Shyam Benegal's Profound Connection to Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Dec 23 (NationPress) Shyam Benegal, an influential force in India's parallel cinema, who departed this world on Monday at the age of 90, shared a profound bond with Hyderabad, the city where his journey began.

Even after moving away from Hyderabad over sixty years ago, this legendary director always cherished his time in the Nizam's city, where he was born and received his education.

In recent years, however, he expressed sorrow over the loss of historical sites due to haphazard urban expansion and acknowledged that his emotional connection to the city waned after the passing of close friends.

The recipient of the Dadasaheb Phalke Award started his filmmaking career as a teenager in Hyderabad and later returned to create several of his acclaimed films.

Benegal had a profound appreciation for Telangana culture, with notable films such as Ankur, Nishant, and Mandi being set in the region.

Both Hyderabad and Telangana held significant importance for him. He often remarked that the historic city possesses a unique character and a rich composite culture unmatched by any other city. He frequently expressed that the cultural essence of Telangana greatly resonated with him.

Some of Benegal's earlier works were filmed in the Moula-Ali neighborhood of Hyderabad, where he also owned a home.

Having pursued his M.A. at Nizam College, a part of Osmania University, he also cherished memories of Sainikpuri, the location for the shooting of Ankur and Mandi.

The filmmaker, who directed a Telugu film titled Anugraham (1978), admitted that while he understood Telugu, he found it challenging to converse in the language.

He remarked that Hyderabad underwent significant changes post-1980s. During a visit about ten years ago, he mentioned that the city he once knew was now unrecognizable.

“Everything has changed. Only names have remained,” he had commented.

In a 2013 discussion with students from Annapurna International School of Film and Media, he recounted his cinematic journey.

He encouraged aspiring filmmakers to engage with their surroundings, observe others, listen attentively, and recognize the nuances of emotional shifts in conversations.

“Understand enough about society to know who you are. India is such a diverse nation that one lifetime is insufficient. You must keep learning. Each day is an opportunity to learn. Never assume you have learned enough. I never feel that way. For me, tomorrow is a new beginning. I consider myself fortunate for that, as it prevents complacency,” he stated.

“Filmmaking is incredibly exhilarating. It allows me to play god, a rare opportunity in any profession. When creating a film, you are constructing a world that anyone can experience simply by watching. But when you write, the reader must engage with the text,” he shared with the students.