Shyam Benegal dies: Veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal, a pioneer of the Indian parallel cinema movement with iconic films like Ankur, Nishant, and Manthan, passed away on Monday. He was 90. According to his daughter, Pia Benegal, the filmmaker passed away at Mumbai's Wockhardt Hospital due to 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," she said.
In his prolific career, Shyam Benegal explored diverse themes through his films, documentaries, and TV series such as Bharat Ek Khoj and Samvidhaan. He had recently celebrated his 90th birthday on December 14. His cinematic gems include Bhumika, Junoon, Mandi, Suraj Ka Satvaan Ghoda, Mammo, and Sardari Begum, many of which are regarded as Hindi cinema classics. His latest work was the 2023 biographical film Mujib: The Making of a Nation.
Full list of awards and achievements conferred to Shyam Benegal
The filmmaker has been acknowledged with numerous prestigious awards. He received the Padma Shri in 1976, the Padma Bhushan in 199, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2005. Let’s take a look at the impressive list of awards bestowed upon him.
- In 1975, Benegal was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri in 1976 and the Padma Bhushan in 1991.
- For his phenomenal contribution to the Indian film industry, Benegal was awarded Indian Cinema’s highest honour – the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2005.
- Benegal has won multiple National Film Awards for movies including, Ankur (1974), Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976), Bhumika: The Role (1977), Junoon (1978), Arohan (1982), Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero (2005) and Well Done Abba (2010).
Non-Feature Films
- Best Historical Reconstruction for Nehru in 1984.
- Best Biographical Film for Satyajit Ray in 1985.
Feature Films
- 1986 Best Director for Trikal
- 1993 Best Feature Film in Hindi for Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda
- 1995 Best Feature Film in Hindi for Mammo
- 1996 Best Feature Film in English for The Making of the Mahatma
- 1997 Best Feature Film in Urdu for Sardari Begum
- 1999 Best Feature Film for Samar
- 1999 Best Feature Film on Family Welfare for Hari-Bhari
- 2001 Best Feature Film in Hindi for Zubeidaa
- 2005 Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration for Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero
- Best Film on Other Social Issues for Well Done Abba
Filmfare Awards
- 1980 Best Director for Junoon
International recognitions
- Nominated for the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival for Nishant in 1976.
- Ankur was nominated for the Golden Berlin Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival in 1974.
- Won the Golden Prize at the Moscow International Film Festival for Kalyug in 1981.
- Nominated for the Golden St. George for Sardari Begum in 1997 at the Moscow International Film Festival.
Other honours
- Received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the All Lights India International Film Festival in 2015.
- Awarded the B. N. Reddy National Award for contribution to Indian Cinema.
- Homi Bhabha Fellowship (1970–72).
- Sovietland Nehru Award in 1989.
- D. Litt. Honoris Causa from the University of Calcutta in 2012.
- ANR National Award in 2013.
- D. Litt. Honoris Causa from ITM University, Gwalior (M.P.) in 2016.
