Legendary Filmmaker Shyam Benegal Passes Away at 90: Directed Zubeidaa, Ankur & Manthan

Renowned filmmaker Shyam Benegal, a pioneer of Indian parallel cinema, passed away at the age of 90. Fondly called Shyambabu, he had been suffering from kidney-related and age-related ailments. His daughter, Pia Benegal, confirmed the news. Shyam Benegal created unforgettable films like Ankur, Mandi, Sardari Begum, and Zubeida. He also made the iconic Manthan, a film about Gujarat’s cooperative milk revolution, starring Girish Karnad and Smita Patil.

Passed Away Days After Celebrating His 90th Birthday

As per reports, Shyam Benegal breathed his last on December 23 at 6:30 PM. Just nine days earlier, on December 14, he had celebrated his 90th birthday. Actress Shabana Azmi shared pictures from the celebration on social media, which also featured Naseeruddin Shah and a cheerful Shyam Benegal.

Shyam Benegal Nurtured Great Talent in Indian Cinema

Shyam Benegal’s films introduced some of the finest actors to Indian cinema, including Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Amrish Puri, Anant Nag, Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, and cinematographer-filmmaker Govind Nihalani.

Honored with Prestigious Awards

The Indian government honored Shyambabu with the Padma Shri in 1976 and the Padma Bhushan in 1991. He received eight National Awards and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Indian cinema’s highest honor, in 2005.

Began with a Gujarati Film

Born on December 14, 1934, in a middle-class family in Hyderabad, Shyam Benegal made his first documentary film in Gujarati, titled Gherbetha Ganga (1962). He was the cousin of legendary actor-filmmaker Guru Dutt. Inspired by his father’s love for still photography, Shyam began taking photographs of children. After completing an M.A. in Economics, he started working as a photographer. Before his first feature film, Ankur, he created several ad films while working as a copywriter.

Revolutionized Parallel Cinema

Shyam Benegal started his career in feature filmmaking with Ankur (1974). His first four films—Ankur, Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976), and Bhumika (1977)—ushered in a new wave of parallel cinema and established him as a significant creative force.

5 Lakh Farmers Funded Manthan

The film Manthan, inspired by Verghese Kurien and the cooperative milk movement (Amul), was India’s first crowdfunded film. It was funded by 5 lakh farmers who contributed ₹2 each. The film, written in collaboration with renowned Marathi playwright Vijay Tendulkar, won a National Award and became India’s official entry to the Oscars in 1976.

A Prolific Career in Film and Television

In his illustrious career, Shyam Benegal directed 24 feature films, 45 documentaries, and 15 ad films. For television, he created acclaimed series like Katha Sagar, Bharat Ek Khoj (based on Jawaharlal Nehru’s The Discovery of India), Amravati Ki Kathayein, and Samvidhan. He also made documentaries on Satyajit Ray and Jawaharlal Nehru.

Notable Films by Shyam Benegal

Some of his other significant works include Junoon (1979), Kalyug (1981), Arohan (1982), Trikal (1985), Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda (1993), Mammo (1994), Sardari Begum (1996), The Making of the Mahatma (1996), Zubeida (2001), Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2005), Welcome to Sajjanpur (2008), and Mujib: The Making of a Nation (2023).

Tributes Pour In for Shyam Benegal

Shekhar Kapur: “Shyam Benegal brought a new wave in cinema. He will always be remembered for films like Ankur and Manthan, which changed the direction of Indian cinema. He made legends out of stars like Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil. Farewell, my friend and guide.”

Sudhir Mishra: “Shyam Benegal beautifully captured the poetry of ordinary faces and ordinary lives.”

Ila Arun: “I am heartbroken and shocked by the loss of my guru, Shyam Benegal. I feel like I have lost my father.”

Manoj Bajpayee: “A heartbreaking loss for Indian cinema. Shyam Benegal was not just a legend but a visionary who transformed storytelling and inspired generations. Working under his direction in Zubeida was a life-changing experience for me. I will forever be indebted to him. Farewell, Shyam Babu. Om Shanti.”