MUMBAI: A portal on the Marathi film industry www.marathitaraka.com was launched on 12 October in Mumbai.

Initiated by producer-director Mahesh Tilekar, the website contain profiles and biographies of Marathi film actresses and is divided into three sections. History (past), Present (current) and the Generation Next actresses.

The first section of the portal was launched by Nilu Phule and photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha, the second was launched by co-operation minister Patangrao Kadam and veteran Jayshree Gadkar, while the third was launched by actor Amrita Rao and Mahesh Tilekar.

This website is an encyclopedia of the all actresses in Marathi films since 1913. Authentic textual information is accompanied by some rare photographs of the actresses. The journey starts from Kamala Gokhale (character artiste and Vikram Gokhale’s grandmother) who was the first star in the industry and continues with Durga Khote, Shobhana Samarth, Lalita Pawar, Shanta Apte, Lika Chitnis, Hansa Wadkar, Sulochana, Jayshree Gadkar, Seema, Asha Kale, Alka Kubal, Varsha Usgaonkar, Madhura Velankar, Deepa Parab, Sarika Nilatkar and others. In all, there are around 97 stars.

Sushma Shiromanee, one-time-Marathi actress and now IMPPA vice president says, “In the history of Marathi film industry, this is the first time such authentic information about veteran and upcoming actress is accessible to fans across the globe.”

Tilekar says, “This website is made with a social approach and affection for the Marathi film industry.”