Javed Akhtar Expresses His Gratitude for Collaborating with Shyam Benegal

Mumbai, Dec 24 (NationPress) Renowned screenwriter Javed Akhtar was present at the funeral of the esteemed film icon Shyam Benegal in the Dadar locality of Mumbai on Tuesday.

The seasoned screenwriter shared that he feels incredibly fortunate to have contributed to two films directed by Shyam Benegal. He described the opportunity to collaborate with him as "immensely fulfilling" because it exposed him to a distinct approach to storytelling and cinema.

In a statement to the press, he remarked, "He was the pioneer of parallel Hindi cinema. His film ‘Ankur’ was released in 1974, marking a significant milestone as it was produced 50 years ago. Over the decades, he created alternative, non-conventional, and realistic films. His impact on cinema is monumental, as he was instrumental in the inception of the parallel film movement in India. It is noteworthy that in a selection of 100 top directors worldwide, only two were from India: Satyajit Ray and Shyam Benegal."

He went on to add, "I consider myself exceedingly lucky to have penned songs for two of his films, ‘Zubeidaa’ and ‘Sardari Begum’. This was a profoundly rewarding journey for me, as these films represented a new genre, a fresh style, and innovative dialogues. Shyam Benegal garnered numerous accolades throughout his career and made significant contributions to our cinema, achieving remarkable milestones."

When queried about the recent birthday celebrations for Shyam Benegal, Javed responded, "At that time, only Shabana Azmi was present; I was not in Mumbai. Regrettably, today, Shabana, who regarded him as a father, is also absent from Mumbai to pay her final tributes."

Shyam Benegal is widely recognized as one of the most influential filmmakers post-1970s, having received numerous accolades, including 18 National Film Awards, a Nandi Award, the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award, and both the Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan. He also held the position of Director at the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) from 1980 to 1986.