Images from Shyam Benegal's 90th Birthday Reemerge After His Passing
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Mumbai, Dec 23 (NationPress) Images from the celebrated filmmaker Shyam Benegal's 90th birthday party have reappeared online following the announcement of his unfortunate passing.
The touching visuals act as a heartfelt reminder of the iconic director's lasting legacy and the numerous lives he impacted. The late filmmaker marked his significant birthday on December 14, surrounded by Bollywood luminaries including Shabana Azmi, Divya Dutta, Naseeruddin Shah, Rajit Kapur, Atul Tiwari, and many others.
A group shot from the festivity, posted by Shabana Azmi on X, has gone viral. Accompanying the photo, Azmi wrote, “On #ShyamBenegal’s 90th birthday with my co-actor of many films and my favorite actor @NaseeruddinShah. Why aren’t more people casting us together?!”
On December 23, Shyam Benegal passed away at the age of 90. He breathed his last around 6:30 pm at Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai. His daughter, Pia Benegal, confirmed the news.
In sorrow over his passing, filmmaker Hansal Mehta shared a tribute photo of Benegal, stating, “Among the last of our great filmmakers. Go well, Shyam Babu. Thank you for inspiring many like me. Thank you for the cinema. Thank you for giving tough stories and flawed characters such amazing dignity.”
Renowned for his landmark and award-winning films such as “Ankur,” “Bhumika,” “Manthan,” and “Nishant,” Benegal leaves behind a rich heritage in Indian cinema. He made his feature film debut with “Ankur” in 1974, featuring Anant Nag and Shabana Azmi. The critically acclaimed film received the National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film, establishing his reputation as a pioneer in Indian cinema.
His last directorial project, “Mujib: The Making of a Nation” (2023), documented the life of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Benegal received numerous National Awards for films including “Bhumika: The Role,” “Junoon,” “Arohan,” “Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero,” and “Well Done Abba.
