Shyam Benegal, pioneer of parallel cinema, dies at the age of 90

Famed film director Shyam Benegal died on Monday at the age of 90, after a long battle with kidney disease. He died at around 6:30 pm at Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai, his daughter Pia Benegal confirmed to India Today.

Bengal, one of the most prominent figures in Indian cinema, is best known for pioneering the parallel cinema movement. His films are like Ankur, Mandy and ManthanIt became an iconic work in the 1970s and 1980s, setting a new trend in Hindi film industry.

The director recently celebrated his 90th birthday on December 14, surrounded by close friends and family. The gathering included prominent actors like Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Naseeruddin Shah, Divya Dutta, Shabana Azmi, Rajit Kapoor, Atul Tiwari, and Kunal Kapoor, actor, film director and son of Shashi Kapoor.

Bengal’s contribution to cinema was recognized by the Indian government, awarding him the Padma Shri in 1976 and the Padma Bhushan in 1991. His legacy includes a diverse body of work with hit films like Manthan, Zubaida, and Sardar Begum, among others.

Shyam Benegal was born on December 14, 1934 in Hyderabad, and hailed from a Konkani-speaking Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin family. Introduced by his father, Sridhar B. Benegal, a photographer from Karnataka, has entered the world of visual storytelling. At the age of 12, Shyam made his first film using a camera given to him by his father. Although he holds a Master’s degree in Economics from Osmania University, Hyderabad, it was his passion for cinema that led him to establish the Hyderabad Film Society, marking the beginning of his illustrious cinematic journey.

Some of his most famous works include Ankur, Manthan, Junoon, Suraj Ka Satvan Gowda, Mandiand more, which continue to inspire generations of filmmakers and audiences alike.