Renowned Filmmaker Kumar Shahani, Pioneer of Indian Arthouse Cinema, Passes Away at 83

Renowned Indian filmmaker Kumar Shahani, a trailblazer in the realm of arthouse cinema, passed away at the age of 83 in Kolkata on Saturday. His illustrious six-decade career included directing impactful films like Maya Darpan, Tarang, Khayal Gatha, and Kasba. Born on December 7, 1940, in Larkana, Sindh, Shahani’s family migrated to Mumbai after the Partition.

Shahani’s cinematic journey began at the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune, where he emerged as one of the favoured proteges of director Ritwik Ghatak. Furthering his cinematic pursuits, Shahani ventured to France, where he had the unique opportunity to assist legendary filmmaker Robert Bresson on ‘Une Femme Douce’. He considered both Ghatak and Bresson as mentors and profound sources of inspiration. Shahani’s film ‘Maya Darpan’, an adaptation of a story by Nirmal Verma, earned him the prestigious National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi.

The passing of Kumar Shahani marks the end of an era in Indian cinema, leaving behind a legacy of thought-provoking and artistic contributions to the world of film.