Shyam Benegal, a leading artist of the parallel movement in Indian film during the 1970s and ’80s, passed away on Monday at age 90 due to chronic renal illness. With a career spanning more than seven decades, Benegal dealt with various subjects, from rural problems to feminism and historical narratives.
His best films include Ankur, Mandi, and Manthan, which have become classics in his filmography. He also helmed critically acclaimed biopics such as “The Making of the Mahatma” and “Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero”. His last film, ‘Mujib: The Making of a Nation’ (2023), had developed for and around the Father of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Apart from TV and documentaries, Benegal also produced Suvidha and Bharat Ek Khoja. In World War II, he intended to make a biopic about the clandestine operative Noor Inayat Khan, but circumstances prevented that film. Actors and directors paid tribute, remembering him as a revolutionary force in the film industry who finally learned to tell tales about mysterious people even when they weren´t.
Following his death, Benegal was survived by his wife Nira and daughter Pia. His last rites will be performed in Mumbai.