By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 3 Jan: Doon Library and Research Centre (DLRC) organised a programme today to remember Shyam Benegal, showcasing short films based on his documentary films, major projects, and works.
The programme included a documentary film made by Iram Gufraan in collaboration with PSBT, and two interviews in which Shyam Benegal shares his inspirations and work processes in reference to his two important works – ‘Bhoomika’, an early film, and ‘Bharat Ek Khoj’, an epic television series made for Doordarshan.
Finally, a musical short film based on Indian classical music gurus Mallikarjun Mansur and Rajashekhar Mansur was shown.
Iram Gufraan’s work is a documentary based on Shyam Benegal’s films, exploring the era of the new cinema movement in India, its ethos, and concerns through his work.
This is an attempt to peek into the mind of the great filmmaker and understand his inspirations and impulses for making cinema.
This musical film is a tribute to Mallikarjun Mansur and Rajashekhar Mansur.
It showcases the unique Indian ability to remain grounded and connected to one’s humble origins even after achieving great heights of artistic success.
Essentially, it is a film inspired by the Bodhisattva sentiment.
Notably, Shyam Benegal (December 14, 1934 – December 23, 2024) was an Indian film director, screenwriter, and documentary filmmaker. He is often referred to as the pioneer of parallel cinema and is widely regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of India after the 1970s.
He received eighteen National Film Awards, a Filmfare Award, and a Nandi Award, among others. In 2005, he was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest award in cinema.
In 1976, he was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, and in 1991, he was awarded the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian honour, for his contributions to the arts.
He passed away on 23 December 2024, at the age of 90, at the Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai.
He made his first documentary film, Ghher Betha Ganga (At the Doors of Ganga), in Gujarati in 1962.
Benegal’s first four feature films – Ankur (1973), Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976), and Bhumika (1977) – made him a pioneer of the new wave film movement of the time.
Benegal’s “Muslim Women Trilogy” films – Mammo (1994), Sardari Begum (1996), and Zubeidaa (2001) – all won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.
Benegal has won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi seven times. He was awarded the V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018.
The programme began with a welcome address by Chandrashekhar Tewari, Programme Associate of the Centre. Nicholas, Programme Advisor, moderated the event.
The occasion was attended by writers, journalists, litterateurs, and young readers, including Vibha Puri Das, Naval Sharma, Malvika Chauhan, Biju Negi, Ashwini Tyagi, KB Nautiyal, Dayanand Arora, Alok Sarin, AP Singh, Sunder Singh Bisht, Kalyan Butola, Usha Naudiyal, Asha Ravi Shankar, Varsha Negi, MS Rawat, Arun Asafal and Dr Lalita Prasad.
