Iconic Filmmaker Kumar Shahani Passes Away at Age 83

Renowned figure of Indian parallel cinema leaves behind a legacy of cinematic brilliance

Renowned filmmaker Kumar Shahani, celebrated for directing classics like "Maya Darpan," "Char Adhyay," and "Kasba," passed away at 83 years old.

Last night, the director passed away at a hospital here, as confirmed by close friend and actor Mita Vashisht.

"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 collaborated 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 the hospital," the actor added.

Shahani is survived by his wife and two daughters.

In a statement, the family expressed, “With great sadness, we inform you of the passing of our beloved Kumar, on 24th February, 2024.” The filmmaker was born in Larkana, Sindh, in undivided India. Following the partition in 1947, Shahani's family relocated to Bombay.

He attended the Film and Television Institute of India alongside Mani Kaul, another prominent figure in Indian art house cinema. Shahani made his debut with "Maya Darpan" in 1972. The film, adapted from Hindi writer Nirmal Varma's short story, depicted a woman torn between her lover and preserving her father's honor in feudal India.

He followed "Maya Darpan" with "Tarang" in 1984, featuring Amol Palekar and Smita Patil, which earned a National Film Award. The narrative centered on an amoral businessman entangled with the wife of a trade union leader.

"Kasba," another of his notable works, portrays the story of a dishonest businessman's adopted daughter, portrayed by Vashisht, who takes action when his eldest son, played by Shatrughan Sinha, is arrested for counterfeiting.

The filmmaker's passing was mourned by many within the film industry.

Nila Madhab Panda, renowned for works like “I Am Kalam” and “Kadvi Hawa,” bid a tearful adieu to Shahani, remembering him as a "cinematic luminary."

“Saddened by the loss of Kumar Shahani, a visionary filmmaker who painted life's canvas with cinematic mastery, farewell to a cinematic luminary. Your artistry will forever inspire,” Panda wrote on X.

Writer-filmmaker Khalid Mohamed expressed that Shahani’s films will be cherished by his admirers.

“Goodbye my friend. Kumar Shahani, brilliant filmmaker and beautiful mind, passed away at age 83, in Calcutta. He had suffered a fall, was hospitalized and discharged after a few days but… Kumar, your groundbreaking cinema, your smile, gentle voice live on in us, your admirers forever,” Mohamed said.

Oscar-winning sound designer Resul Pookutty expressed that Shahani will be truly missed.

In a post on X, the Film Heritage Foundation mourned the death of Shahani.

“FHF is deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Kumar Shahani, pathbreaking avant-garde filmmaker, a leading light of the Indian New Wave, and one of the first members of FHF's Advisory Council, who deeply believed in the importance of the work we do,” the post read.