The connoisseur of "new cinema" Shyam Benegal honored with V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award

Mumbai, February 4: Father of “middle cinema” in India, the veteran director Shyam Benegal has been conferred upon the V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award. The director received the award on Saturday in Mumbai International Film Festival. An independent committee comprising several experts ,taking note of his significant contribution to the growth and sustenance of documentary movements in India.

The V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award for contribution to the documentary movement is conferred on a veteran filmmaker at every MIFF organized by Films Division. The award is instituted in memory of legendary filmmaker V Shantaram, who was closely associated with the Films Division as Honorary Chief Producer during the 1950s.

A brief description of the maestro's work:

The area of Benegal’s expertisation in the industry is spread across a wide area. The director, who started his journey from advertisements, touched different kind of genres in filmmaking. The native of Andhra Pradesh, produced over 900 advertisements before his interest turned to films. His first feature film Ankur portrays the problem of feudal and patriarchal structures to the fore. His second film Nishant is also about the oppression of women, Bhumika is about a woman’s dilemma of the need for security as well as insistence on freedom. Definitely, he was criticized for his “un-Indian” approach in Indian cinema.

The feature film director also excelled in documentary taking it to another level.The documentary-style film-making, represented by films like Manthan (Milkmen), Susman (Handloom Weavers), Antarnaad (Fishermen), Samar (Dalits’ equal opportunities), Hari-Bhari (Women’s right of reproduction). From the themes of his works, it is clearly understandable that the anger against social and political exploitation was deep-rooted in his mind. In early days of his career, he was highly influenced by Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak. His association with various film clubs also broadened his mindscape.

Ankur, Nishant, Manthan, and Bhumika will always be remembered for starting the new cinema wave in Hindi cinema. His films were also commercial hits for his unique style of funding. The film activist never relied on production houses to evade the compromising of film ethics. Benegal introduced a number of talented actors in his films including Om Puri, Naseeruddin Shah, Smita Patil, Shabana Azmi, Anant Nag, Amrish Puri, Mohan Agashe and Kulbhushan Kharbanda.