MUMBAI (Diya TV) — One of India’s most celebrated filmmakers, Shyam Benegal, was cremated with full state honours on December 24 at the Shivaji Park Electric Crematorium here. The 90-year-old director known for his profound contributions to Indian cinema was accorded a three-gun salute. A host of luminaries from the film industry, including Boman Irani, Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Gulzar, Javed Akhtar, and Hansal Mehta, attended the somber ceremony to bid goodbye.
Naseeruddin Shah, whom he collaborated with on some films like Nishant and Manthan, too came visibly shaken as the final respects were paid to the veteran. Lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar, during the condolence meeting with regard to Benegal said, “He gave a new thought process to Hindi cinema. His place will always remain vacant. I urge the younger generation to watch his films and carry forward his legacy.
Dalip Tahil, who had worked with Benegal, called him “a gem for the world” and “the pride of the nation.” Ila Arun, musician, too expressed her sorrow, “We all will miss him.” Actor Anang Desai says that his death has left “a great vacuum” in the industry.
Shyam Benegal was born on December 14, 1934, in Hyderabad to a Konkani-speaking Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin family. As a filmmaker, he turned out to be a leading figure in Indian cinema by dint of his socially relevant narration and nuanced exploration of socio-political themes. Some of the most iconic films of Indian cinema resulted from his collaborations with the likes of Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Smita Patil, and Shabana Azmi.
Benegal’s breakthrough came with Ankur (1974), which set the tone for his career in realistic, socially engaging cinema. His works, including Mandi (1983), Nishant (1975), and Junoon (1979), are celebrated for their depth and commentary on the human condition.
Junoon, based on Ruskin Bond’s A Flight of Pigeons, remains one of Benegal’s most critically acclaimed works. This film is set during the Indian freedom movement and tells a forbidden love story between a British woman and a Pathan and develops themes of colonialism and conflict. Another of his landmark films, Manthan (1976), which was based on the milk cooperative movement by Verghese Kurien, fetched international recognition, including Cannes Film Festival.
Benegal’s most recent project that added to his illustrious career is Mujib: The Making of a Nation an India-Bangladesh co-production directed by him in 2023, shot during the COVID19 pandemic.
Beyond feature films, Benegal’s work in television and documentaries is also noteworthy. His series Bharat Ek Khoj, based on Jawaharlal Nehru’s Discovery of India, and Samvidhaan, which chronicled the making of the Indian Constitution, remain iconic in Indian television history.
Benegal’s work is not only in Indian film but also in the activities above. As the National Film Development Corporation’s director as well as a jury in several international film festivals, Benegal promoted Indian cinema on international media, too.
