Bollywood drowned in mourning after the death of noted filmmaker Shyam Benegal. Those who paid tribute to him continued to throw the “veteran” for his contribution to Indian cinema, Amitabh Bachchan, Nafisa Ali, Karisma Kapoor and Ajay Devgan.
Benegal, whose films defined Indian ‘parallel cinema movement’ from films like “Ankur”, “Mandi”, “Nishant” and “Junoon” in the 1970s and 1980s, died on Monday due to a chronic kidney disease at Walkhart Hospital in Mumbai. He was 90 years old.
Benegal’s close friend and her frequent colleague Shabana Azmi shared information about the funeral on her Instagram Stories. The funeral will be held at 3 pm on Tuesday at Shivaji Park Electric crematorium in Dadar area of Mumbai.
Bachchan paid tribute to the director in a post. He wrote, “We have lost another veteran of the film industry today. Shyam Benegal passed away. Prayer and condolences.”
Ali, who worked in “Junoon” with Benegal in 1978, said that the filmmaker made her world “very special”. He sent love to Benegal’s wife Neera and daughter Piya and wrote, “I saw something that no one else saw, imprisoned my weakness and eternity. Sensations (not enough), my heart is in turmoil. Why is life so small?”
Ali wrote in his post, “You change the canvas of the universe and teach humanity that life is a film made by our vision.”
Kapoor shared a picture with Benegal’s 2001 film “Zubaida”, in which he played the lead role. In another post on his Instagram Story, the actor shared a Behind the Scene picture with the director from the set of “Zubaida”.
He wrote in the caption, “Relax Shyam Babu. Legend forever. Your Zubaida #Shyam Benegal.”
Whether it is short films, documentaries, TV plays or a non-clarity serial, Benegal worked with similar talent in various mediums of cinema.
In an X post, documentary filmmaker Rakesh Sharma recalled his “first boss” Benegal, with whom he assisted in the Doordarshan series “Bharat Ek Khoj” based on Jawaharlal Nehru’s book “Discovery of India”.
Sharma wrote, “Discovery of India/ #India working on a 53 episode of a Khakhoj, assimilating, learning, arguing and fighting three years hard work. An incredible experience that shaped and enriched me. You will be remembered, Shyambabu!”
Benegal’s most recent work was 2023 biography “Mujib: The Making of a Nation”, the biopic of Bangladesh founder leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Bangladeshi actor Arifin Shuvo, who played the lead role in the film, shared a white-shyam picture with the filmmaker from the film’s set.
Actor Ajay Devgan wrote on X, “Your films were not just stories – they were a lesson of humanity and culture. You have left an indelible mark on all of us. Relax peacefully, Sir. Om Shanti #Shyam Benegal.”
Filmmaker Zoya Akhtar shared a picture of Benegal with her half -mother Azmi and Smita Patil, who was the actress of her acclaimed film “Nishant” at the 1976 at the Cannes Film Festival.
Akhtar wrote on Instagram, “OG Mr. Benegal. In 1976 with his film Nishant in Cannes. He was accompanied by two prominent women, who she introduced on screen, Smita Patil and Shabana Azmi. RIP Sir. Thanks to the new wave. Thanks to the movies.”
Actor Shreyas Talpade described Benegal as a “institution” in himself. The two worked together in the 2008 comedy drama “Welcome to Sajjanpur”.
Talpade wrote, “Dear Shyam sir, I consider myself fortunate to have the privilege of working with you. Every day seemed to be on the set of Welcome to Sajjanpur. Every day I seemed as if I am joining a mesmerized masterklass. Shreyas who started the film and Shreyas who went away from the set after shooting, both were different persons – this is your change.”
Actor Randeep Hooda said that Benegal will live through his unforgettable films.
Hooda wrote on X, “He inspired the lives of many people including me through his cinema. Sadly, he did not get a chance to work with him many times. Always compassionate, soft -spoken and thoughtful. He continued to do the same till the end he liked what he liked, inspiring us again. Thank you Benegal sahib.”
