Legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal, a pioneer of Indian parallel cinema, passed away on Monday at the age of 90 due to chronic kidney-related issues. He breathed his last at Mumbai's Wockhardt Hospital, as confirmed by his daughter Pia.
Known for his extraordinary contribution to art and meaningful cinema, Benegal leaves behind a legacy that shaped Indian filmmaking for generations.
Benegal was celebrated for his nuanced storytelling and socially relevant themes, evident in his iconic works such as Ankur, Mandi, Manthan, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero, Zubeidaa, Sardari Begum, and Well Done Abba. He also ventured into Telugu cinema with the film Anugraham, starring Vanisri.
Throughout his career, Benegal was honored with numerous accolades, including the Padma Shri in 1976 and the Padma Bhushan in 1991.
Shyam Benegal was born in Hyderabad and studied at Osmania University. He also founded Hyderabad Film Society.