Shyam Benegal had a detailed and extended affiliation with Pune. It started with the Movie and Tv Institute of India (FTII) the place he taught in 1966 and later served as its chairman throughout two tenures, from 1980–83 and 1989–92. Recognized for his dedication to realism and human drama, his work in movie, theatre, pictures and tv broke new floor in Indian cinema in addition to how movie making was taught at FTII.
Dhiraj Singh, director of FTII, shared his admiration for Benegal, saying, “I by no means received an opportunity to work straight with Shyam Benegal, however I’ve seen him in varied capacities. His emotional intelligence and skill to adapt to conditions have been exceptional. As chairman of FTII, he initiated vital modifications, together with collaborations between appearing and path departments, which laid a robust basis for the institute.”
Prof Nihar Bhattacharya from the Artwork Route and Manufacturing Design Division at FTII, who labored as a sketch grasp for Benegal, recalled the various evenings he spent with him in Pune and Mumbai.
“Over drinks and dinner, Shyam usually shared his strategies for understanding cinema. He taught us the whole lot in his personal distinctive method, integrating classes into day-to-day life. Cinema is an enormous topic, however he broke it down into smaller features like manufacturing, pre-production, and post-production. He additionally emphasised understanding varied departments that have been evolving with new know-how, reminiscent of several types of cameras, sounds, and lights—whether or not for indoor or outside capturing. I used to be by no means part of Shyam’s movie shoots, however observing even from a distance how he dealt with issues on the ground was an amazing studying expertise. The way in which he managed the whole lot was exceptional. When he was on the ground, it was clear—he was the boss,” mentioned Bhattacharya, who first met Shyam Benegal as pupil in Bombay throughout a examine tour. Later he joined FTII first as a pupil after which as professor.
“His works like Ankur, Nishant and Bhumika formed our technology. His lifelike drama Ankur (1973) introduced him fame and launched Shabana Azmi and Anant Nag, incomes a number of nationwide awards,” he added.
Atharva Malpote, a movie fanatic and pupil of filmmaking at FTII, spoke of Benegal as his inspiration. He mentioned, “Shyam Benegal is my final inspiration on the earth of cinema. The way in which he approached filmmaking was nothing in need of revolutionary. He was strict and disciplined. When it got here to his craft, guaranteeing each element was excellent, but he was additionally sort, soft-hearted, and extremely empathetic. That mixture of professionalism and humanity is what makes him so extraordinary. His distinctive strategies, whether or not in storytelling, path, or collaboration with actors, set him other than everybody else. He didn’t simply make movies, he constructed legacies and touched lives.”
Shyam Benegal (December 14, 1934 – December 23, 2024), a revered determine in Indian cinema, handed away on the age of 90. A trailblazer of parallel cinema, Benegal is widely known as one of many biggest filmmakers of the post-Nineteen Seventies period. His legacy consists of 18 Nationwide Movie Awards, a Filmfare Award, and a Nandi Award, alongside the celebrated Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2005. The Authorities of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 1976 and the Padma Bhushan in 1991 for his contributions to the humanities.
Why do you have to purchase our Subscription?
You need to be the neatest within the room.
You need entry to our award-winning journalism.
You don’t need to be misled and misinformed.
Select your subscription package deal
