Shyam Benegal, India's Parallel Cinema Pioneer
By: EjazUlHaqBhat
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Shyam Benegal, who heralded the Indian parallel cinema movement in the 1970s and 1980s, has died at 90
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The legendary filmmaker is survived by wife Nira Benegal and daughter, Pia Benegal
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He was admitted to the intensive care unit at Mumbai's Wockhardt Hospital just days after he turned 90 on December 14
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Shyam Benegal was born in Hyderabad to Sridhar B Benegal, a prominent photographer. He was also the second cousin of the legendary Indian auteur Guru Dutt
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Shyam Benegal started his career as a copywriter, and made his first documentary film in Gujarati, 'Gher Betha Ganga' in 1962
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His first four feature films 'Ankur' (1973), 'Nishant' (1975), 'Manthan' (1976) and 'Bhumika' (1977) made him a pioneer of the new wave film movement of that period
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His films gave the country many celebrated actors, including Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri and Smita Patil
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His cinema also drew some of the nation's great talents, including Govind Nihalani, Vanraj Bhatia, Ruskin Bond and Girish Karnad
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His most recent film was the 2023 biographical 'Mujib: The Making of a Nation'
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ndtv.com