Filmmaker Kumar Shahani passes away
Director Kumar Shahani, renowned for his intricate and multi-layered films such as Maya Darpan, Tarang, Khayal Gatha and Char Adhyay, which expanded the artistic language of arthouse cinema, passed away at a Kolkata hospital late Saturday night at the age of 83. He had been grappling with age-related health issues.
Considered a master of the medium, both intellectually and technically, Shahani’s cinematic vision remained steadfastly pure. His body of work transcended conventional labels, pushing the boundaries of art and aesthetics beyond limits.
Actor Mita Vashisht, who collaborated with him on projects like Khayal Gatha (1988) and Kasba (1990), emphasised Shahani’s unwavering artistic integrity and visionary approach.
Shahani was born in Larkana, now in Pakistan’s Sindh province. Following Partition, his family relocated to Bombay (now Mumbai). He received his cinematic education from esteemed mentors, including film director Ritwik Ghatak (known for Meghe Dhaka Tara) at FTII, Pune and historian DD Kosambi, a pioneer in interdisciplinary studies. During his time in France, where he pursued further studies in cinema, he had the privilege of assisting the master minimalist Robert Bresson.
