Shyam Benegal cemented himself as one of the greats as a director and filmmaker. Often regraded as the pioneer of parallel cinema, he is widely considered as one of the greatest filmmakers post 1970s. The Padma Bhushan winner breathed his last on December 23, 2024 at the age of 90 from chronic kidney disease.
Although he may be known to many Bangladeshis as the director of "Mujib: The Making of a Nation," his last film, it wasn’t one of his acclaimed works. The following are some of his best films.
Mandi (1983)
Written by: Shama Zaidi, Satyadev Dubey, Shyam Benegal and Ghulam Abbas
Starring: Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah and many others
It is a story of forbidden love, fraying loyalties and flagrant hypocrisy emerge when sanctimonious politicians drive a madam's brothel from the heart of Hyderabad.
Ankur (1974)
Written by: Satyadev Dubey and Shyam Benegal Starring: Shabana Azmi, Sadhu Meher, Anant Nag and more
The story follows Lakshmi a girl belonging to a lower caste and her deaf-mute husband Kishtayya. They both serve the landlord's son, Surya. When Surya's young wife finds out about his affair with Lakshmi, they all find themselves at crossroads.
Kalyug (1981)
Written by: Girish Karnad, Shyam Benegal, Satyadev Dubey
Starring: Shashi Kapoor, Rekha, Raj Babbar
A family feud between two businessmen brothers creates havoc in their lives, when both of them try to get a government contract by conspiring against each other.
The overall plot is based on Mahabharat. This movie shows that how the pursuit of self serving ideals even legitimizes killing of family members.
Arohan (1983)
Written by: Shama Zaidi.
Starring: Victor Banerjee, Om Puri, Noni Ganguly, Pankaj Kapur and many more.
The film follows Hari Mondal, a poor village farmer who lives in the remote Bengal village of Giripur in Birbhum district with his wife, two sons, brother, an old widowed aunt Kalidashi and her daughter Panchi. The movie opens in the mid sixties when the Naxalbari uprising is spreading across Bengal and oppressed farmers are being united by youths who believe in communism and a socialist republic.
Manthan (The Churning) (1976)
Written by: Kaifi Azmi, Shyam Benegal, and V. Kurile
Starring: Girish Karnad, Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, Anant Nag and many more.
The story revolves a young veterinary surgeon, Dr Rao, who makes a visit to a village, where he intends to commence a co-operative society dairy for the betterment of the rural people.
Nishant (1975)
Written by: Satyadev Dubey, Vijay Tendulkar
Starring: Girish Karnad, Shabana Azmi, Anant Nag and others.
A man whose wife is abducted seeks to have the culprits prosecuted for their crime, but no one will help him. Meanwhile, the wife-abused and berated by her abductors-cannot bring herself to face her husband.