There will be little left to say about Mr. Shyam Benegal, once all of India, and all of the world of cinema pay him tribute. But one can offer a small window into his connection with us in Hyderabad via the wonderful rocky terrain that he grew up around and loved.
A pioneering vision made Mr. Benegal one of India’s most respected filmmakers. He is known as the founder of the Indian New Wave (parallel cinema) starting with Ankur.
He was a student from Hyderabad, Nizam College & Osmania University, where he started a film club; The Chairman, Film & Television Institute of India; Recipient of two of India’s highest civilian awards: Padma Shri (1976) & Padma Bhushan (1991). However, despite this almost intimidating level of success, there is a widespread feeling of personal loss in his passing. For us, the bedrock of our memory of him, is his huge and humbling generosity.
Firstly, he was kind enough to make time to view our film (Other Kohinoors, the Rocks of Hyderabad). Further, to speak candidly over the phone strongly supporting the film itself, as well as speaking at length about his profound connection with the rocks. Hearing him share his passion about the very same rocks that we were filming, flooded our effort with inspiration and an urgency to keep going.
A fellow traveller with other Hyderabadis: We are hard put to count the number of Hyderabadis who have shared with us, the same scenario as Mr. Benegal described: about the sense of homecoming that the sight the roc.
