He won acclaim from critics and audiences even as the gritty stories he put on the big screen grappled with some of India’s thorniest problems.

Shyam Benegal is among the foremost directors of India’s Parallel Cinema wave. His films also challenged social norms and prized authentic portrayals of marginalised groups, at a time when films like ‘Sholay’ set the template for mainstream Hindi films.

For those born in the late 70s and 80s, and who grew into adulthood in the 90s, the evolution of Indian television and parallel cinema is a living memory. Shyam Benegal, a visionary filmmaker whose contributions to both industries are unparalleled,