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Shyam Benegal

Shyam Benegal

Directing

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 the highest award in Indian cinema for lifetime achievement, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2005. He has won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi seven times. Benegal died of kidney disease on 23 December 2024 in Mumbai and is survived by his daughter.

Known For

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6.2

Host Farooq Shaikh interviews many well-known Bollywood faces as well as television celebrities and gives a peek into their private and professional lives.

Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai

2002
The Discovery of India
9.4

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.

The Discovery of India

1988
Samvidhaan: The Making of the Constitution of India
N/A

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

Samvidhaan: The Making of the Constitution of India

2014
Manthan
7.1

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.

Manthan

1976
Bhumika
6.6

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.

Bhumika

1977
Mandi
6.6

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.

Mandi

1983
Bose: The Forgotten Hero
7.5

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.

Bose: The Forgotten Hero

2005
Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda
7.6

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.

Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda

1992
Welcome to Sajjanpur
5.6

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.

Welcome to Sajjanpur

2008
Zubeidaa
5.5

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.

Zubeidaa

2001
Nishant
7.1

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.

Nishant

1975
Arohan
9.0

Hari, a poor farmer, is a victim of the prevailing agricultural system and faces abject poverty after getting exploited.

Arohan

1983
Mujib: The Making of a Nation
6.6

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.

Mujib: The Making of a Nation

2023
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar
7.7

The movie tells the story of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, known mainly for his contributions in shaping the Constitution of India, as the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constituent Assembly. He dedicated his life to fight against the evils of untouchability.

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar

2000
Trikal
8.8

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.

Trikal

1985
Kalyug
6.7

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

Kalyug

1981
Susman
8.5

A story about the "Ikat" handloom weavers of Pochampally through the master weaver Ramulu and his family struggle in time of mass-production.

Susman

1987
Mammo
5.6

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’.

Mammo

1994
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4.0

A personal portrait of director Shyam Benegal, made by his collaborator, Khalid Mohammed

The Master: Shyam Benegal

2022
The Sage from the Sea
9.5

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.

The Sage from the Sea

1978