Celebrating Shabana Azmi
Ankur / Ankur: The Seedling
Director's bio
Shyam Benegal
Shyam Benegal is a distinguished Indian film director, screenwriter, and documentary filmmaker. He is often regarded as a pioneer of parallel cinema in India and is widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers post-1970s. He made his first documentary film, "Gher Betha Ganga" (Ganges at the Doorstep), in 1962. His first feature film, "Ankur" (1974), marked the beginning of his illustrious career in cinema and was a significant milestone in the parallel cinema movement. Benegal's early films, including "Nishant" (1975), "Manthan" (1976), and "Bhumika" (1977), are considered classics of Indian cinema. These films introduced some of the most accomplished actors in Indian cinema, such as Shabana Azmi, Naseeruddin Shah, and Smita Patil. His later works, like "Mammo" (1994), "Sardari Begum" (1996), and "Zubeidaa" (2001), continued to receive critical acclaim. Benegal has received numerous accolades, including eighteen National Film Awards, a Filmfare Award, and a Nandi Award. He was honored with the Padma Shri in 1976, the Padma Bhushan in 1991, and the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 2005 for his contributions to Indian cinema.
Synopsis
Laxmi lives a poor lifestyle in a small village in India along with her husband, Kishtaya, who is a deaf-mute. Both husband and wife work for the wealthy landlord. The landlord’s son, Surya, has to cancel his studies and return home to look after the estate, as well as formalize his marriage to Saroj, the girl he was compelled to get married to when he was very young. Shortly thereafter Kishtaya is apprehended stealing toddy from the fields, is severely beaten, left senseless, and when he recovers he absconds, leaving Laxmi alone to fend for herself.
Details of Cast
Shabana Azmi as Laxmi Sadhu Meher as Kishtayya Anant Nag as Surya Priya Tendulkar as Saru Aga Mohamed Hussain as Sheik Chand Mirza Qadirali Baig as Surya's father Dalip Tahil (credited as Daleep Tahil)
Details of Crew
Cinematography: Govind Nihalani Editing: Bhanudas Divakar Music: Vanraj Bhatia Sound: Mangesh Desai
Producer Details
Writer Details
Stills
Categories
- International Competition (14)
- Homage (4)
- World Cinema (63)
- Country Focus (7)
- Indian Cinema Now (7)
- Kaleidoscope (6)
- Malayalam Cinema Today (12)
- Restored Classics (7)
- Jury Films (5)
- Opening Film (1)
- Spirit of Cinema (1)
- Ann Hui: Chronicler of the Outliers (5)
- The Female Gaze (7)
- Signatures In Motion (3)
- Midnight Cinema (3)
- Festival Favourites (13)
- Viva el Cine: Latin American Films (5)
- Refracted Realities : The Existential Mindscapes of Hong Sang-soo (4)
- Chiaroscuro : Retrospective of Madhu Ambat (4)
- Centennial Tribute (3)
