Biography of Shyam Benegal

(14th December, 1934)

A great director Shyam Benegal originated what has come to be called Middle Cinema. He was initially involved in the advertising industry and produced over 900 advertisements before his interest turned to films.

His first feature film in Hindi was ‘Ankur'. It had a powerful performance by Shabana Azmi. The film had the merit of bringing the problem of feudal and patriarchal structure to the fore. The film ‘Nishan', again starring Shabana Azmi, demonstrated the evil of sexual exploitation of women in the feudal society.

In the film ‘Manthan', Benegal introduced a westernised doctor to a village who sparks off an uprising of the local untouchables. Interestingly, the film was financed by 5,00,000 members of a milk cooperative in Gujarat. He made "Bhumika' based on actor Hansa Wadakar's autobiography. His other films include 'Suraj ka Satvan Ghora', 'Sardari Begum’, ‘Kalyug’ and "The Making of the Mahatma'.