presented annually to both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Marathi film industry of India. The ceremony had been sponsored by various private organisations in the past as well as in present provisions. During several years in 1990s, a live ceremony was broadcast to television audiences but was later discontinued due to unknown reasons. In 1963 the awards were extended to Marathi, Tamil, Telugu and Bengali languages. The presentation of the awards has been inconsistent throughout its inception. Presently, a recorded and edited version of the awards ceremony is televised.