His 1974 highly acclaimed debut feature film ‘Ankur’ marked the beginning of a new wave in Indian cinema, which would later come to be known as ‘Parallel Cinema’. The film, portraying the reality of economic and sexual exploitation in his home state, Andhra Pradesh (now Telangana), introduced actors Shabana Azmi and Anant Nag. For the film, the director won the 1975 National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film and Shabana won the National Film Award for Best Actress. The man, Shyam Benegal, widely regarded as one of the finest film makers of all time, has passed away, aged 90.
Known for his socially conscious storytelling and deep exploration of human emotions, through his works like Ankur, Manthan, Mandi, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero, Zubeidaa, Sardaari Begum, Well Done Abba, and more, the veteran filmmaker breathed his last at Wockhardt hospital in Mumbai on Monday after a prolonged battle with chronic kidney ailment.
Benegal, most of whose notable films were released in the mid-70s and 80s, received several accolades, including 18 National Film Awards, and a Nandi Award during his film career.
In 2005, he was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest award in the field of cinema. In 1976, he was honoured by the Indian government with the Padma Shri and in 1991 the Padma Bhushan for his contributions in the field of arts.
The filmmaker is reported to have celebrated his 90th birthday just over a week ago, on December 14, with friends and family. Actors Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Naseeruddin Shah, Divya Dutta, Shabana Azmi, Ranjit Kapur, Atul Tewari, filmmaker-actor and Shashi Kapoor’s son Kunal Kapoor, and others, were in attendance.
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Shyam Benegal, born on December 14, 1934, in Hyderabad, began his career in advertising before transitioning into the world of cinema. His father, Sridhar B. Benegal, originally from Karnataka, was a photographer who inspired Shyam’s early interest in filmmaking.
At just 12 years old, Shyam created his first film using a camera gifted by his father. He went on to earn a master’s in economics from Osmania University, Hyderabad, where he also founded the Hyderabad Film Society, marking the beginning of his illustrious journey in cinema.
Film industry admires, condoles
The film industry expressed its admiration and sorrow.
Among the first to pay tribute was filmmaker Shekhar Kapur, who took to Twitter to reflect on Benegal’s pioneering influence on Indian cinema. “He created ‘the new wave’ cinema,” Kapur wrote. “#ShyamBenegal will always be remembered as the man who changed the direction of Indian cinema with films like Ankur, Manthan, and countless others. He created stars out of great actors like Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil. Farewell, my friend and guide.”
Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee also expressed his deep sorrow, saying, “A heartbreaking loss for Indian cinema. Shyam Benegal wasn’t just a legend; he was a visionary who redefined storytelling and inspired generations. Working with him in Zubeidaa was a transformative experience for me, exposing me to his unique style of storytelling and nuanced understanding of performances…..”
Actor Akshay Kumar also shared his grief, saying, “Pained to know of Shyam Benegal ji’s demise. One of the finest filmmakers in our country, truly a legend. Om Shanti.”
