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Kumar Shahani
Indian film director and screenwriter (1940–2024)

Kumar Shahani (7 December 1940 – 24 February 2024) was an Indian film director and screenwriter, best known for his parallel cinema films Maya Darpan (1972), Tarang (1984), Khayal Gatha (1989) and Kasba (1990). His films won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Film in 1972, 1990 and 1991. Due to his dedication to formalism, and with the reputation of his first feature—Maya Darpan being considered among Indian cinema's first formalist films—critics and film enthusiasts often associated him with filmmakers such as Pier Paolo Pasolini, Andrei Tarkovsky and Jacques Rivette. He was also known as a teacher at his alma mater, the Film and Television Institute of India, and as a theorist of cinema. His book of 51 essays Kumar Shahani: The Shock of Desire and Other Essays, was edited by Ashish Rajadhyaksha and published by Tulika Books in 2015.

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Early life

Shahani was born on 7 December 1940, in Larkana, Sindh (now in Pakistan).56 After the partition of India in 1947, Shahani's family shifted to the city of Bombay (now Mumbai).7 He attended the University of Bombay to obtain an undergraduate degree in political science and history, and studied advanced direction and screenplay writing at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune, where he was a student of Ritwik Ghatak. He also studied with Damodar Dharmananda Kosambi. On a French government scholarship,89 he moved to France to further his studies at the Institut des hautes études cinématographiques (IDHEC) and assisted Robert Bresson on Une Femme Douce.10

Career

After returning to India, Shahani made his first feature film Maya Darpan in 1972. He received funding twelve years later to make his next full-length feature film, Tarang, in 1984.1112 His other landmark films included the 1989 film Khayal Gatha and the 1990 film Kasba. He also made the short films Rails for the World, Fire in the Belly, Our Universe and Var Var Vari, the documentary Bhavantarana and Char Adhyay. His films won the Filmfare Critics Award for Best Film in 1972, 1990 and 1991. Maya Darpan won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi in 1972. His films often appeared at the International Film Festival Rotterdam. Khayal Gatha won the FIPRESCI Prize at Rotterdam in 1990. He received the Prince Claus Award in 1998.1314151617

From 1976 to 1978, he held a Homi Bhabha Fellowship to study the epic tradition of the Mahābhārata, Buddhist iconography, Indian classical music and the Bhakti movement.1819 Shahani was also involved with India's archiving and restoration initiative, the Film Heritage Foundation.20 He taught at the Film and Television Institute of India.21 His book of 51 essays, Kumar Shahani: The Shock of Desire and Other Essays, was published by Tulika Books in 2015. The essays were written over a 40-year period.2223

Influences

Shahani considered Roberto Rossellini and Robert Bresson as major influences on his work and those from whom he learned the most. When comparing the two, he stated:24

There is austerity in Bresson. But there is a possibility in cinema to have both: austerity and ornamentation. In Bresson, there is mainly austerity even though he aspires to have spectacle. When I work along those lines, I want the ornamentation to stand out. The magic of that reality must appear and we ought to allow that to happen. The notion of ornamentation that we have in India, the alankar, of how we play with it, that is something I like to retain in my work. And this is not there either in Rossellini's work or Bresson's in the works of Catholic filmmakers. When they move towards austerity, they really move towards it: Bresson in the tradition of St Augustine and Rossellini more in the manner of notational narratives.

For his film Tarang, which dealt with labour issues, Shahani mentioned that he consciously tried to avoid 'repeating' or 'imitating' one of his favourite films: Sergei Eisenstein's Battleship Potemkin. Shahani stated:25

[F]or Tarang for instance, I was shooting a strike sequence. It was an obvious point where one could have quoted Eisenstein. Most filmmakers in such a situation would do so, inadvertently and unconsciously. Even the most "bourgeois" filmmakers as it were, the most commercial ones, or their exact opposites, would all do that. That is why one should remember him, to remember what he did and not to repeat it. So I remembered him while I was shooting that sequence, constantly like a prayer. We can't help saying that Eisenstein did it such a way and let only him do like that. That is why I feel very happy with that particular sequence in Tarang. It doesn't have, in any sense, an imitation of Eisenstein.

Shahani was also influenced by Ritwik Ghatak.2627

Death

Shahani died in Kolkata, West Bengal on 24 February 2024, at the age of 83.282930 He was survived by his wife and daughters Uttara and Rewati and his partner Rimli Bhattacharya.31

Filmography

Sources:3233

YearFilmNotes
1966The Glass Paneb/w, 35mm, 10 min. Graduation film. FTII.
1967Manmad Passengerb/w, 35mm, 15 min. Short film. FTII.
1967A Certain Childhood(English and Gujarati). b/w, 35mm, 22 min. Documentary for Directorate of Films, Gujarat, India.
1970Rails for the World35mm, 20 min. Technicolor, Documentary made for Steel Authority of India Ltd. (SAIL)
1971Object16mm, 10 min. Kodachrome, Short film made in collaboration with the psychoanalyst Udayan Patel.
1972Maya Darpan(Hindi) 35mm, 100 min. Feature. NFDC. Winner Filmfare Award – Best Film (Critics)34National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi35
1973Fire in the Belly(English). b/w, 35mm, Documentary made for Films Division, India.
1976Our Universe(English). b/w, 16mm, Educational film
1983A Memoir of the Future(English). 35mm (incomplete). Film made on the work of British psychoanalyst W.R. Bion
1983Rules of the Game35mm, Documentary (censored but not released), made for Films Division.
1984Tarang(Hindi). 35mm, Cinemascope, Feature produced by NFDC. National Film Award – Special Jury Award (Certificate)3637
1988Var Var Vari(Hindi). b/w, 35mm, 29 min, produced by the Film & Television Institute of India
1988A Ship Aground(English). 16mm, Short film.
1989Khayal Gatha(Hindi) 35 mm Winner Filmfare Award – Best Film (Critics)38Winner FIPRESCI Prize – Rotterdam International Film Festival3940
1991Kasba(Hindi) 35 mm, produced by NFDC. Winner Filmfare Award – Best Film (Critics)41
1991Bhavantarana(Oriya) film about Guru Kelucharan Mahapatra42 National Film Award for Best Biographical Film4344
1997Char Adhyay(Hindi and Bengali) film based on Rabindranath Tagore's novel45 produced by NFDC
2000Bamboo Flute/Biraha bhariyo ghar angan kone(Hindi and Tamil) film produced by the Ministry of External Affairs
2004As the Crow FliesFilm based on the artist Akbar Padamsee
2007Chhapakhana(Bengali) short film made at Satyajit Ray Film & Television Institute
2009Priye Charushile(Oriya and Italian), feature documentary, completed but unreleased

Awards

Source:46

References

  1. Vajpeyi, Udayan (1 March 2024). "Death of a master filmmaker: Kumar Shahani (7 December 1940–24 February 2024)". National Herald. Retrieved 22 September 2024. https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/obituary/death-of-a-master-filmmaker-udayan-vajpeyis-tribute-to-kumar-shahani ↩

  2. Ashish Rajadhyaksha (January 1986). "Dossier on Kumar Shahani". Framework N 30.31. academia.edu. Retrieved 3 May 2014. https://www.academia.edu/2292735 ↩

  3. "Acclaimed filmmaker Kumar Shahani passes away at 83 from age-related ailments in Kolkata". Deccan Herald. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024. https://www.deccanherald.com/india/west-bengal/acclaimed-filmmaker-kumar-shahani-passes-away-at-83-from-age-related-ailments-in-kolkata-2909678 ↩

  4. Winds From the East. "Interview With Kumar Shahani", Retrieved on 17 June 2014. http://windsfromtheeast.blogspot.com/2009/04/kumar-shahani-portrait.html ↩

  5. "Filmmaker Kumar Shahani passes away at 83". www.onmanorama.com. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024. https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2024/02/25/ace-filmmaker-kumar-shahani-passes-away-maya-darpan-tarang.amp.html ↩

  6. Ghosh, Avijit (26 February 2024). "Kumar Shahani, master of arthouse cinema, passes away". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 March 2024. Director Kumar Shahani ... passed away at a Kolkata hospital late Saturday night. He was 83... https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/kumar-shahani-master-of-arthouse-cinema-passes-away/articleshow/107991397.cms ↩

  7. "Filmmaker Kumar Shahani passes away at 83". www.onmanorama.com. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024. https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2024/02/25/ace-filmmaker-kumar-shahani-passes-away-maya-darpan-tarang.amp.html ↩

  8. "Filmmaker Kumar Shahani passes away at 83". www.onmanorama.com. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024. https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2024/02/25/ace-filmmaker-kumar-shahani-passes-away-maya-darpan-tarang.amp.html ↩

  9. Homi Bhabha Fellowships Council. "Mr. Kumar Shahani" Archived 3 March 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Retrieved on 2 March 2009. http://mumbai.mtnl.net.in/~hbfc/cv/MR_KUMAR_SHAHANI.html ↩

  10. Ramachandran, Naman (25 February 2024). "Kumar Shahani, Pioneer of India's Parallel Cinema Movement, Dies at 83". Variety. https://variety.com/2024/film/news/kumar-shahani-dead-of-india-parallel-cinema-movement-1235921948/ ↩

  11. Winds From the East. "Interview With Kumar Shahani", Retrieved on 17 June 2014. http://windsfromtheeast.blogspot.com/2009/04/kumar-shahani-portrait.html ↩

  12. Upperstall.com Profile. "Kumar Shahani Upperstall Profile", Retrieved on 2 March 2009. http://www.upperstall.com/people/kumar-shahani ↩

  13. "Filmmaker Kumar Shahani passes away at 83". www.onmanorama.com. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024. https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2024/02/25/ace-filmmaker-kumar-shahani-passes-away-maya-darpan-tarang.amp.html ↩

  14. "Acclaimed filmmaker Kumar Shahani passes away at 83 from age-related ailments in Kolkata". Deccan Herald. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024. https://www.deccanherald.com/india/west-bengal/acclaimed-filmmaker-kumar-shahani-passes-away-at-83-from-age-related-ailments-in-kolkata-2909678 ↩

  15. Ramachandran, Naman (25 February 2024). "Kumar Shahani, Pioneer of India's Parallel Cinema Movement, Dies at 83". Variety. https://variety.com/2024/film/news/kumar-shahani-dead-of-india-parallel-cinema-movement-1235921948/ ↩

  16. "Maya Darpan and Tarang director Kumar Shahani passes away". The Indian Express. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024. https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/maya-darpan-and-tarang-director-kumar-shahani-passes-away-9179752/ ↩

  17. "20th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20131105220349/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm20thNFAAward.aspx ↩

  18. Kumar Shahani, The Hindu https://www.thehindu.com/books/kumar-shahani/article5519124.ece/ ↩

  19. House of World Culture. "Kumar Shahani", "Culturebase The International Artist Database" Retrieved on 2 March 2009. http://www.culturebase.net/artist.php?1402#article ↩

  20. Ramachandran, Naman (25 February 2024). "Kumar Shahani, Pioneer of India's Parallel Cinema Movement, Dies at 83". Variety. https://variety.com/2024/film/news/kumar-shahani-dead-of-india-parallel-cinema-movement-1235921948/ ↩

  21. Ghosh, Avijit (26 February 2024). "Kumar Shahani, master of arthouse cinema, passes away". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 March 2024. Director Kumar Shahani ... passed away at a Kolkata hospital late Saturday night. He was 83... https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/kumar-shahani-master-of-arthouse-cinema-passes-away/articleshow/107991397.cms ↩

  22. Ashish Rajadhyaksha. Kumar Shahani: The Shock of Desire and Other Essays. academia.edu. https://www.academia.edu/42290275/Kumar_Shahani_The_Shock_of_Desire_and_Other_Essays ↩

  23. Shahani, Kumar (2015). Kumar Shahani: The Shock of Desire and Other Essays. Tulika Books. ISBN 978-93-82381-61-7. 978-93-82381-61-7 ↩

  24. Winds From the East. "Interview With Kumar Shahani", Retrieved on 17 June 2014. http://windsfromtheeast.blogspot.com/2009/04/kumar-shahani-portrait.html ↩

  25. Winds From the East. "Interview With Kumar Shahani", Retrieved on 17 June 2014. http://windsfromtheeast.blogspot.com/2009/04/kumar-shahani-portrait.html ↩

  26. "Filmmaker Kumar Shahani passes away at 83". www.onmanorama.com. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024. https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2024/02/25/ace-filmmaker-kumar-shahani-passes-away-maya-darpan-tarang.amp.html ↩

  27. "Maya Darpan and Tarang director Kumar Shahani passes away". The Indian Express. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024. https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/maya-darpan-and-tarang-director-kumar-shahani-passes-away-9179752/ ↩

  28. "Filmmaker Kumar Shahani passes away at 83". www.onmanorama.com. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024. https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2024/02/25/ace-filmmaker-kumar-shahani-passes-away-maya-darpan-tarang.amp.html ↩

  29. "Acclaimed filmmaker Kumar Shahani passes away at 83 from age-related ailments in Kolkata". Deccan Herald. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024. https://www.deccanherald.com/india/west-bengal/acclaimed-filmmaker-kumar-shahani-passes-away-at-83-from-age-related-ailments-in-kolkata-2909678 ↩

  30. Ghosh, Avijit (26 February 2024). "Kumar Shahani, master of arthouse cinema, passes away". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 March 2024. Director Kumar Shahani ... passed away at a Kolkata hospital late Saturday night. He was 83... https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/kumar-shahani-master-of-arthouse-cinema-passes-away/articleshow/107991397.cms ↩

  31. "Maya Darpan and Tarang director Kumar Shahani passes away". The Indian Express. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024. https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/maya-darpan-and-tarang-director-kumar-shahani-passes-away-9179752/ ↩

  32. Kumar Shahani, The Hindu https://www.thehindu.com/books/kumar-shahani/article5519124.ece/ ↩

  33. G.K., "Musings of a Marxist", The Hindu. Retrieved on 2 March 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20040128031849/http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/12/05/stories/2002120500870300.htm ↩

  34. "Acclaimed filmmaker Kumar Shahani passes away at 83 from age-related ailments in Kolkata". Deccan Herald. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024. https://www.deccanherald.com/india/west-bengal/acclaimed-filmmaker-kumar-shahani-passes-away-at-83-from-age-related-ailments-in-kolkata-2909678 ↩

  35. "20th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 5 November 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20131105220349/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm20thNFAAward.aspx ↩

  36. "31st National Film Awards". India International Film Festival. Archived from the original on 12 November 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20131112200555/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm31stNFAAward.aspx ↩

  37. "31st National Film Awards (PDF)" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 9 December 2011. http://dff.nic.in/2011/31st_nff_1984.pdf ↩

  38. "Acclaimed filmmaker Kumar Shahani passes away at 83 from age-related ailments in Kolkata". Deccan Herald. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024. https://www.deccanherald.com/india/west-bengal/acclaimed-filmmaker-kumar-shahani-passes-away-at-83-from-age-related-ailments-in-kolkata-2909678 ↩

  39. "Acclaimed filmmaker Kumar Shahani passes away at 83 from age-related ailments in Kolkata". Deccan Herald. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024. https://www.deccanherald.com/india/west-bengal/acclaimed-filmmaker-kumar-shahani-passes-away-at-83-from-age-related-ailments-in-kolkata-2909678 ↩

  40. Ramachandran, Naman (25 February 2024). "Kumar Shahani, Pioneer of India's Parallel Cinema Movement, Dies at 83". Variety. https://variety.com/2024/film/news/kumar-shahani-dead-of-india-parallel-cinema-movement-1235921948/ ↩

  41. "Acclaimed filmmaker Kumar Shahani passes away at 83 from age-related ailments in Kolkata". Deccan Herald. 25 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024. https://www.deccanherald.com/india/west-bengal/acclaimed-filmmaker-kumar-shahani-passes-away-at-83-from-age-related-ailments-in-kolkata-2909678 ↩

  42. "Maya Darpan and Tarang director Kumar Shahani passes away". The Indian Express. 26 February 2024. Retrieved 2 March 2024. https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/maya-darpan-and-tarang-director-kumar-shahani-passes-away-9179752/ ↩

  43. "39th National Film Awards". International Film Festival of India. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014. Retrieved 27 February 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20140315101348/http://iffi.nic.in/Dff2011/Frm39thNFAAward.aspx ↩

  44. "39th National Film Awards (PDF)" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. Retrieved 27 February 2012. http://dff.nic.in/2011/39nd_nff_1985.pdf ↩

  45. Ghosh, Avijit (26 February 2024). "Kumar Shahani, master of arthouse cinema, passes away". The Times of India. Retrieved 2 March 2024. Director Kumar Shahani ... passed away at a Kolkata hospital late Saturday night. He was 83... https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/kumar-shahani-master-of-arthouse-cinema-passes-away/articleshow/107991397.cms ↩

  46. "The 5th Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art" (Archived 21 August 2008 at the Wayback Machine), Retrieved on 2 March 2009. http://apt5.asiapacifictriennial.com/artists/artists/kumar_shahani ↩