Filmmaker Kumar Shahani dies at 83; was a significant name in Indian parallel cinema
Mumbai, February 25
Filmmaker Kumar Shahani, a significant name in the Indian parallel cinema who directed films such as ‘Maya Darpan’, ‘Char Adhyay’ and ‘Kasba’, has died at the age of 83.
The director passed away on Saturday night at a hospital in Kolkata, close friend, actor Mita Vashisht said.
“He passed away around 11pm last night due to age-related health issues at a hospital in Kolkata. He was ailing and his health had been declining. It’s a deep personal loss,” Vashisht, who worked with the director on ‘Vaar Vaar Vaari’, ‘Khayal Gatha’, and ‘Kasba’, told PTI.
“We were in touch with his family. Kumar and I would talk a lot and I knew he was ailing and was in and out of hospital,” the actor added.
Shahani is survived by wife and two daughters.
The filmmaker was born in Larkana, Sindh, in the undivided India. After Partition, Shahani’s family shifted to Mumbai.
Shahani studied at the Film and Television Institute of India with Mani Kaul, who also went on to become famous for his work in art house cinema. Shahani debuted with ‘Maya Darpan’ in 1972. The film, based on Hindi writer Nirmal Varma’s short story, revolved around a woman divided between her lover and protecting the honour of her father in feudal India.
He followed it up with ‘Tarang’ in 1984. Starring Amol Palekar and Smita Patil, the film received a national film award. The story revolved around an amoral businessman, who gets involved with a trade union leader’s wife.
In ‘Khayal Gatha’, Shahani traced the relationship of Khayal genre with Indian classical dance and featured Rajat Kapoor and Mita Vashisht.
‘Kasba’, his other feature, is about a dishonest businessman’s adopted daughter, played by Vashisht, taking action when his eldest son, essayed by Shatrughan Sinha, is arrested for counterfeiting.
Vashisht hailed Shahani for his pivotal role in the parallel cinema movement in India.
“I admired him as a human being and as a filmmaker. He was one of the greatest directors in our country. His integrity and consciousness towards society, art, cinema was unparalleled. His films were inspiring,” the actor said.
