Shyam Benegal (born 14 December 1934) is an Indian film director, screenwriter, and documentary filmmaker. His first four feature films—Ankur (1973), Nishant (1975), Manthan (1976), and Bhumika (1977)—made him a pioneer of the new wave film movement during that period. Benegal’s films Mammo (1994), Sardari Begum (1996), and Zubeidaa (2001), all of which won National Film Awards for Best Feature Film in Hindi, form the Muslim women Trilogy1. He has received several accolades, including eighteen National Film Awards, a Filmfare Award, and a Nandi Award. In 2005, he was honored with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest award in the field of cinema. Benegal’s contributions have significantly enriched Indian cinema, and his work continues to inspire filmmakers worldwide
