Renowned filmmaker Shyam Benegal passed away Mumbai's Wockhardt Hospital on Monday. He was 90.
Shyam Benegal was a prominent film director, screenwriter and documentary filmmaker.
Renowned filmmaker Shyam Benegal passed away Mumbai's Wockhardt Hospital on Monday. He was 90.
His Daughter Pia Benegal confirming the filmmaker's death said that he was suffering from kidney-related issues.
“He passed away at 6:38 pm at Wockhardt Hospital Mumbai Central. He had been suffering from chronic kidney disease for several years but it had gotten very bad. That's the reason for his death,” Pia said.
The filmmaker had to frequently visit the hospital and was on dialysis.
Benegal had celebrated his 90th birthday just a week ago on December 14. The celebration was attended by various veteran actors including Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, and more.
Shyam Benegal was a prominent film director, screenwriter, and documentary filmmaker. He was considered one of the greatest filmmakers in India post-1970s and was regarded as the pioneer of parallel cinema. He heralded the Indian parallel cinema movement in the 1970s and 1980s with films such as Ankur, Nishant and Manthan.
Born on December 14, 1934 in Hyderabad, Benegal belonged to a Konkani-speaking Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin family. Since Shyam Benegal's father, Sridhar B. Benegal was a photographer, his interest in filmmaking sprouted at a very young age. At the tender age of 12, Shyam made his first film using a camera gifted by his father.
Before joining the film industry, Benegal did Master's in Economics from Osmania University, Hyderabad. At the University, he found Hyderabad Film Society beginning his journey in Indian cinema.
He made various outstanding films in his lifetime including Bhumika, Junoon, Mandi, Suraj Ka Satvaan Ghoda, Mammo and Sardari Begum, most counted as classics in Hindi cinema. His most recent work was the 2023 biographical Mujib: The Making of a Nation.
Benegal was honoured with several awards throughout his illustrious career including eighteen National Film Awards, a Filmfare Award and a Nandi Award.
In 1976, the Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri, and in 1991, he was elevated with the Padma Bhushan, both prestigious civilian awards, in recognition of his significant impact on the arts.
Later in 2005, he was bestowed with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest recognition in the country for cinematic excellence.
He is survived by his wife Nira Benegal and daughter Pia Benegal.