Shyam Benegal, who heralded the Indian parallel cinema movement in the 1970s and 1980s with a body of work known for its realism and social commentary, breaking away from the conventions of mainstream Indian cinema – has died at 90.

The legendary filmmaker is survived by wife Nira Benegal and daughter, Pia Benegal.

He was admitted to the intensive care unit at Mumbai’s Wockhardt Hospital, just days after he turned 90 on December 14.

His daughter Pia Benegal said her father was suffering from chronic kidney disease.

“He passed away at 6.38 pm at Wockhardt Hospital Mumbai Central. He had been suffering from chronic kidney disease for several years but it had gotten very bad. That’s the reason for his death,” Ms Pia said.

On his 90th birthday, Shyam Benegal told news agency PTI he had been working on two-three projects.

“We all grow old. I don’t do anything great (on my birthday). It may be a special day but I don’t celebrate it specifically. I cut a cake at the office with my team,” he had said.

Despite the physical challenges that come with age, including frequent hospital visits for dialysis three times a week, Shyam Benegal was committed to his passion for filmmaking till the very end.

“I’m working on two to three projects; they are all different from one another. It’s difficult to say which one I will make. They are all for the big screen,” he told PTI on December 14.

His most recent film was the 2023 biographical ‘Mujib: The Making of a Nation’.

In his prolific career, Shyam Benegal made films on diverse issues, documentaries and television serials, including ‘Bharat Ek Khoj’ and ‘Samvidhaan’. His films include ‘Bhumika’, ‘Junoon’, ‘Mandi’, ‘Suraj Ka Satvaan Ghoda’, ‘Mammo’ and ‘Sardari Begum’, most counted as classics in Hindi cinema.

He was born in Hyderabad to Sridhar B Benegal, a prominent photographer. He was also the second cousin of the legendary Indian auteur Guru Dutt.

Shyam Benegal started his career as a copywriter, and made his first documentary film in Gujarati, ‘Gher Betha Ganga’ in 1962. His first four feature films ‘Ankur’ (1973), ‘Nishant’ (1975), ‘Manthan’ (1976) and ‘Bhumika’ (1977) made him a pioneer of the new wave film movement of that period.

He also served as the Director of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) from 1980 to 1986.

His film ‘Mandi’ (1983), is known for its satire on politics and prostitution. The film starred Shabana Azmi and Smita Patil. Later, working from his own story, based on the last days of Portuguese in Goa, in the early 1960s, Shyam Benegal explored human relationships in ‘Trikal’.

With inputs from PTI

India received a note verbale from Bangladesh in connection with an extradition request for Sheikh Hasina, the ousted prime minister of India’s neighbouring country where a caretaker government is in charge, sources said.

“We confirm that we have received a note verbale from the Bangladesh High Commission today in connection with an extradition request. At this time, we have no comment to offer on this matter,” a source said.

A note verbale is an unsigned diplomatic message in third person.

Earlier, today, Bangladesh’s de facto Foreign Minister Touhid Hossain said Dhaka wants Ms Hasina back to face trial. “We have sent a note verbale to the Indian government saying that Bangladesh wants her back here for the judicial process,” Mr Hossain told reporters in Dhaka.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not commented on the matter.

Ms Hasina, 77, left her country on August 5 following massive protests that toppled her 16-year regime.

The Bangladesh-based International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) has issued arrest warrants for Ms Hasina, former ministers, advisers, and military and civil officials for “crimes against humanity and genocide”.

Bangladesh Home Adviser Jahangir Alam said his office sent a letter to the MEA to allow Ms Hasina’s extradition from India.

“We have sent a letter to the foreign ministry regarding her extradition. The process is currently underway,” he told reporters in response to a query.

Mr Alam said an extradition treaty between Dhaka and New Delhi exists and Ms Hasina could be brought back to Bangladesh under it.

Last month, in an address to the nation on the completion of 100 days of the interim government, Bangladesh’s Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus said it will seek the extradition of Ms Hasina.

“We must ensure justice in every killing… We will also ask India to send back fallen autocrat Sheikh Hasina,” he said.

Attacks Against Hindus, Other Minorities

Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh have been facing attacks after attacks since Ms Hasina’s ouster. Vice President of ISKCON Kolkata Radharaman Das last week voiced concern, citing an answer in parliament given by Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh, who said 2,200 cases of violence have been reported in Bangladesh.

Mr Das also expressed concern over recent attacks on Hindu temples and asked the Christian minority in Bangladesh to be on guard over celebrating Christmas.

“Yesterday or today we came to know that in the last two-three days, three temples have been attacked… We know that now the Christmas holidays are going to be there. The Christian communities have been told that they should celebrate very carefully because there are chances of attacks on them. We hope that the interim government of Bangladesh will provide enough security so that the minorities of Bangladesh can celebrate their festivals without any fear,” Mr Das said.

Mr Singh in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha on Friday said India has taken a “serious” note of these incidents and shared its concern with the Bangladesh government.

He highlighted India’s expectation from the Bangladesh government to take measures to ensure the safety of minorities, and added that the High Commission of India in Dhaka continues to monitor the situation in the neighbouring country.

The husband of the woman who died in the stampede at the premiere of the movie ‘Pushpa 2: The Rise’, says he does not blame Telugu superstar Allu Arjun for the events of December 4 and is ready to withdraw the police case filed in the matter. Bhaskar, whose son is still in coma and admitted in hospital, said he has received full support from the actor regarding the treatment of his son. 

His son, Shri Tej, is a fan of Allu Arjun and it was mainly on his insistence that the family had gone to the event, he told NDTV in an exclusive interview today. The eight-year-old has been in a coma for the last 20 days. He opens his eyes sometimes, but does not yet recognise anyone. “We do not know how long the treatment will take,” he said. 

The producers of ‘Pushpa-2’ have extended a financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh to the family. The cheque was handed over when producer Naveen Yerneni visited Shri Tej today.

His daughter, he said, has not been told of her mother’s death. “We have told her that she has gone to the village. She has no idea about what happened,” he said.

Allu Arjun, Bhaskar said, has been supporting them from Day 2. “We do not want to blame anybody and consider it our bad luck… we were blamed for the arrest but we do not have the strength to fight,” he said.

The actor, who was arrested on December 13, is in a 14-day judicial custody in the case filed by the family. “I am ready to withdraw the case. I was not aware of the arrest and Allu Arjun has nothing to do with the stampede in which my wife passed away,” Bhaskar had said after the arrest.

Allu Arjun has been blamed by many for the stampede at Hyderabad’s Sandhya Theatre, which the state police implied, could have happened due to his presence at the venue. Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has said the actor was present at the spot despite the denial of police permission. 

He had even waved from his car’s sun-roof on his way in and out, holding a roadshow of sorts and triggering a stampede-like situation. Even after learning of the death of the woman, Revathi, the actor did not leave the cinema hall, prompting the police to force him out, the Chief Minister had said.