Shyam Benegal

Shyam Benegal
Shyam Benegal at his office in Mumbai in 2010
Born (1934-12-14) 14 December 1934 (age 89)
Occupation(s)Film director, screenwriter
WorksFull list
SpouseNira Benegal
Children1
RelativesGuru Dutt (cousin)
Awards1976 Padma Shri
1991 Padma Bhushan
2005 Dadasaheb Phalke Award
2013 ANR National Award
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
16 February 2006 – 15 February 2012

Shyam Benegal (born 14 December 1934) is an Indian film director, screenwriter and documentary filmmaker. Often regarded as the pioneer of parallel cinema, he is widely considered as one of the greatest filmmakers post 1970s.[1] He has received several accolades, including eighteen National Film Awards, a Filmfare Award and a Nandi Award. In 2005, he was honoured with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest award in the field of cinema. In 1976, he was honoured by the Government of India with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian honour of the country, and in 1991, he was awarded Padma Bhushan,[2] the third-highest civilian honour for his contributions in the field of arts.

Benegal was born in Hyderabad to Sridhar B. Benegal who was prominent in the field of photography.[3] Starting his career as a copywriter, he made his first Documentary film in Gujarati, Gher Betha Ganga (Ganges at the Doorstep) in 1962. Benegal's 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.[4] Benegal's films, Mammo (1994), along with Sardari Begum (1996) and Zubeidaa (2001) all of which won National Film Awards for Best Feature Film in Hindi, form the Muslim women Trilogy.[5] Benegal has won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi seven times. He was awarded the V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.

  1. ^ "Shyam-e-ghazal". The Tribune. 29 January 2006. Archived from the original on 10 December 2021. Retrieved 10 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 October 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  3. ^ Rathor, Swati (26 January 2018). "Picture perfect: A 'flash' from the past, but 'focus' on future". The Time of India. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  4. ^ "Google". www.google.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2007. Retrieved 5 January 2020.
  5. ^ Hudson, Dale (9 October 2012). "NYUAD Hosts Shyam Benegal Retrospective". New York University Abu Dhabi. Retrieved 14 September 2021.