Veritable institution, visionary: Prez Murmu, PM Modi, film industry remember Shyam Benegal

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as well as filmmakers Shekhar Kapur, Hansal Mehta, and cine stars Manoj Bajpayee, Akshay Kumar, and Kajol paid rich tributes to Shyam Benegal, remembering the director as someone who ushered in a “new kind of cinema” and whose films continue to be admired by people from different walks of life.

Benegal, one of the pioneers of the Indian parallel cinema movement in the 1970s and 1980s, died on Monday at Mumbai’s Wockhardt Hospital due to chronic kidney disease.

Known for films “Ankur”, “Mandi”, “Nishant” and “Zubeidaa”, along with TV shows “Bharat Ek Khoj” and “Samvidhaan”, the director celebrated his 90th birthday just nine days ago on December 14.

President Murmu said the passing of Benegal marks the end of a glorious chapter of Indian cinema and television.

“He started a new kind of cinema and crafted several classics. A veritable institution, he groomed many actors and artists. His extraordinary contribution was recognised in the form of numerous awards including Dadasaheb Phalke Award and Padma Bhushan. My condolences to the members of his family and his countless admirers,” she wrote in a post on X.

PM Modi said he is “deeply saddened” by the death of Benegal, whose storytelling had a profound impact on Indian cinema.

“His works will continue to be admired by people from different walks of life. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti,” he said.

Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi called Benegal ji “a visionary filmmaker” who brought India’s stories to life with depth and sensitivity.

“His legacy in cinema and commitment to social issues will inspire generations. Heartfelt condolences to his loved ones and admirers worldwide,” Gandhi wrote on X.

Filmmaker Kapur bid farewell to his “friend and guide” in a post on X.

“He created ‘the new wave’ cinema. #shyambenegal will always be remembered as the man that changed the direction of Indian Cinema with films like Ankur, Manthan and countless others. He created stars out of great actors like Shabama Azmi and Smita Patil,” the filmmaker wrote on the microblogging platform.

Addressing Benegal as Shyam Babu, as he was known to friends and collaborators, Mehta thanked the filmmaker for being an inspiration.

“Thank you for the cinema. Thank you for giving tough stories and flawed characters such amazing dignity. Truly among the last of our greats,” Mehta wrote.

Bajpayee, who worked with the director in 2001’s “Zubeidaa”, said Benegal’s death is a “heartbreaking loss” for Indian cinema.

“Shyam Benegal wasn’t just a legend, he was a visionary who redefined storytelling and inspired generations. Working with him in Zubeidaa was a transformative experience for me, exposing me to his unique style of storytelling and nuanced understanding of performances. I’ll forever be grateful for the lessons I learned under his direction,” the actor wrote on X.

Akshay Kumar said he is “pained” after learning about Benegal’s death.

“One of the finest filmmakers in our country, truly a legend.”

In her Instagram Story, Kajol said Benegal’s contributions to Indian cinema are “immeasurable and his legacy will live on through his incredible body of work”.

“Thank you for your Cinema… for stories that shaped incredible talent and for pushing boundaries and creating pride in Indian Cinema,” said producer Karan Johar on Instagram Story.

Ila Arun, who worked with Benegal in six films including “Mandi”, “Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda”, and “Welcome to Sajjanpur”, said she was “shocked and shattered” after learning about her mentor’s passing.

“I feel as if I lost my father. I couldn’t visit him on his birthday earlier this month for being in Bengaluru attending the lit-fest there, but I had wished him on phone. His voice is still echoing in my ears. It is the end of a golden cinematic era,” Arun captioned her old picture with the filmmaker on Instagram.

Actor Boman Irani on his Instagram Stories wrote a single conversation with the filmmaker meant “you were wiser, brighter, and blessed by the end of it”. He worked with Benegal in 2010’s political satire “Well Done Abba”.

In Benegal’s death, the film industry has lost “another doyen who has won national recognition with Padma Shri and later Padma Bhushan and brought Indian cinema to global fame”, said actor-MP Hema Malini.

In an X post, writer Varun Grover likened Benegal to the “rock” that appears from space and makes the primitive man human at the beginning of “2001: A Space Odyssey”, a 1968 film directed by Stanley Kubrick.

Grover said the late filmmaker was the “most far-sighted hero of the new Indian cinema”, who had the Nehru-Gandhi values at heart but carried the anger of Ambedkar-Bhagat Singh in his body.

Filmmaker Sudhir Mishra said Benegal was the best at expressing “poetry of the ordinary face and ordinary lives”.

“Much will be written about Shyam Benegal but for me not many talk about the fact that there was a lament in his films and a sadness about the fact we were not living in the best of all possible Worlds (sic)” he said in another post on X.

Telugu superstar and politician Chiranjeevi also paid tributes to Benegal, a fellow Hyderabadi.

“Deeply saddened at the departure of Shri Shyam Benegal, one of the finest film makers and great intellectuals of our country. He discovered and nurtured some of the brightest film talents of India.

“His films, biographies and documentaries form part of India’s greatest cultural treasure!!” he wrote.

“Farewell to the legendary #ShyamBenegal, the master storyteller who redefined Indian cinema with his realism and depth. His films will continue to inspire generations. Rest in peace maestro,” said Bengali star Prosenjit Chatterjee on X.