Shyam Benegal: A filmmaker who recognized the brilliance of Malayalam cinema

Veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal, who passed away at the age of 90 on Monday, was a great admirer of Malayalam cinema.

Known for his contributions to the new wave of Indian cinema, Benegal’s deep respect for Malayalam films was widely acknowledged. In an old interview with Deccan Chronicle, he openly praised the unique qualities of Malayalam cinema.

Benegal, whose films like Ankur (1973) and Nishant (1975) shaped the parallel cinema movement, said, “...In the mid-1950s, we had directors like Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak who came forward to make an alternative kind of film, providing quality content the audience was seeking..."

He observed that, around the same time, Kerala too developed a strong filmmaking tradition that was both experimental and rooted in social realism, with directors like G. Aravindan, Adoor Gopalakrishnan, and K.G. George leading the way.

He also pointed out that Malayalam films maintained high standards in terms of storytelling, technical expertise, and character-driven narratives.

Benegal’s praise for Kerala’s film culture was significant, especially since he believed that the state’s audiences were among the most film-aware in the country.

Shyam Benegal’s death marks the end of an era for Indian cinema, but his legacy will live on in the form of the alternative filmmaking movement he championed.

The filmmaker passed away at Mumbai's Wockhardt Hospital due to chronic kidney disease, Pia Benegal told PTI.

"He passed away at 6.38 pm at Wockhardt Hospital Mumbai Central. He had been suffering from chronic kidney disease for several years but it had gotten very bad. That's the reason for his death," she said.

Wockhardt Hospital sources said Benegal had been admitted in the ICU.

In his prolific career, Benegal made films on diverse issues, documentaries and television serials, including "Bharat Ek Khoj" and "Samvidhaan". He had celebrated his 90th birthday just 10 days ago on December 14.