Renowned Indian Director and Screenwriter, Shyam Benegal is best known for his work in alternate cinema and is often hailed as one of the pioneers of the great Indian parallel cinema moment. A Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan recipient, he has also been awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award and has won the National Film Award seven times. Nishant, Manthan, Susman, The Making Of The Mahatma, Ankur, Bhumika, Mandi, Arohan and as recently as Sajjanpur are a few of his vast repertoire of award-winning films. He also directed the 52 episodes serial for television, Bharat Ek Khoj, based on Jawaharlal Nehru’s Discovery of India. Amongst two of his well-known biopics, are Bose and Nehru.
A mentor and guide to Om Puri whom the latter fondly nicknamed his encyclopedia Shyam Benegal has been instrumental in starting the Om Puri Foundation.