Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India]: Veteran director and screenwriter Shyam Benegal, who passed away at the age of 90, was cremated on Tuesday at Shivaji Park Electric Crematorium in Mumbai. The last rites of the legendary filmmaker were performed with full state honors, including a three-gun salute, in recognition of his remarkable contribution to Indian cinema.
Benegal, known for iconic films such as Ankur, Mandi, Nishant, and Junoon, was laid to rest at around 3 pm in Dadar’s Shivaji Park crematorium. The ceremony was attended by numerous prominent celebrities, including Boman Irani, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Gulzar, Javed Akhtar, Hansal Mehta, Prateek Gandhi, and Divya Dutta, among others.
As per the circulating visuals, the filmmaker’s mortal remains were brought by his grieving family members. Naseeruddin Shah, who starred in several of Benegal’s films, was seen bidding an emotional farewell to the director.
Shyam Benegal passed away at 6:38 pm on the previous day at Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai Central, where he was undergoing treatment for chronic kidney disease.
The passing of this cinematic giant has led to an outpouring of grief from the film industry. From Chiranjeevi to Akshay Kumar, actors expressed their sorrow at his demise.
Amitabh Bachchan shared his condolences on X, writing, “T 5233 – We have lost another stalwart of the Film Industry today.. Shyam Benegal passes away.. Prayers and condolences.”
Actor Chiranjeevi also took to X to express his sadness: “Deeply saddened at the departure of Shri Shyam Benegal, one of the finest filmmakers and great intellectuals of our country. He discovered & nurtured some of the brightest film talents of India. His films, biographies, and documentaries form part of India’s greatest cultural treasure! A fellow Hyderabadi & former Rajya Sabha member, Benegal Sab’s masterful works will always be held in great esteem in Indian Cinema! Rest in peace, Sir!”
Born on December 14, 1934, in a Konkani-speaking Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin family in Hyderabad, Benegal collaborated extensively with actors from FTII and NSD, including Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, and Amrish Puri.
Benegal’s films had a profound impact on Indian cinema, often tackling socio-political issues with remarkable depth. One of his standout works, Junoon (1979), based on Ruskin Bond’s A Flight of Pigeons, is a sweeping epic set against the backdrop of India’s freedom struggle. It tells a forbidden love story between a British woman (Nafisa Ali) and a passionate Pathan (Shashi Kapoor), earning acclaim for its emotional intensity and visual grandeur.
Benegal’s Manthan (1976), inspired by Verghese Kurien’s milk cooperative movement, garnered international attention, premiering at the 77th Cannes Film Festival. The film’s premiere was attended by renowned personalities, including Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, and Prateik Babbar.
Benegal’s legacy continues to resonate, as his contributions to Indian cinema, both in feature films and documentaries, have left an indelible mark on the industry.