Shyam Benegal (1934–2024)
A legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal who recorded India and gave voice to the voiceless, died in a Mumbai hospital on Monday, December 23, 2024, at the age of .90.
Shyam Benegal, one of the most prominent oarsmen of the Indian New Wave, was always focused on reality. With Ankur (1974), Nishant (1975), and Manthan (1976), Shyam Benegal represented the silent resistance of the marginalised in feudal India during the 1970s, when Bollywood was searching for poetic justice through the Angry Young Man
The filmmaker, who is considered one of the greatest auteurs in Indian cinema, passed away in the intensive care unit (ICU) at Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai. He died at Wockhardt Hospital Mumbai Central at 6:38 p.m. For years, he had been dealing with chronic kidney illness, but it had grown really bad. His daughter Pia Shyam Benegal told the media that was the cause of his passing. His wife and daughter, Nira Benegal, survive him.
As a sort of farewell to the director who had given them some of the greatest roles of their lives, performers who had collaborated with him over the years came together to wish him a happy 90th birthday just nine days ago. Naseeruddin Shah, Rajit Kapoor, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Divya Dutta, Kunal Kapoor, and Shabana Azmi, who debuted with the formidable Ankur in 1973, were among those present. His final public appearance is that picture of a happy Benegal with his performers from the ages.
Know More About Shyam Benegal
Shyam Benegal traversed a wide range of countries, media, and topics during his illustrious, nearly seven-decade career, from feminist concerns and rural hardship to incisive satires and biopics. His body of work included epic television series, documentaries, and films, such as Samvidhaan, a 10-part series about the creation of the Constitution, and Bharat Ek Khoj, an adaptation of Jawaharlal Nehru’s Discovery of India.
And he had no intention of retiring anytime soon. “I have two or three projects going on, and they’re all different from one another. I can’t decide which one I will build. On his 90th birthday, Benegal declared, “They’re all for the big screen.” He further mentioned that he was receiving dialysis and that he frequently visited the hospital. “Everyone ages. On my birthday, I don’t do anything noteworthy. I don’t particularly celebrate it, even though it’s a wonderful day. My team and I cut a cake at work. The majority of his films are regarded as Hindi cinema classics, including Bhumika, Junoon, Suraj Ka Satvaan Ghoda, Mammo, Sardari Begum, and Zubeidaa.
The Making of the Mahatma and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero are two of his biopics. The 2023 biographical film Mujib: The Making of a Nation was the director’s most recent production. He was also eager to make the tale of the covert World War II operative Noor Inayat Khan come to life. Unfortunately, that dream will never come true.
Starring Smita Patil, Girish Karnad, and Naseeruddin Shah, Benegal’s Manthan on Varghese Kurien’s milk cooperative movement in Anand, Gujarat, was restored and shown in the Cannes Classics section in the French Riviera resort in May of this year.
Tributes
Tributes poured in for Shyam Babu, as he was fondly known among friends and colleagues, celebrating his transformative impact on Indian cinema. President Droupadi Murmu expressed her sorrow over his passing, noting that his demise signifies the conclusion of a remarkable era in Indian film and television. She highlighted Benegal’s pioneering contributions to a new wave of Indian cinema, crafting timeless classics and nurturing a generation of talented actors and artists. Recognized with prestigious honors such as the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and the Padma Bhushan, his legacy remains unparalleled. “My heartfelt condolences to his family and countless admirers,” the President shared in a message on X.
The Congress party mourned the loss of Shyam Benegal, with party president Mallikarjun Kharge highlighting his remarkable contributions to cinema. Kharge noted that Benegal’s storytelling, deeply rooted in social consciousness and thought-provoking narratives, had left an everlasting legacy.
Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur paid tribute to Benegal as the pioneer of ‘new wave’ cinema, emphasizing his transformative impact on Hindi films through masterpieces such as Ankur and Manthan. Kapur remarked, “He turned brilliant actors like Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil into stars. Farewell, my friend and mentor.”
Director Sudhir Mishra reflected on Benegal’s unique ability to capture the essence of ordinary lives, describing his work as a poetic celebration of everyday people. Mishra added, “While much will be said about Shyam Benegal, what stands out for me is the subtle lament in his films—the sadness of not living in an ideal world.”
Filmmaker Sandip Ray expressed deep sorrow over Benegal’s demise, calling it a personal loss for the Ray family. He fondly remembered Benegal’s close relationship with his father, the legendary Satyajit Ray, whom he affectionately referred to as ‘Manikda.’ Sandip recalled Benegal’s creation of a comprehensive documentary on Satyajit Ray’s life and work, as well as his dedication to preserving and restoring Ray’s films. Sharing a memorable moment, Sandip recounted how Benegal once remarked, “There is only one Ray.”
Personal and Political: The Journey of Shyam Benegal
Born in Tirumalagiri, now part of Telangana, Shyam Benegal grew up surrounded by cinema. His father, a still photographer who also dabbled in making short films, undoubtedly influenced Shyam Benegal’s early exposure to the visual medium.
Adding to this cinematic lineage, he was a second cousin to the legendary filmmaker Guru Dutt. Shyam Benegal pursued a master’s degree in economics from Osmania University in Hyderabad and initially considered a career in teaching. However, he soon abandoned that plan, driven by his own creative aspirations.
Eager to carve a path in filmmaking, the young Shyam Benegal moved to Mumbai in search of opportunities. While he briefly entertained the idea of assisting Guru Dutt, he eventually decided to pursue his own creative vision. His first professional step into storytelling was through advertising. Starting as a copywriter, he eventually transitioned to the agency’s film department, where his passion for the medium came to life.
This stint led him to create ad films, and from there, his journey evolved toward full-time filmmaking. His early years also involved making documentaries for the Films Division of India, culminating in his feature film debut, Ankur.
Shyam Benegal’s cinema was both deeply personal and unmistakably political. His narratives delved into issues like caste and class struggles, feminist perspectives, rural hardships, and community dynamics. His storytelling was sharp and layered, alternating between seriousness and biting satire.
For instance, Kalyug reimagined the Mahabharata in a modern context, while Bhumika explored the complex life of a woman filmstar entangled in exploitative relationships. Mandi portrayed the lives of a brothel’s inhabitants who skillfully navigated the men around them, and Welcome to Sajjanpur used humor and satire to tell the story of a novelist-turned-letter-writer.
Shyam Benegal rejected the label of “middle cinema” often used to describe his work, preferring to categorize his films as “new or alternate cinema.” He believed that filmmaking, like any social act, carried inherent political significance. Reflecting on this in 2022, he told PTI, “One has to be as objective as possible. But at the same time, empathy is crucial. When I say empathy, I mean the ability to truly understand and connect with the subject.”
Shyam Benegal’s films were a magnet for some of the most gifted talents in the industry. Acclaimed playwright Vijay Tendulkar penned the screenplays for Manthan and Nishant. The renowned composer Vanraj Bhatia, cinematographer Govind Nihalani, and theatre stalwart Satyadev Dubey were frequent collaborators. Screenwriter Girish Karnad worked on Bhumika, while celebrated author Ruskin Bond contributed to Junoon.
Despite his many accomplishments, Benegal remained grounded and modest. “There are so many people who have achieved remarkable things. What I’ve done is not unique. You simply do what you feel compelled to do. Climbing Mount Everest—that’s unique,” he remarked.
Shyam Benegal’s body of work remains a testament to his erudition and a profound understanding of human and societal complexities, cementing his legacy as one of Indian cinema’s most visionary filmmakers.
