Indian New Wave Cinema Architect Shyam Benegal Dies at Age 90

Benegal was admitted to the intensive care unit at Mumbai's Wockhardt Hospital, just days after he turned 90 on Dec 14.

His daughter Pia Benegal said her father was suffering from chronic kidney disease. "He passed away at 6.38 pm at Wockhardt Hospital Mumbai Central. He had been suffering from chronic kidney disease for several years but it had gotten very bad. That's the reason for his death," Pia said.

The pioneer of what used to be known as parallel cinema or New Wave in India during the 1970s, the director, screen writer and documentary filmmaker won 18 National Film Awards besides winning the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

Benegal is also known for launching or playing cardinal roles in the careers of actors like Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah and Om Puri, all part of the glorious Indian serious cinema movement in the 1970s and 1980s.

He began his feature film making journey with Ankur (The Seedling) in 1973 introducing actors like Shabana Azmi and Anant Nag. The film won the 1975 National Film Award for Second Best Feature Film while Shabana won the National Film Award for Best Actress.

After Ankur he made Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976) and Bhumika (1977). Benegal used a variety of new actors, mainly from the FTII and NSD, such as Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi, Kulbhushan Kharbanda and Amrish Puri.

He launched Smita Patil in 1975 with the film Charandas Chor.  For Bhumika (1977) she won her first National Film Award for Best Actress.

A recipient of Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan, Benegal was conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke in 2005.

Benegal's films, Mammo (1994), along with Sardari Begum (1996) and Zubeidaa (2001 starring Karishma Kapoor) all of which won National Film Awards for Best Feature Film in Hindi, form the Muslim women Trilogy.

His last feature film was Mujib: The Making of a Nation in 2023, an epic biographical film based on the life of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the founding father and first president of Bangladesh. 

In 2004 he also made a biopic on Indian freedom struggle hero Subhas Bose, titled Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero.

He was awarded the V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.

"As long as I have the strength and my mind works, I’d like to make movies," Benegal said in an interview earlier this year.

Born on Dec 14, 1934 in Hyderabad, his father Sridhar B. Benegal was prominent in the field of photography.

Shyam Benegal started his career as a copywriter and made his first Documentary film in Gujarati, Gher Betha Ganga (Ganges at the Doorstep) in 1962.

His first four feature films Ankur (1973), Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976) and Bhumika (1977) made him a pioneer of the new wave film movement of that period. 

Reactions:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled his death in an X post. He said Benegal's storytelling had a profound impact on Indian cinema. 

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi expressed grief on Benegal's death and posted: "Saddened by the passing of Shyam Benegal ji, a visionary filmmaker who brought India’s stories to life with depth and sensitivity. His legacy in cinema and commitment to social issues will inspire generations. Heartfelt condolences to his loved ones and admirers worldwide."

Lamenting his death, filmmaker Shekhar Kapur wrote: "He created ‘the new wave’ cinema. #shyambenegal will always be remembered as the man that changed the direction of Indian Cinema with films like Ankur, Manthan and countless others. He created stars out great actors like Shabama Azmi and Smita Patil. Farewell my friend and guide."

Mourning his death, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor wrote: "Mourning the passing of #ShyamBenegal, a giant of India’s New Wave cinema who leaves a considerable body of cinematic accomplishment behind. My sisters and i knew him since our childhood, when he was an advertising professional who photographed them as the first 'Amul Babies'."