Shyam Benegal, who heralded the Indian parallel cinema movement, is no more. The legendary filmmaker breathed his last while undergoing treatment for chronic kidney disease at Mumbai’s Wockhardt Hospital. He was 90 and survived by a wife and a daughter.
A prolific filmmaker, he directed about 25 films. Born in Secunderabad, Shyam Benegal began his career as a copywriter and then a documentary filmmaker.
With Ankur (1973), his debut film, Shyam Benegal started the parallel cinema movement in India. Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976), and Bhumika (1977) made him a star filmmaker of non-commercial movie making.
He also directed “Anugraham” in Telugu, which was simultaneously made in Hindi as “Kondura.” Actors like Shabana Azmi owe their careers to his films.
Junoon (1978), Kalyug (1981), Mammo (1994), Sardari Begum (1996), and Zubeidaa (2001) were some of his other popular films. He also directed popular TV series like “Bharat Ek Khoj” and “Amravati Ki Kathayein” for DD.
Shyam Benegal’s films won many National Film Awards as well as the Nandi Award. He was awarded the Padma Bhushan and Dada Saheb Phalke awards by the Government of India.
