The essential Shyam Benegal films, from ‘Ankur’ to ‘Welcome to Sajjanpur’

Shyam Benegal’s demise on December 23 felt personal even to people who had never met him. That is probably because generations of Indians trying to make sense of the country’s past and present often turned to the legendary director’s films, documentaries and television shows.

The movies drew attention to inequalities, injustices and eccentricities, often soberly and sometimes humorously. They had intellectual curiosity, a commitment to justice, and a layered understanding of human character. They examined events in a manner that was plausible rather than escapist, relatable rather than alienating.

Benegal directed 24 features, scores of documentaries and short films, and a few serials for television, including the monumental Bharat Ek Khoj (1998), based on Jawaharlal Nehru’s Discovery of India. Here are the 11 essential Benegal films that best capture his style, concerns and philosophy.

Ankur (1974)

A film of many firsts: for Benegal as director, Shabana Azmi as actor, and Kannada actor Anant Nag in Hindi.

A low-caste woman married to a deaf-mute potter catches the eye of the village landlord’s dissolute son. They embark on a relationship, from which the woman gets pregnant. Her husband assumes that the child is his. From these simple elements, Benegal crafts a nuanced, non-judgemental exploration of the power dynamic between the rulers and the ruled.

Where to watch: YouTube.

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