The Indian film industry mourns the loss of Shyam Benegal, a prolific filmmaker known for his groundbreaking work in parallel cinema. His influential career spanned over five decades and earned him numerous awards, including the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India's highest honour in cinema. As we bid farewell to this visionary director, his contributions to Indian film history will be forever remembered and continue to inspire future generations of filmmakers.
Indian cinema mourns the loss of legendary filmmaker Shyam Benegal, who passed away at the age of 90 after battling a kidney ailment. Known for his socially-conscious and nuanced portrayal of real-life struggles, Benegal's work broke the mold of commercial cinema and became the gold standard for parallel cinema in India. From his early career as a documentary filmmaker to his critically acclaimed feature films such as Ankur, Bhumika, and Mandi, Benegal's legacy will continue to inspire generations of filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts.
The Cannes Film Festival this year is making headlines as Shyam Benegal's 1976 film Manthan becomes the first Indian film to be screened at the prestigious Cannes Classics section. The star-studded gala premiere saw the likes of Naseeruddin Shah, Girish Karnad, Smita Patil, and Amrish Puri representing Indian cinema on a global platform. The pictures from the event show the excitement of the attendees, including Naseeruddin Shah, his wife Ratna Pathak Shah, and Prateik Babbar, among others. This is a major milestone for Indian cinema and a proud moment for all those involved in the making of the film.
Celebrating cinema, the 77th edition of Cannes Film Festival will showcase the iconic Indian film Manthan, directed by Shyam Benegal and starring late actress Smita Patil, in its "Cannes Classics" section. The film, which depicts the White Revolution in India through the pioneering milk cooperative movement of Dr Verghese Kurien, will be a significant milestone for Indian cinema at the prestigious international festival. Along with Patil, Manthan also features notable actors like Naseeruddin Shah, Girish Karnad, Anant Nag, and Amrish Puri.