Shyam Benegal: The Legendary Director of "Nishant" and "Manthan" Has Died

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Legendary director Shyam Benegal has passed away at the age of 90. Throughout his career, he created numerous award-winning films, including Ankur, Bhumika, Manthan, and Nishant. His daughter, Pia Benegal, shared the sad news with Hindustan Times on Monday evening.

"Yes, he has died. The loss is too great," she expressed.

Shyam Benegal has passed away

The legendary director just turned 90 a few days back in Mumbai, celebrating with family and close pals from the film industry. Shabana Azmi, who kicked off her career in Benegal's Ankur, posted a snapshot from the party on her X account, which also included Naseeruddin Shah.

This filmmaker is celebrated for his impressive body of work that challenged the conventions of mainstream cinema. His films often featured a blend of realism and social commentary, playing a significant role in the Indian parallel cinema movement during the 70s and 80s. He’s bagged several National Awards for films like Bhumika: The Role (1977), Junoon (1978), Arohan (1982), Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2004), Manthan (1976), and Well Done Abba (2010).

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During a recent chat with PTI on his birthday, he mentioned, "We all get older. I don’t really do anything special for my birthday. Sure, it’s a day that stands out, but I don’t celebrate it in any big way. I just cut a cake at the office with my team. I’m juggling two or three different projects right now, and it’s tough to pick which one I’ll focus on. They’re all meant for the big screen."

His latest directorial effort was the 2023 biographical drama Mujib: The Making of a Nation.

Earlier this year, one of his most acclaimed films, Manthan, was shown at the Cannes Film Festival. This restored version of the 1976 classic, featuring Naseeruddin Shah and the late Smita Patil, highlights the revolutionary milk cooperative movement led by Dr. Verghese Kurien, which turned India into a major milk producer. It was part of the Cannes Classics lineup.

The film snagged two National Film Awards in 1977: one for best feature film in Hindi and another for best screenplay for Tendulkar. It also represented India at the 1976 Academy Awards in the best foreign language film category.

The director missed the premiere due to health issues but fondly remembered how the farmers of Gujarat contributed to the film's success by flocking to theaters to watch it.

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