Shyam Benegal

Director

December 14, 1934 (90 years)

† December 23, 2024

Alwal, Hyderabad, British India (now Andhra Pradesh, India)

Biography

Shyam Benegal (December 14, 1934–December 23, 2024) was a prolific Indian director and screenwriter. With his first four feature films Ankur (1973), Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976), and Bhumika (1977) he created a new genre, which has now come to be called the "middle cinema" in India although he himself has expressed dislike in the term preferring his work to be called New or Alternate cinema. He was awarded the Padma Shri in 1976 and the Padma Bhushan in 1991. On 8 August 2007, he was awarded …

Filmography

9.4

The Discovery of India

Bharat Ek Khoj is a 53-episode Indian historical drama based on the book The Discovery of India by Jawaharlal Nehru, that dramatically unfolds the 5000 year history of India from its beginnings to the coming of independence in 1947. The drama was directed, written and produced by Shyam Benegal with cinematographer V. K. Murthy in 1988 for state-owned Doordarshan. Benegal's regular script collaborator Shama Zaidi also co-wrote the script.

6.7

Manthan

A veterinarian, Dr. Rao, makes a visit to a village, where he intends to commence a co-operative society dairy for the betterment of the rural people. The film is set against the backdrop of the White Revolution of India (Operation Flood) which started in 1970. It was entirely crowdfunded by 500,000 farmers who donated Rs. 2 each.

N/A

Samvidhaan: The Making of the Constitution of India

How the constitution of the largest Democratic Republic in the world was created.

7.5

Bose: The Forgotten Hero

After resigning from the presidential post of the Indian National Congress, Subhas Chandra Bose plays an important role in India's freedom struggle during World War II.

5.2

Zubeidaa

Zubeidaa, an aspiring Muslim actress, marries a Hindu prince to become his second wife. Her tumultuous relationship with her husband, and her inner demons lead her to a decision which has fatal consequences for them all.

5.6

Welcome to Sajjanpur

Mahadev (Shreyas Talpade) is an unemployed graduate with a Bachelor of Arts from Satna college, who is forced to make a living writing letters for the uneducated people of his village. His real ambition is to become a novel writer. Through his humble occupation, Mahadev has the potential to impact numerous lives. The movie is a satirical, but warm-hearted portrait of life in rural India.

6.6

Mandi

The denizens of a brothel deal with internal drama, as well as pressure from greedy land developers and an anti-sex work politician to leave town.

6.6

Bhumika

In a world that both glamorizes and patronizes her, a successful film star begins to unravel under the weight of the roles imposed upon her, drifting between studios and her personal life as she spirals into an identity crisis.

8.8

Trikal

Set in 1961 Goa, this is a story of a rich and influential Goan family and what happens to them over a period of time. The movie is narrated in past-tense by one of the friends of the family.

8.4

Sardari Begum

The police were called to investigate the death of a woman who was killed during a riot by a stone thrown by an agitated person. She was known in the community as "Sardari Begum", a popular singer and courtesan in her time. This story chronicles her youth, her contacts, and her lifestyle.

6.7

Kalyug

A tale of intrigue and rivalry between two wealthy brothers as they conspire to create havoc in the other's life.

7.6

Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda

A man shares some lazy memories about his friend, Manek Mulla, who had a knack for telling stories. On this particular afternoon, Manek narrates a 'unique' love affair with the help of different stories, various characters' point of views and the social relevance of these stories. As these stories proceed, reality mixes with fiction.

9.5

The Sage from the Sea

The film involves the life of a young man who comes to believe that he has been bestowed supernatural powers. As the story unfolds, this boon eventually leads to a tragedy.

7.1

Nishant

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.

6.5

Mujib: The Making of a Nation

Biopic on the father of the nation of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The film will showcase his growing up as a child to his standing up against all injustice in his youth to fighting for the independence of his country. How he led a country to it's independence with his inspirational presence and fight for the justice.

5.7

Junoon

Set during the 1857 War of Independence, an obsessed Indian Nawab desires to wed a young Anglo-Indian woman, but the girl's obstinate mother stands between them.

5.6

Mammo

Mammo is an account of a certain period in the life of Riyaz, a teenager who lives with his grandmother Fayyazi as they get a visit from his grandma’s sister Mehmooda Begum Anwar Ali, commonly known as ‘Mammo’.

6.2

Ankur: The Seedling

In a small Indian village, a destitute woman's barren, alcoholic husband absconds after stealing toddy. Alone to fend for herself, she ends up relying on the affections of her landlord's to-be-married son who recently returned to look after the estate.

6.0

Hari-Bhari

The film revolves around the story of five women, belonging to different generations, each looking for emancipation and the right to run their lives their own way. The film's main theme is the issue of women's 'fertility rights' empowerment.

6.8

Satyajit Ray

Documentary on director Satyajit Ray, featuring an extensive interview and clips from his films, and location shooting of his film "The Home and the World."