Benegal, a decisive figure in Indian cinema, died at the age of 90 on Monday at Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai Central, where he was undergoing treatment for chronic kidney disease.
In a post on X, the president wrote, “The demise of Mr. Shyam Benegal marks the end of a glorious chapter in Indian cinema and television. He started a new kind of cinema and created many classics. A true institution, he groomed many actors. And his extraordinary contribution He was recognized with many awards including Dadasaheb Phalke Award and Padma Bhushan.Condolences to his family members and his countless fans.”
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar also condoled the demise of the veteran filmmaker, saying, “Saddened by the demise of Mr. Shyam Benegal ji. A Padma Bhushan recipient and a visionary filmmaker, his pioneering works greatly enriched the landscape of Indian cinema.”
“Mr Benegal’s path-breaking films addressed social realities with unparalleled depth and sensitivity. His contribution to art, culture and storytelling will always be remembered with deep respect. My deepest condolences to his family and fans at this difficult time,” he wrote in the post. X.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said Benegal’s death was an irreparable loss to the art and film industry.
In a post on X on Hindi, he said, “I mourn the passing away of renowned film director, screenwriter and producer Mr. Shyam Benegal Ji. Shyam Benegal Ji played an important role in establishing Indian cinema on the world stage. Passed away. Recipient of many prestigious national and international awards. Gurney Mr. Benegal is an irreparable loss to the art and film industry, may the departed soul rest in peace and bereaved family and fans.
Benegal’s death drew heartfelt condolences from celebrities, politicians and fans nationwide, all mourning the loss of a visionary director who played a pivotal role in reshaping Indian cinema.
Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan also condoled the death of Shyam Benegal and expressed deep grief over the demise of the veteran filmmaker, director and screenwriter.
In his condolence message, the Governor wrote, “Mr. Shyam Benegal belonged to the rare league of exceptionally gifted filmmakers who left an indelible mark on the world of cinema through his pioneering contributions to parallel cinema. His masterpieces like Ankur, Nishant and Manthan were screened. He portrayed social reality. Courage also gave the nation the iconic television series Bharat Ek Search, which connects the audience with our glorious past, India has lost a talented filmmaker who has inspired generations of storytellers. And my deepest condolences to his family.”
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde also expressed grief over the death of the veteran director and said, ‘Padma Shri Shyam Benegal, who presented the struggles and questions of the common man through films, has created a great void in the film industry. Films maintaining social bonds”.
In his condolence message, Shinde said, “Shyam Benegal was known as a director who used to comment on the social situation of the time without showing any disturbance in his films. The stories and issues he presented in his films were truly thought provoking and listenable. His film ‘Ankur’ The whole world had to pay attention to it.
“He not only made films but also made serials like ‘Bharat Ek Khoj’, which received good response from all scholars. Shyam Benegal’s name is considered among the directors who started the movement of parallel films in Indian cinema. He has passed away. The era of parallel cinema is over,” Dy CM Shinde said.
Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Pawan Kalyan has also expressed grief over the death of Benegal. “May the soul of Shyam Benegal rest in peace. I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing away of renowned filmmaker Shyam Benegal. I pray to God that his soul rest in peace. Shyam Benegal was a visionary director who brought realistic stories to life. The characters he portrayed on the silver screen reflected the real state of society. I was surprised to hear that he crowd-funded his iconic film Manthan, from Amul Dairy Farmers 2 each, in which he established a unique style in Indian cinema Shyam Benegal,” said Pawan Kalyan.
Bollywood star Akshay Kumar also condoled the demise of the veteran filmmaker and wrote, “Sad to hear the news of Shyam Benegal Ji’s demise. One of the best filmmakers of our country, truly a great. Om Shanti.”
Benegal’s films, including Ankur, Nishant, Manthan and Bhumika, established him as a pioneer of the Indian parallel cinema movement in the 1970s and 1980s.
Benegal was awarded the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi seven times and in 2018 V. Received the Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award.
Born on December 14, 1934 in a Konkani-speaking Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmin family in Hyderabad, Benegal collaborated extensively with actors from FTII and NSD, including Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri, Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi, Kulbhushan Kharband and Amrish Pushree.
His films left an indelible impression on audiences, addressing relevant socio-political themes with remarkable depth.