The pioneer of parallel cinema, one of the most influential cinematic movements in the world, Shyam Benegal passed away today in Mumbai. In a career spanning more than 5 decades, Shyam Benegal made many acclaimed films, one of which, features actor Kirron Kher. Speaking to Filmfare, Kirron revealed that Shyam Benegal was more than a brilliant filmmaker, he was a man of many talents and an incredibly gifted thinker. In her own words…
I’ve always been an ardent admirer of his work especially Ankur (1974) and Bhumika (1977). Years ago, Shyam babu had asked me to do one of the supporting roles in Mandi (1983) and I had refused. I told him I’d do a lead role for him someday and as luck would have it, he offered me Sardari Begum (1996). I had just finished shooting for Kalpana Lajmi’s Darmiyaan (1997) and this challenge came to me.
I was nervous as hell on day one but working with him was such smooth sailing, he never over-directed you. If he was satisfied that you had delivered, he never asked for a retake. I enjoyed the musical milieu of the film and inhabiting a singer’s persona was so much fun. I remember doing the thumri in a blue saree in one take.
My heart goes out to Nira (Benegal, Shyam Benegal’s wife) and his daughter Pia. Shyam babu could talk on any topic under the sun – medicine, psychology, the cosmos. Most film people talk about only films. But he had a brilliant mind, he could speak about anything. He also wore his erudition very lightly.
I won my first National Award, the Special Jury Award for Sardari Begum.
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