A Farewell to a Cinematic Legend: Priti Adani Remembers Shyam Benegal

New Delhi, Dec 23 (NationPress) Priti Adani, Chairperson of the Adani Foundation, expressed her condolences on Monday, stating that the demise of Shyam Benegal, a key figure in 'parallel cinema' and a recipient of the National Award, signifies the conclusion of a remarkable era in Indian cinema. She added that his enduring legacy will continue to motivate others.

In a post on X, Priti Adani shared: "The loss of Shyam Benegal marks the closure of an era in Indian cinema. As a masterful storyteller, his films intertwined art and reality, amplifying the voices of the marginalized and contributing to the golden age of parallel cinema. His legacy will persist in inspiring both filmmakers and cinephiles. Om Shanti."

Shyam Sunder S. Benegal, renowned for his multiple National Awards and as a pioneer of 'parallel cinema,' known for timeless films such as “Junoon”, “Ankur”, “Manthan”, “Zubeida”, and “The Making of the Mahatma”, passed away after a prolonged illness with kidney disease, as confirmed by his family on Monday.

Benegal, who was a second cousin to the late iconic actor-filmmaker Guru Dutt, was 90 years old at the time of his passing at a private hospital in Mumbai. He is survived by his wife Nira and daughter Pia.

He received prestigious awards including the Padma Shri in 1976, the Padma Bhushan in 1991, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2005, along with numerous other national and international recognitions. Benegal celebrated his 90th birthday on December 14, surrounded by many film industry colleagues.

Details regarding the final rites have yet to be disclosed.

Born in Hyderabad on December 14, 1934, Benegal hailed from a Konkani-speaking Chitrapur Saraswat Brahman family, with his father, Sridhar B. Benegal, a photographer originally from Karnataka.

At just 12 years old, young Shyam utilized a camera gifted by his father to create a film, an experience that ignited his passion for filmmaking, which flourished over a career that spanned more than six decades.

Later, Benegal pursued an MA in Economics, established the Hyderabad Film Society, and embarked on his career in 1959 as a copywriter at Lintas Advertising Agency in Mumbai, eventually becoming the Creative Head, producing over 900 ad films and sponsored documentaries.

In 1962, Benegal directed his debut Gujarati documentary film, “Gher Betha Ganga” (Ganga At Doorsteps), and taught at the esteemed Film & Television Institute of India from 1966 to 1973, also serving as its Chairman on two occasions (1980-1983 & 1989-1992).

With a remarkable portfolio of over 70 documentaries and short films, along with time spent in the USA, Benegal made his first full-length Hindi feature film, “Ankur” (1974), which catapulted him to acclaim, earning 3 National Awards and an additional 43 national and international accolades.

Throughout a career that spanned more than 60 years, Benegal created numerous classics including “Manthan” (1976), “Bhumika” (1977), “Junoon”, and “Kalyug” (1979), “Aarohan” (1982), “Mandi” (1983), “Trikaal” (1985), “Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda” (1993), “The Making of the Mahatma” (1996), “Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero” (2005), “Welcome to Sajjanpur” (2008), and “Mujib: The Making of a Nation” (2023), among others.

He also produced significant and award-winning documentaries, including those on Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, titled “Jawaharlal Nehru” (1982) and “Nehru” (1985), as well as documentaries on Satyajit Ray, Tata Steel's Platinum Jubilee, A Festival of India, Lost Childhood, and many more.

Benegal was responsible for creating notable television series such as “Yatra” (1986), “Bharat Ek Khoj” (1988), “Sankranti” (1997), and “Samvidhaan” (2014), among several others.

Social media has been flooded with tributes for Benegal from actors, actresses, producers, directors, his peers within the Indian and international film community, media outlets, and his vast fan base.