Kumar Shahani, one of the most prominent people in India's parallel auteur cinema movement, has passed away due to a prolonged illness.
As reported by VarietyThe pioneer of Indian cinema was 83 years old when he breathed his last on February 24, 2024, after feeling unwell for some time, admitted to a hospital in Calcutta.
Shahani studied screenwriting and directing in Indian Film and Television, where he was taught by Indian master Ritwik Ghatak.
He obtained a government scholarship to continue his studies in France and continued his studies at the Institut des hautes études cinématographiques. He later proceeded to assist Robert Bresson on his 1969 project, A sweet woman.
Kumar Shahani then returned to India with his first feature film. Maya Darpan in 1972. He gained popularity for his historical films including Tarang (1984), Khayal Gatha (1989) and Kasbah (1990), all of which focused on Shahani's formalist film style.
Internationally, Shahani made her mark in the entertainment industry when her work was appreciated at the Rotterdam International Film Festival.
The festival programmed several of its films, including Maya Darpan, TarangThe short Var Var Vari, Kasba, the documentary bhavantarana and Char Adhyay.
