Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], December 24: Legendary filmmaker and screenwriter Shyam Benegal, a towering figure in the Indian parallel cinema movement, passed away at the age of 90. He died on Monday at 6:38 pm at Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai, where he had been receiving treatment for chronic kidney disease.
Filmmaker Nandita Das, who shared a close bond with Benegal, took to Instagram to pay tribute to the icon. In an emotional post, Nandita shared a series of pictures with the late filmmaker and reflected on the profound impact he had on her life and work.
“Most likely you already know that Shyam Benegal is no more. You should also know that with him, an era has ended,” Nandita wrote. She added that Benegal had waited to meet many of his loved ones on his 90th birthday just a week ago. “Sadly, I wasn’t in town, so I missed that last smile, hug, and warmth,” she shared.
She remembered Benegal as a wonderful human being. “We didn’t mourn for long as we didn’t want to be selfish. He lived a full life and, just when his health began to decline, he left to rest in peace,” she said. Nandita fondly remembered Benegal’s kindness, generosity, and how he always made others feel special. “He was always present with everyone he met, responding to emails and messages, and encouraging me immensely,” she reflected.
Nandita also recalled how Benegal had praised her film Zwigato just days after it started streaming on Amazon. “He watched it and emailed me with such praise and encouragement. I was one of the million people he cared for. I will miss his laugh, his firm loving hug, and his twinkling eyes,” she shared.
Benegal’s films, including Ankur, Nishant, Manthan, and Bhumika, are considered masterpieces and solidified his position as a pioneer of Indian parallel cinema in the 1970s and 1980s. He won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi seven times and received the V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
Born on December 14, 1934, in Hyderabad, Benegal came from a Konkani-speaking Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin family. Throughout his career, he worked closely with renowned actors from FTII and NSD, such as Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, and Amrish Puri.
His films, known for addressing significant socio-political themes, left a lasting impact on audiences. Benegal’s recent project, Mujib: The Making of a Nation (2023), was an India-Bangladesh co-production about Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father of Bangladesh. The biographical film, shot during the COVID-19 pandemic, added another remarkable achievement to his illustrious career.
In addition to feature films, Benegal also made significant contributions to documentaries and television. His iconic series Bharat Ek Khoj and Samvidhaan remain landmarks in Indian television.
Benegal served as the Director of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) from 1980 to 1986 and was a member of prestigious film juries, including the 14th Moscow International Film Festival in 1985 and the 35th National Film Awards in 1988. His legacy as a visionary filmmaker will continue to inspire generations.