Directing

Shyam Benegal

Born December 14, 1934 · Alwal, Hyderabad, British India (now Andhra Pradesh, India)

Died December 23, 2024 · aged 90

Shyam Benegal (December 14, 1934–December 23, 2024) was a prolific Indian director and screenwriter. With his first four feature films Ankur (1973), Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976), and Bhumika (1977) he created a new genre, which has now come to be called the "middle cinema" in India although he himself has expressed dislike in the term preferring his work to be called New or Alternate cinema. He…

Known For

Manthan

Manthan · 1976

A veterinarian, Dr. Rao, makes a visit to a village, where he intends to commence a co-operative society dairy for the betterment of the rural people. The film is set against the backdrop of the White Revolution of India (Operation Flood) which started in 1970. It was entirely crowdfunded by 500,000 farmers who donated Rs. 2 each.

Bose: The Forgotten Hero

Bose: The Forgotten Hero · 2005

Bose: The Forgotten Hero

MovieDramaHistory

After resigning from the presidential post of the Indian National Congress, Subhas Chandra Bose plays an important role in India's freedom struggle during World War II.

Trikal

MovieDramaHistory

Set in 1961 Goa, this is a story of a rich and influential Goan family and what happens to them over a period of time. The movie is narrated in past-tense by one of the friends of the family.

Sardari Begum

Sardari Begum · 1996

MovieDramaMusic

The police were called to investigate the death of a woman who was killed during a riot by a stone thrown by an agitated person. She was known in the community as "Sardari Begum", a popular singer and courtesan in her time. This story chronicles her youth, her contacts, and her lifestyle.

Mujib: The Making of a Nation

Mujib: The Making of a Nation · 2023

Mujib: The Making of a Nation

MovieDramaHistory

Biopic on the father of the nation of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The film will showcase his growing up as a child to his standing up against all injustice in his youth to fighting for the independence of his country. How he led a country to it's independence with his inspirational presence and fight for the justice.

Welcome to Sajjanpur

Welcome to Sajjanpur · 2008

Welcome to Sajjanpur

Mahadev (Shreyas Talpade) is an unemployed graduate with a Bachelor of Arts from Satna college, who is forced to make a living writing letters for the uneducated people of his village. His real ambition is to become a novel writer. Through his humble occupation, Mahadev has the potential to impact numerous lives. The movie is a satirical, but warm-hearted portrait of life in rural India.

Mandi

MovieComedyDrama

The denizens of a brothel deal with internal drama, as well as pressure from greedy land developers and an anti-sex work politician to leave town.

Kalyug

A tale of intrigue and rivalry between two wealthy brothers as they conspire to create havoc in the other's life.

Filmography

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Manthan

Manthan · 1976

A veterinarian, Dr. Rao, makes a visit to a village, where he intends to commence a co-operative society dairy for the betterment of the rural people. The film is set against the backdrop of the White Revolution of India (Operation Flood) which started in 1970. It was entirely crowdfunded by 500,000 farmers who donated Rs. 2 each.

Director

Bose: The Forgotten Hero

Bose: The Forgotten Hero · 2005

Bose: The Forgotten Hero

MovieDramaHistory

After resigning from the presidential post of the Indian National Congress, Subhas Chandra Bose plays an important role in India's freedom struggle during World War II.

Director

Trikal

MovieDramaHistory

Set in 1961 Goa, this is a story of a rich and influential Goan family and what happens to them over a period of time. The movie is narrated in past-tense by one of the friends of the family.

Director

Sardari Begum

Sardari Begum · 1996

MovieDramaMusic

The police were called to investigate the death of a woman who was killed during a riot by a stone thrown by an agitated person. She was known in the community as "Sardari Begum", a popular singer and courtesan in her time. This story chronicles her youth, her contacts, and her lifestyle.

Director

Mujib: The Making of a Nation

Mujib: The Making of a Nation · 2023

Mujib: The Making of a Nation

MovieDramaHistory

Biopic on the father of the nation of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The film will showcase his growing up as a child to his standing up against all injustice in his youth to fighting for the independence of his country. How he led a country to it's independence with his inspirational presence and fight for the justice.

Director

Welcome to Sajjanpur

Welcome to Sajjanpur · 2008

Welcome to Sajjanpur

Mahadev (Shreyas Talpade) is an unemployed graduate with a Bachelor of Arts from Satna college, who is forced to make a living writing letters for the uneducated people of his village. His real ambition is to become a novel writer. Through his humble occupation, Mahadev has the potential to impact numerous lives. The movie is a satirical, but warm-hearted portrait of life in rural India.

Director

Mandi

MovieComedyDrama

The denizens of a brothel deal with internal drama, as well as pressure from greedy land developers and an anti-sex work politician to leave town.

Director

Kalyug

A tale of intrigue and rivalry between two wealthy brothers as they conspire to create havoc in the other's life.

Director

Ankur: The Seedling

Ankur: The Seedling · 1974

Ankur: The Seedling

In a small Indian village, a destitute woman's barren, alcoholic husband absconds after stealing toddy. Alone to fend for herself, she ends up relying on the affections of her landlord's to-be-married son who recently returned to look after the estate.

Director

Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda

Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda · 1992

Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda

MovieDramaRomance

A man shares some lazy memories about his friend, Manek Mulla, who had a knack for telling stories. On this particular afternoon, Manek narrates a 'unique' love affair with the help of different stories, various characters' point of views and the social relevance of these stories. As these stories proceed, reality mixes with fiction.

Director

Nishant

Nishant · 1975

MovieDramaCrime

A man whose wife is abducted seeks to have the culprits prosecuted for their crime, but no one will help him. Meanwhile, the wife—abused and berated by her abductors—cannot bring herself to face her husband.

Director

Hari-Bhari

Hari-Bhari · 2000

MovieFamilyDrama

The film revolves around the story of five women, belonging to different generations, each looking for emancipation and the right to run their lives their own way. The film's main theme is the issue of women's 'fertility rights' empowerment.

Director

Satyajit Ray

Satyajit Ray · 1985

MovieDocumentary

Documentary on director Satyajit Ray, featuring an extensive interview and clips from his films, and location shooting of his film "The Home and the World."

Director

Bhumika

Bhumika · 1977

MovieDramaMusic

In a world that both glamorizes and patronizes her, a successful film star begins to unravel under the weight of the roles imposed upon her, drifting between studios and her personal life as she spirals into an identity crisis.

Screenplay

Zubeidaa

Zubeidaa · 2001

MovieRomanceDrama

Zubeidaa, an aspiring Muslim actress, marries a Hindu prince to become his second wife. Her tumultuous relationship with her husband, and her inner demons lead her to a decision which has fatal consequences for them all.

Director

Mammo

Mammo is an account of a certain period in the life of Riyaz, a teenager who lives with his grandmother Fayyazi as they get a visit from his grandma’s sister Mehmooda Begum Anwar Ali, commonly known as ‘Mammo’.

Director

Well Done Abba

Well Done Abba · 2010

This is the story of Armaan Ali, a driver working for a senior executive in Mumbai. He takes a month's leave to find a husband for his teenage daughter, who lives near Hyderabad. When he is delayed and returns to work after three months, his employer threatens to sack him. But he is persuaded to listen to the reason for Armaan Ali's delay. The story he relates is delightful, hilarious -- and poignant.

Director

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar · 2000

Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar

The movie tells the story of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, known mainly for his contributions in shaping the Constitution of India, as the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constituent Assembly. He dedicated his life to fight against the evils of untouchability.

Script Consultant

Junoon

Set during the 1857 War of Independence, an obsessed Indian Nawab desires to wed a young Anglo-Indian woman, but the girl's obstinate mother stands between them.

Director

Susman

A story about the "Ikat" handloom weavers of Pochampally through the master weaver Ramulu and his family struggle in time of mass-production.

Producer

Charandas The Thief

Charandas The Thief · 1975

Charandas The Thief

Charandas, a petty thief with a sense of integrity, ends up making four vows to his teacher that ultimately wreak havoc in his life.

Director

Nehru

MovieDocumentaryHistory

Divided into three parts — The Awakening, The Struggle, and Freedom — this is a biographical film on Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of independent India. Relying on Nehru's writings and speeches, the film traces the evolution of Nehru from his birth through his life. It also deals with the effect of history on Nehru and in turn his impact on the world.

Director

Pride of India: Shama Zaidi

Pride of India: Shama Zaidi · 2011

Pride of India: Shama Zaidi

MovieDocumentary

The film starts with the earliest form of cinema and how Shama Zaidi became an integral part of the evolution of Indian Cinema.

Indian Youth: An Exploration

Indian Youth: An Exploration · 1968

Indian Youth: An Exploration

MovieDocumentary

A documentary on the life of the youth in post-Independence India.

Director

The Discovery of India

The Discovery of India · 1988

The Discovery of India

SeriesDocumentaryDrama

Bharat Ek Khoj is a 53-episode Indian historical drama based on the book The Discovery of India by Jawaharlal Nehru, that dramatically unfolds the 5000 year history of India from its beginnings to the coming of independence in 1947. The drama was directed, written and produced by Shyam Benegal with cinematographer V. K. Murthy in 1988 for state-owned Doordarshan. Benegal's regular script collaborator Shama Zaidi also co-wrote the script.

Director

Samvidhaan: The Making of the Constitution of India

Samvidhaan: The Making of the Constitution of India · 2014

Samvidhaan: The Making of the Constitution of India

SeriesDocumentary

How the constitution of the largest Democratic Republic in the world was created.

Director