Logo

As ace film director Shyam Benegal celebrates his 90th birthday on 14th December 2024, I found myself pondering the perfect gift for such an iconic figure. The idea of creating a personal tribute took shape, culminating in this book, Maestro. This is neither a scholarly analysis of Benegal's groundbreaking contributions to Indian cinema nor a conventional biography-those already exist. Instead, this isa heartfelt homage from a fan, associate and mentee, offering reflections on the master filmmaker's impact. The book includes some of my earlier writings on Mr. Benegal, alongside my reflections, thoughts and reminiscences. Its uniqueness lies in the inclusion of film reviews penned by my late friend, Vivek Chatterjee from Lucknow. These reviews, originally written for newspapers, vividly narrate the plots and stories of Benegal's films. They allow readers who may not have seen the films to visualize them through the mind's eye. With this blend of personal insights and detailed reviews, Maestro hopes to celebrate Benegal's brilliance from an intimate and heartfelt lens.