Veteran and beloved filmmaker Shyam Benegal passed away at 90 of kidney disease on December 23. A mighty tree has fallen. Shyambabu was a key architect of India’s “parallel cinema”, having directed a body of about 75 socially conscious films, documentaries and series, that has left an indelible mark on Indian cinema—and helped place it on the map of world cinema. From Ankur (1974), Nishant and Manthan— that was produced by 500,000 milk farmers donating R2 each— all the way to Mujib: The Making of a Nation in 2023, made when he was on kidney dialysis. Heartfelt condolences to his wife Nira Benegal, daughter Pia Benegal, and all those who loved him.

But above all, I will remember Shyambabu’s kindness and generosity. He had recommended me as Festival Director of the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival in 2009, when Sudhir Nandgaonkar, outgoing Festival Director, told me my name had been unanimously approved by the MAMI Board of Trustees. Though that was not to be, I became their International Cinema Programmer, and travelled to Cannes to get films for the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.