Renowned Indian filmmaker Shyam Benegal passed away at the age of 90 in Mumbai on December 25, 2024. Benegal was known for leading the parallel cinema movement in the 1970s and 1980s, which contrasted with mainstream “masala” movies. He was a faculty member and two-time chairman of the Film and Television Institute of India and received 18 national awards for his films. His last film was “Mujib: The Making of a Nation” (2023), a biopic of Bangladeshi leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Tributes poured in from personalities across various fields, with many paying homage to his contributions to Indian cinema, commitment to social issues, and dedication to secular values. His legacy will be remembered, and his impact on Indian cinema will endure.
