PremiumRemembering Shyam Benegal: From Ankur to Zubeidaa, watch timeless movies of legendary filmmaker on OTT
Shyam Benegal, who passed away at 90, was a filmmaker who captured the soul of India through the lens of cinema.
Last Updated: 09.39 PM, Dec 23, 2024
Shyam Benegal, a titan of Indian cinema, passed away on December 23, 2024, at the age of 90, leaving behind a legacy that reshaped the narrative and aesthetic contours of Indian filmmaking. A pioneer of the parallel cinema movement, Benegal’s illustrious career spanned decades, marked by a profound exploration of social realities, historical narratives, and the human condition. Through his thought-provoking films, Benegal gave voice to marginalised communities and delved into themes of class struggle, gender politics, and cultural identity, earning him both critical acclaim and numerous national film awards.
From debuting with Ankur in 1974 to helming masterpieces such as Nishant, Manthan, and Zubeidaa, Benegal’s work remains a testament to the transformative power of cinema. His films, rich in storytelling and artistic depth, continue to resonate with audiences and serve as a guiding light for generations of filmmakers.
Listed below are the Shyam Benegal films streaming on OTT
Ankur - ShemarooMe (OTTplay Premium)
Shyam Benegal's first feature film, Ankur (1974), featured debut performances by Anant Nag and Shabana Azmi. It was this film that marked Shabana Azmi's cinematic debut, though she had appeared in prior roles. An actual event that took place in Hyderabad, seemingly in the 1950s, serves as the inspiration for the tale. Ankur received three National Film Awards.
This film dramatises the realities of class strife and inequality. The story begins when Lakshmi, a beautiful village labourer played by Shabana Azmi, becomes pregnant as a result of an affair with her young employer, Surya, played by Anant Nag.
Nishant - Prime Video; ShemarooMe (OTTplay Premium)
Shyam Benegal directed Nishant, a 1975 drama film based on a screenplay by renowned writer Vijay Tendulkar, with words by Satyadev Dubey. Along with Smita Patil and Naseeruddin Shah, the film contains an ensemble of parallel cinema performers such as Girish Karnad, Amrish Puri, Shabana Azmi, Mohan Agashe, Anant Nag, and Sadhu Meher. During the feudal era in Telangana (now Hyderabad State) in the 1940s and 1950s, the video highlights the sexual exploitation of women and the authority of the rural elite. The National Film Awards named it the best Hindi feature film of 1977.
In the film, a wealthy landowner fathers an illegitimate child named Vishwam. Despite lacking the vices of his brothers, Vishwam kidnaps Sushila, the schoolmaster's wife, out of pure passion for her.
Manthan - ZEE5 (OTTplay Premium)
Shyam Benegal wrote and directed Manthan in 1976, co-writing it with Vijay Tendulkar, based on Verghese Kurien's groundbreaking milk cooperative program. The Indian White Revolution provides the background. This project was not only a huge success in terms of laborious metrics, but it also proved the strength of "collective might," thanks to the 500,000 farmers who contributed Rs. 2 each through crowdsourcing. The inaugural crowdfunded Indian feature film was Manthan. In 1977, the film took home two major awards: one for best feature film in Hindi and one for best screenplay, both of which went to Vijay Tendulkar.
The protagonist, Dr. Rao, a young veterinary surgeon, travels to a rural community with the intention of starting a cooperative society dairy for the benefit of the locals.
Bhumika - ShemarooMe (OTTplay Premium)
Shyam Benegal helmed the 1977 film Bhumika, featuring actors such as Amol Palekar, Smita Patil, Anant Nag, Naseeruddin Shah, and Amrish Puri. The film revolves around an individual's journey towards self-realisation and fulfilment, drawing inspiration from the Marathi memoirs Sangtye Aika of the renowned 1940s Marathi stage and screen actress Hansa Wadkar, known for her eccentric and extravagant lifestyle. As she matures from a vibrant adolescent to a wise but profoundly hurt middle-aged woman, Smita Patil delivers a powerful performance. The film won two National Film Awards.
Usha's devdasi heritage exposes her to exploitation from a young age. Initially, Keshav Dalvi (Amol Palekar), her self-centred spouse, aims to exploit her abilities by managing her career. She seeks solace in the company of Rajan (Anant Nag), a rising star, after catching a glimpse of his plans, but he rejects her despite pretending to love her. Naseeruddin Shah, the director who first woos Usha with his flowery ideas about love and life, finally gives in and just does it. Amrish Puri's portrayal of Vinayak Kale, a wealthy businessman, instills hope in Usha as she grows weary of everything and yearns to be a conventional housewife. However, his luxurious villa does not grant Usha any form of independence.
Mandi - Prime Video; ShemarooMe (OTTplay Premium)
Shyam Benegal directed Mandi in 1983, drawing inspiration from Ghulam Abbas's classic Urdu short story Aanandi. The film follows the plot of a brothel at a prime location that politicians are vying for in the middle of a city. Shabana Azmi, Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah, and others star in the film, which is a comedic satire on politics and prostitution. Best Art Direction went to Nitish Roy for the 1984 National Film Award-winning film.
The protagonists of Mandi are a group of courtesans working in a bustling city brothel. Given the prominent position of the property, some district officials are interested in acquiring it for its real estate value. While they protest the brothel under the guise of morality, their personal benefits remain hidden. The politicians provide a different location for the prostitutes to live, but it's a significant distance from the city—several kilometres away.
Trikaal - Prime Video; ShemarooMe (OTTplay Premium)
Shyam Benegal's 1985 film Trikal takes place in Goa at the end of the Portuguese colonial era. It was Leela Naidu's first film appearance since 1969, marking her homecoming.
Trikal follows a Portuguese family as they grieve the loss of a loved one against the background of India's conquest of Goa. Sushma Prakash's Anna prepares to marry Lucky Ali's unattractive Erasmo, but her grandfather, whom she holds in high regard, unexpectedly passes away. Anna's grandma, inconsolable over her loss, postpones her engagement to Erasmo indefinitely. Many vengeful spirits that the family had harmed in the past gather around the medium as the grandmother tries to communicate with her husband's spirit. Flashbacks reveal these details, but the plot intensifies when a long-gone occupant unexpectedly returns to the property 25 years later.
Sardari Begum - Prime Video
Shyam Benegal's 1996 musical Sardari Begum features Kiron Kher, Amrish Puri, Rajit Kapur, and Rajeshwari Sachdev among its stars. The 1997 National Film Award—Special Jury Award went to Kiron Kher, and the Best Supporting Actress trophy went to Rajeshwari Sachdev. Intergenerational dynamics, sexual politics, and Indian social mores are the central themes of this film.
An enraged crowd kills famous singer and courtesan Sardari Begum by throwing stones at her. The presence of Begum's father at the funeral shocks the reporter covering the event.
The Making of the Mahatma - MUBI
Shyam Benegal's 1996 film The Making of the Mahatma follows Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (often spelt Mahatma Gandhi) as he spends his formative years in South Africa. Fatima Meer's The Apprenticeship of a Mahatma served as the inspiration for the film. Indian and South African filmmakers worked together on the project. When a rich Indian settled in South Africa in 1893, he asked Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi to resolve a dispute on his behalf. Involvement in the liberation movement kept him there for 21 years, even though he had planned to return in a matter of months.
Zubeidaa - ShemarooMe (OTTplay Premium)
Written by Khalid Mohammed and directed by Shyam Benegal, Zubeidaa premiered in 2001. This film features the acting talents of Karisma Kapoor, Rekha, Manoj Bajpayee, Surekha Sikri, Rajit Kapoor, Lillete Dubey, Amrish Puri, Farida Jalal, and Shakti Kapoor. A.R. Rahman composed the background scores and the movie's soundtrack. Starting with Mammo (1994) and continuing with Sardari Begum (1996), Zubeidaa is the third and final instalment of the trilogy. The tragic actress Zubeida Begum, whose mother was Khalid Mohamed, was the inspiration for the film. Hanwant Singh from Jodhpur married her. One of Benegal's finest efforts, Zubeidaa won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi and received widespread praise for its blending of mainstream and parallel cinema.
An ambitious Muslim actress named Zubeidaa marries a prince of the Sikh faith and later becomes his second wife. However, her turbulent marriage leads her to make a difficult choice that has deadly repercussions.
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero - YouTube
Directed and written by Shyam Benegal, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose: The Forgotten Hero is a monumental biographical war film from 2004. Sachin Khedekar, Kulbhushan Kharbanda, Rajit Kapur, Arif Zakaria, and Divya Dutta were among the many actors featured in the film. Set in Nazi Germany (1941–1943) and Japanese-occupied Asia (1943–1945), the film follows the life of Indian independence leader Subhas Chandra Bose as he experiences the events that culminate in the establishment of Azad Hind Fauj. The National Film Association presented the film with both the Best Feature Film on National Integration and Best Production Design awards that year.
The biography of Indian national hero Subhas Chandra Bose encompasses his career and the audacious escape he masterminded under intense British scrutiny. On this trip, he travels to Germany, where he meets Adolf Hitler face-to-face.
Well Done Abba - Disney+ Hotstar
Boman Irani, Minissha Lamba, and Sameer Dattani played key characters in Shyam Benegal's 2010 political satire film Well Done Abba. This film is a reimagining of the 2007 Marathi original, Jau Tithe Khau. Three short stories—Narsaiyyan Ki Bavdi by Jeelani Bano, Phulwa Ka Pul by Sanjeev, and Still Waters by Jayant Kripalani—formed its basis. Writers Ashok Mishra (who also contributed dialogue) and Jayant Kripalani penned the screenplay. The 2009 National Film Awards named it the year's best social issue film.
The protagonist of Well Done Abba is Armaan Ali, a Mumbai-based driver. He goes on a month-long leave to help his brother Rehman Ali and his wife Salma locate a suitable marriage for their teenage daughter, who resides in a tiny town near Hyderabad. After three months off, Armaan goes back to work, but his youthful boss is eager to fire him. However, Armaan Ali has anecdotal evidence to present. The narrative he presents is a humorous and often humorous account of the events and situations that led him to delay his return home by a month. He uses a government program to his advantage by drilling a well in his farmland. The government is on the verge of collapse as events spiral out of control! How real is this fascinating tale? That is the remaining question!
The film explores the control theme—the numerous government-initiated development initiatives that are frequently taken over by systemic corruption—as it transitions from farce to smart, cutting, and mostly sardonic comedy.