Shyam Benegal wasn’t just a director; he was a storyteller who reshaped the filmmaking in India. Recognised as a towering figure in Indian cinema, Shyam Benegal passed away on December 23, 2024, at the age of 90. According to his daughter, he succumbed to a chronic kidney disease, a condition he had been battling for years. With his passing, Indian cinema has lost a visionary director who gave voice to many untold narratives.
Born on December 14, 1934, in Hyderabad (Telangana), Benegal discovered his love for storytelling at a young age. When he was 12 years old, he had made his first short film, Chuttiyon Mein Mauj-Maza, which was shot on a camera gifted to him by his father.
This experiment was a small glimpse of the remarkable career that lay ahead of him. It would be a journey that would merge his curiosity about the human condition with his cinematic genius.
Growing up, Benegal witnessed India’s transition from colonisation to Independence, a transformation that shaped his view of the world and deeply influenced his work.
Benegal began his professional journey working in advertising, directing commercials. This format allowed him to hone his skills before he set out to follow his heart and try his hand at directing feature films. His debut film, Ankur (1973), was an exploration of caste and gender dynamics in rural India and introduced audiences to Shabana Azmi, who would go on to become one of the most revered actors in Indian cinema. The film’s unflinching honesty foretold Benegal’s future as a formidable filmmaker.
After Ankur, his next works came in quick succession and cemented his legacy. There was Nishant (1975), where he explored the abuse of power by feudal lords and the resilience of ordinary villagers. Next was Manthan (1976), which became India’s first crowdfunded feature film. Some 500,000 farmers paid two Indian rupees each to help tell the story of a milk cooperative and the power of grassroots collective action. Bhumika (1977) was a raw portrayal of a woman’s journey of love, ambition and self-discovery. Each film touched on the social and political realities of post-Independence India, painting portraits of marginalised communities with sensitivity and authenticity.
Photo: White Star
In 1978, he directed Junoon, which captured the chaos of the 1857 revolt through the lens of a doomed romance. Set in the South Indian city of Hyderabad, Mandi (1983) exposed the hypocrisies that surrounded sex work and morality. Kalyug (1981) retold the Mahabharata as a corporate family’s battle for power. Benegal’s stories were always about people: flawed, complex and very real.
He wasn’t just creating films; he was creating mirrors for society to examine itself in.
His films in the seventies were revolutionary, not just for their bold storytelling but for how they contrasted with escapism prevalent in mainstream Hindi cinema. He focused on real stories, often about marginalised communities, with a focus on the lives and struggles of women. His refusal to gloss over these depictions struck a chord with audiences, both in India and abroad, and paved the way for actors like Shabana Azmi, Om Puri and Naseeruddin Shah to become icons of what were then widely referred to as ‘art films.’
Benegal studied the power of storytelling and socially conscious themes from the Russian pioneers Sergei Eisenstein and Vsevolod Pudovkin. The legendary Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray (about whom Benegal made a documentary) inspired him to explore social realities, which helped him craft his own unique voice.
He spent years making industrial and public service films where he explored the social complexities of his country. From steel manufacturing to artificial cattle insemination, he directed films on almost every topic. These projects often took him to the heart of rural India, where he gained profound insight into the everyday challenges faced by ordinary people. He often described filmmaking as a way to document and understand the changes unfolding in society around him.
Photo: White Star
To honour his legacy, Doordarshan, India’s public broadcaster, screened Manthan on New Year’s Day in 2025. The tribute served as a reminder of his work’s ability to spark conversations about justice and humanity several decades after its release. Top Bollywood director Sanjay Leela Bhansali once said that Benegal’s films were “a masterclass in courage and originality.” They inspired others to embrace authenticity over hackneyed and formulaic storytelling.
Over his career, Benegal won 18 National Film Awards across categories like direction, screenplay and best film. He received the Padma Shri in 1976, the Padma Bhushan in 1991 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2005 – India’s highest recognition in cinema.
Benegal also directed the acclaimed TV series Bharat Ek Khoj, based on Jawaharlal Nehru’s book The Discovery of India. He also deeply influenced younger Indian filmmakers like Mira Nair, Ashutosh Gowariker and Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra. They have all spoken about how his work shaped their vision and how he mentored them, encouraging them to experiment.
Shyam Benegal leaves behind a legacy of courage, authenticity and humanity. His films were powerful experiences that stayed with you long after the credits rolled. They reminded us of the power of storytelling to change lives.
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