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Manthan filmmaker Shyam Benegal passes away aged 90; daughter confirms
Renowned Indian filmmaker and Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner Shyam Benegal took his last breath on Monday, December 23, 2024.
Trigger Warning: This article includes mentions of death.
Renowned filmmaker and Dadasaheb Phalke Award winner Shyam Benegal died on December 23, 2024. Credited for making films like Manthan, Ankur, and Zubeidaa, the filmmaker made some of the most critically acclaimed films in Hindi cinema. He celebrated his 90th birthday a week ago.
The veteran filmmaker's daughter Pia Benegal, confirmed to India Today, that Shyam Benegal passed away at 90. He was reportedly suffering from a chronic kidney-related ailment and took his last breath at 6:30 PM. He was admitted to Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai for treatment, and the news shocked the film industry and his fans.
He had celebrated his birthday a week ago, on December 14, 2024, when he was joined by his friends, family, and colleagues from the film industry. Some popular guests included Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Divya Dutta, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, and Kunal Kapoor.
The director, who made his first film using a camera gifted by his father at 12, made some of the finest films in Hindi cinema during the '70s and 89s. He is widely regarded as one of the leading figures who made way for parallel cinema in the country.
In his interview before his birthday, Shyam mentioned visiting the hospital thrice a week while continuing to work. In an interview with PTI, he said, "I'm working on two to three projects; they are all different from one another. It's difficult to say which one I will make. They are all for the big screen."
Shyam was known for films in which women played a central role and themes addressing social issues. He was known for showcasing these issues in depth and with sensitivity to inspire a generation of filmmakers.
He made some popular films like Ankur, Manthan, Mandi (1983), and Karisma Kapoor starrer Zubeidaa. Moreover, Benegal was honored with multiple awards in his career, like the 18 National Film Awards, the Padma Shri in 1976, the Padma Bhushan in 1991, and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2005, the highest honor in Indian cinema.
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