Shyam Benegal (1934-2024): A Filmmaker Who Was the Voice for the Voiceless

Legendary Indian parallel cinema filmmaker Shyam Benegal passed away in 2024, but his films would always remain a different class of filmmakers due to their sensitive approach towards portrayals of the marginalized society and bold exploration into societal issues.

From the landmark Ankur (1974) to Manthan (1976) and Bhumika (1977), his films told the story of the underprivileged and brought stories to the fore that mainstream cinema would never speak of. Benegal’s storytelling is very rooted in realism; he portrays rural and urban India with sensitivity and depth.

A Padma Bhushan and several National Film Award winner, Benegal did not limit his influence to only cinema. He had been a shaper and transformer of India’s cultural and intellectual discourse. His contributions on television also included the epoch-making series Bharat Ek Khoj. Benegal’s work continues to inspire generations of filmmakers using cinema as a tool of change, and stories would live on forever-unending.