Shyam Benegal: The Visionary Pioneer of Indian Parallel Cinema

 

Shyam Benegal: The Visionary Pioneer of Indian Parallel Cinema

Shyam Benegal, the pioneer of Indian Cinema, has departed this world and transpired into a realm beyond our reach. Tributes to Shyam Babu, as he was popularly known to friends and colleagues, poured in on social media. President Droupadi Murmu condoled his demise stating that his passing away marks the end of a glorious chapter of Indian cinema and television.


Shyam Benegal
Shyam Benegal

Iconic Films That Shaped Indian Cinema

Filmmakers like Shyam Benegal are rare gems, appearing only once in a generation. His nuanced exploration of socio-political themes in cinema makes viewers ponder. His films reflect the reality, vision, dreams, and wisdom of Indian society. Benegal’s realistic, socially engaging cinema made him a pioneer of the 1970s parallel cinema movement in India.

 

His first four feature films – Ankur (1973), Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976), and Bhumika (1977)  took him to new heights.

 

Ankur explored the feudal divide in India, while Manthan was based on Verghese Kurien's milk cooperative movement. The iconic song "Mero Gaam Katha Parey," featuring Smita Patil still echoes in the hearts of film lovers. Benegal funded the film entirely through farmers donation, making Manthan the first-ever crowdfunded movie of India.

 

His other films Bhumika, Junoon, Mandi, Suraj Ka Satvaan Ghoda, Mammo, and Sardari Begum, are considered classics in Hindi cinema.  Mr Benegal’s films were not a mere creation, but they were movements that had a lasting impact on Indian society. The impact resonates to this day. He directed films that challenged the mainstream Bollywood.

 

Benegal along with along with journalist and screenwriter Khalid Mohammed projected the struggles of Muslim women in his iconic trilogy- Mammo (1994), Sardar Begum (1996), and Zubeida (2001).

 

From Big Screen to Television: A Visionary’s Journey

The gradual downfall of the Parallel movement in Indian cinema made him turn towards TV. His work Bharat Ek Khoj based on the book Discovery of India, written by Jawaharlal Nehru was widely acclaimed. The 53-episode series documenting the country’s journey from ancient times to modernity became a big hit on Television. He was awe struck by Nehru’s charisma and remained his appreciator.

 

His recent project includes a 2023 biopic on the founding father of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.  His other biopics include The Making of the Mahatma and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero. He was also very enthusiastic about directing the biopic of Noor Inayat Khan, a secret WW II agent. However, this dream of Benegal will sadly remain unfulfilled.

 

A Mentor to Generations of Actors

Benegal was a guiding light for acclaimed Bollywood stars. He groomed many artists and actors including Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, and Om Puri. Addressing his demise, Naseeruddin Shah posted on X, “I have lost my foster father, a man to whom I owe more than I can say”.


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Celebrating a Career of Cinematic Excellence

Benegal born in December 1934 in Karnataya, he grew up in Hyderabad and attended Osmania University. Even though he began his career as a copywriter for an advertising company. But he was tailored for cinema and moved towards filmmaking,

Benegal has established the Hyderabad Film Society. In his life, he made a total of 24 films and 45 documentaries.

 

Honored and Remembered

The Government of India honored him with the Padma Shri in 1976 and the Padma Bhushan in 1991. He has also received several national awards, the Nandi Award, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Additionally, he has served as a member of the Rajya Sabha from 2006 to 2012.

 

Not only as a film director and screenwriter, but Bengal left his mark in the industry as the National Film Development Corporation’s director. He also served as a jury in several international film festivals, where he promoted Indian cinema on global media.

 

Even at the age of 92, he was aspiring for more creations and films that would inspire generations. However, his health did not cooperate with him and he passed away in Mumbai’s Wockhardt Hospital due to chronic kidney disease. Benegal is survived by his wife Nira and daughter Piya.