Javed Akhtar says he considers himself very lucky to have worked with Shyam Benegal
Veteran screenwriter Javed Akhtar attended the funeral of the late cinema legend Shyam Benegal in the Dadar area of Mumbai on Tuesday.
The National Indian Film Festival of Australia (NIFFA) is celebrating the legacy of legendary Indian filmmaker Shyam Benegal by showcasing some of his most remarkable works.
With support from the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), the festival in Australia is hosting a special retrospective that allows audiences to experience influential storytelling of Shyam Benegal on the big screen.
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The retrospective features a selection of his acclaimed films, including ‘Mammo’, starring Farida Jalal, Surekha Sikri, Amit Phalke, and Rajit Kapoor; ‘Suraj Ka Satvan Ghoda’, featuring Pallavi Joshi, Rajit Kapoor, and Raghubir Yadav; ‘The Making of the Mahatma’, with Rajit Kapoor in the lead; and ‘Mujib: The Making of a Nation’, his final directorial project based on the life of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh’s founding leader.
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Also Read: When Shyam Benegal credited Satyajit Ray for revolutionizing Indian cinema
Festival Director Anupam Sharma emphasized the broader mission of NIFFA, stating, “This festival is not just about Bollywood. It’s a tribute to the depth and diversity of Indian cinema. Through this retrospective, we hope to give audiences a chance to experience Benegal’s cinematic brilliance, which has inspired generations of filmmakers worldwide.”
Starting as a copywriter at Lintas in 1959, he rose to creative head while directing over 900 ads and documentaries.
His first feature, Ankur (1973), took a decade to emerge but ignited the New Indian Cinema movement. #ShyamBenegal #NationalFilmAwards #DadasahebPhalkeAward pic.twitter.com/5mRJCUODIB
— NFDC India (@nfdcindia) February 21, 2025
NIFFA 2025 is a grand celebration of Indian storytelling, featuring over 35 world and Australian premieres spanning multiple languages and genres.
The festival is taking place in major Australian cities, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth, Adelaide, and Canberra, giving cinephiles across the country a chance to participate.
The festival has partnered with esteemed institutions such as Dendy Cinemas, the Indian High Commission, Marriott Bonvoy, and SBS.
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