Mumbai International Film Festival 2018 to Honour Shyam Benegal (Download PDF)

Eminent filmmaker Shyam Benegal has been honoured with the V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award of the Mumbai International Film Festival in the field of Documentary, Shorts & Animation Films.

Facts about 15^th Mumbai International Film Festival

• The week-long Festival showcased 430 documentaries, animated and short films from 40 countries.

• First held in 1990 by the Films Division and the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.

• The 15^th MIFF was highlighted by master classes, panel discussions, seminars, exhibitions, cultural programs and special segments for students, the Northeast and the Best of Fests.

Who is Shyam Benegal?

• Was Born in 1934 in Hyderabad

• Completed his M. A. in Economics from the Osmania University

• Began working in an advertising agency, before venturing into filmmaking.

• He made his first documentary film Gher Behti Ganga (Ganga at Doorstep) in Gujarati in 1963.

• Shyam Benegal made 28 feature films including landmark films like Ankur, Nishant, Mandi, and Junoon.

• Filmography also includes 41 documentaries covering diverse subjects including cultural anthropology, sustainable growth, biography, art, and culture.

• 1982 documentary Satyajit Ray won the National Award for Best Biographical Film.

• 1985 film Nehru won the award for Best Historical Reconstruction.

• His television oeuvre consists of several popular serials including the 53-part series Bharat Ek Khoj, first broadcast on Doordarshan in 1988.

• He also made the much acclaimed Samvidhaan –The Making of the Constitution of India.

• Recipient of many awards including 9 National Awards for his feature films

• He has been honoured by the Government of India with Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, as well as the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

What is V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award?

• Shantaram Rajaram Vankudre referred to as V. Shantaram or Shantaram Bapu, was a Marathi Indian filmmaker, film producer and actor.

• The V Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award is conferred for contribution to the documentary movement to a veteran filmmaker at every MIFF organized by Films Division.

• The V. Shantaram Award was constituted by Central Government and Maharashtra State Government.

• The V. Shantaram Motion Picture Scientific Research and Cultural Foundation, established in 1993, offers various awards to filmmakers.

• The award is presented annually on 18^th November.

• A postage stamp, bearing V Shantaram’s likeness, was released by India Post to honour him on 17 November 2001.