New Delhi:
Film actor Shyam Benegal, known as the pioneer of India’s parallel cinema, died at the age of 90 in Mumbai on Monday evening due to chronic kidney disease. His frequent associate Naseeruddin Shah expressed grief over his demise in an interview. Filmfare. He said, “It is impossible to explain in a few words what Shyam means to me. I wonder what I would have been if he had not believed in me when no one else had believed in me.”
He and Neera (Benegal, Shyam Benegal’s wife) were huge supports in my difficult days. He did whatever he could in his life till the end. Not many people can claim to do that.”
Naseeruddin Shah made his debut with Shyam Benagal’s film Nishant (1975). Recalling his contribution to Indian cinema, Naseeruddin Shah said in an old interview that Shyam Benegal opened doors for filmmakers who wanted to make films they believed in.
The actor told WildFilmsIndia, “The most memorable thing for me is that he gave me my first film and my first pay cheque. But the important thing about Shyam is that he opened doors for many filmmakers who wanted to make films ” believe in.
He still continues to make the kind of films he believes in and has not jumped off the bandwagon. I feel extremely honored and privileged to be a part of their work.”
The film veteran said, “The truth is that he broke the market of monolithic multi-starrer films, made small films without big stars and managed to communicate well with the audience. He was able to connect with a large group. “
Nishant It stars Girish Karnad, Amrish Puri, Shabana Azmi, Mohan Agashe, Anant Nag and Sadhu Meher, Naseeruddin Shah along with Smita Patil. The film revolves around the power of the rural elite and the sexual exploitation of women during the times of feudalism in Telangana.
The film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi in 1977. It was selected to compete for the Palme d’Or at the 1976 Cannes Film Festival. It was invited to the 1976 London Film Festival, the 1977 Melbourne International Film Festival, and the 1977 Chicago International Film Festival, where it was awarded the Golden Plaque.
Shyam Benegal and Naseeruddin Shah also worked together churn, passion, market And trikaal, among others.
