Entertainment
Renowned film director Shyam Benegal passed away at the age of 90 on December 23, 2024. Here are 10 remarkable things to know about his life and legacy.
Shyam Benegal not only contributed iconic films but also discovered & nurtured legendary actors like Om Puri, Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, Smita Patil, & Anant Nag.
You may not know that Shyam Benegal was the second cousin of the legendary actor Guru Dutt.
Shyam Benegal shot his first film at the age of 12 using his father's camera, as his father was a photographer.
Shyam Benegal, born Shyam Sunder in 1934 into a middle-class family, went on to create a remarkable legacy in the world of cinema.
Shyam Benegal arrived in Mumbai in 1959, where he started his career as a copywriter and eventually rose to the position of creative head.
Shyam Benegal made his first documentary in 1962, and it was in Gujarati.
Shyam Benegal also taught at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, where he worked from 1966 to 1973.
Shyam Benegal initially made ad films for advertising agencies before directing his first feature film, Ankur, in 1974.
Shyam Benegal's first film, Ankur, won 43 awards, including the prestigious National Film Award. The film highlighted the struggles of farmers in Andhra Pradesh.
Shyam Benegal made India's first crowdfunded film in 1976. Five lakh farmers contributed by investing money, raising a total of Rs 2 crore for the film.