Pioneer of India’s parallel cinema movement dies at 90 - Benegal, celebrated for classics like Ankur and Manthan, shaped Indian cinema with socially impactful storytelling

For those born in the late 70s and 80s, and who grew into adulthood in the 90s, the evolution of Indian television and parallel cinema is a living memory. Shyam Benegal, a visionary filmmaker whose contributions to both industries are unparalleled, was at the centre of this change. With his death, an era in Indian entertainment comes to an end.

Back in 1974, a young writer with a unique creative vision made a decision to revolutionise mainstream Indian cinema. His name was Shyam Benegal, and over the course of three decades, he pioneered the parallel cinema movement in the country.

Benegal’s first four feature films Ankur (1973), Nishant (Night’s end) (1975), Manthan (The churning) (1976) and Bhumika (The role) (1977) made him a benchmark for parallel cinema in India. His other notable works include Zubeidaa (2001) and Mammo (1994) among others.

Shyam Benegal, a pivotal figure in Indian cinema known for his incisive and socially conscious storytelling, died on Monday in Mumbai following a chronic kidney ailment, his daughter confirmed to India Today.

Shyam Benegal, who heralded a new era in Hindi cinema with the 'parallel movement' in the 1970s and 1980s with classics such as "Ankur", "Mandi" and "Manthan", died on Monday after battling chronic ki