Filmmaker Kumar Shahani dies at 83
Filmmaker Kumar Shahani, a parallel cinema icon who directed films such as Maya Darpan, Char Adhyay and Kasba, has died at the age of 83.
He passed away last night at a hopsital in Kolkata, close friend and actor Mita Vashisht said.
“He passed away 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, said.
Shahani is survived by his wife and two daughters.
The filmmaker was born in Larkana, Sindh, in the undivided India. After the Partition in 1947, Shahani’s family shifted to Mumbai.
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.
