Mumbai: Shyam Benegal, the visionary director who played a pivotal role in shaping Indian parallel cinema in the 1970s and 1980s, has passed away at the age of 90.
He breathed his last at Mumbai’s Wockhardt Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for chronic kidney disease, just days after celebrating his 90th birthday on December 14. His daughter, Pia Benegal, confirmed the news, stating, “It is true. Shyam Benegal passed away at 6:30 pm.”
Benegal was renowned for his realistic and socially conscious films, which broke away from the traditional norms of mainstream Indian cinema. His career spanned decades, earning him accolades such as the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and 18 National Film Awards.
He made his directorial debut with Ankur (1974), which earned critical acclaim and won the National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film. His 1975 film Nishant was nominated for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, solidifying his reputation as a master filmmaker. Benegal’s contributions to Indian cinema remain an enduring legacy.