Sumitra Bhave–Sunil Sukthankar

The duo had won various national and international accolades for the films Doghi (1995), Dahavi Fa (2002), Vastupurush (2002), Devrai (2004), Astu (2016) and Kaasav (2017).

[a 1] She taught at the Karve Institute of Social Service, Pune, for a decade and later worked as a Project Manager for Community Aid and Sponsorship Program, Mumbai.

It was honoured for "its realistic portrayal of poor, oppressed housewife who succeeds in her determined effort to rehabilitate herself and realise her potential to be on her own".

[13] After a career as a theatre activist, Sukthankar was introduced to Bhave through her daughter while she was making her debut short film Bai (1985).

The film depicts a story about two sisters and their mother caught in rigid and superstitious social structure.

The film was based on a real-life story of a teenager who risked his own life to care for a person stigmatised by HIV/AIDS.

The filmmaker duo initially approached the Children's Film Society to produce Dahavi Fa but the organization refused the script for not fitting "into their 'objectives'".

The film was finally funded by their friends and was released under the duo's production company "Vichitra Nirmiti".

[a 10] In 2007, Bhave—Sukthankar made a short film in Hindi, Bewaqt Barish (Untimely Rain), financed by the European Union and produced by Muktangan Mitra.

The film focuses on the issues around HIV/AIDS, sex and sexuality and is based on the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief's work with rural and tribal community in the Rajasthan and Odisha states of India.

[21][a 11] Gho Mala Asla Hava premiered at the Pune International Film Festival and is a comical representation of marital problems.

[24][25] Bhave—Sukthankar's 2011 Marathi film Ha Bharat Majha (This is My India) depicts the contrast in the Indian society who support the 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement started by activist Anna Hazare but continue to practice small corrupt acts in their daily lives.

[27] In 2015, the duo made a short film in Hindi, Phir Zindagi (Life Again) which deals with topic of organ donation.

[28] Their upcoming Marathi film Kaasav depicts the issue of depression among youngsters in relation to the life and nesting cycle of olive ridley sea turtles.

[31] Bhave lended her voice to the character of Sindhubai Jadhav in the 2020 film The Disciple directed by Chaitanya Tamhane.

Sunil Sukthankar (second from right) and Sumitra Bhave (first from right), in IFFI , 2006