Renowned filmmaker Kumar Shahani passes away at 83
Kolkata, Feb 25: Filmmaker Kumar Shahani, a parallel cinema icon who directed films such as "Maya Darpan", "Char Adhyay" and "Kasba", has died at the age of 83.
The director passed away last night at a hopsital here, close friend, actor Mita Vashisht said.
"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 worked 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 hospital," the actor added.
Shahani is survived by his wife and two daughters.
In a note, the family said, “It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of our beloved Kumar, on 24th February, 2024.” The filmmaker was born in Larkana, Sindh in the undivided India. After the partition in 1947, Shahani's family shifted to Bombay.
He studied at the Film and Television Institute of India with Mani Kaul, another major name in Indian art house cinema Shahani debuted with "Maya Darpan" in 1972. The film, based on Hindi writer Nirmal Varma's short story, revolved around a woman divided between her lover and protecting the honour of her father in feudal India.
He followed it up with "Tarang" in 1984. Starring Amol Palekar and Smita Patil, the film received a national film award. The story revolved around an amoral businessman, who gets involved with a trade union leader's wife.
In “Khayal Gatha”, Shahani traced the relationship of Khayal genre with Indian classical dance and featured Rajat Kapoor and Mita Vashisht.
“Kasba”, his other feature, is about a dishonest businessman's adopted daughter, played by Vashisht, taking action when his eldest son, essayed by Shatrughan Sinha, is arrested for counterfeiting.
Vashisht hailed Shahani for his pivotal role in the parallel cinema movement in India.
“I admired him as a human being and as a filmmaker. He was one of the greatest directors in our country. His integrity and consciousness towards society, art, cinema, was unparallel. His films were inspiring,” the actor said.
The filmmaker's death was mourned by many in the film industry.
Nila Madhab Panda, best known for “I Am Kalam”, “Kadvi Hawa”, bid a tearful adieu to Shahani, remembered Shahani 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 said Shahani’s films will be remembered 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 said Shahani will be truly missed.
“Woke up to this terrible news of #kumarshahani passing. we lost a visionary, lost a teacher, lost someone who shaped us all with his immaculate vision of cinema and visual design… We will miss you forever! May your soul rest in Peace.. Amen,” Pookutty said.
In a post on X, 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.
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 https://t.co/6xwiLjTSoz pic.twitter.com/hcTYgf6CUE
— Film Heritage Foundation (@FHF_Official) February 25, 2024
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
K’taka HC declines stay on menstrual leave order, says issue of public importance
Bengaluru: The State Government has strongly defended its decision to grant one day of paid menstrual leave every month to women employees, telling the Karnataka High Court that the notification was issued in the larger interest of women and is legally sound. The Court, treating the matter as one of significant public importance, refused to stay the implementation of the order and adjourned the hearing to January 20.
The Labour Department’s November 20, 2025 notification was challenged by the Bangalore Hotels Association, Avirat Defence System, Facile Aerospace Technologies Ltd and Samos Technologies Ltd. Justice Jyoti Mulimani heard the petitions on Wednesday.
At the start of the hearing, the bench asked whether the State had filed its objections. Advocate General K. Shashikiran Shetty informed the Court that objections had been submitted and that copies would be provided to the petitioners.
Defending the notification, the Advocate General said the government had introduced a progressive measure aimed at women’s welfare, one that no other state in India had implemented so far. He told the Court that 72 objections were received and considered before finalising the notification. He argued that the government was empowered to frame such policy under Article 42 of the Constitution and noted that the Supreme Court and the Law Commission had earlier made recommendations in this direction.
ALSO READ: MP Brijesh Chowta urges centre to grant point of call status to Mangaluru airport
When the Court asked whether the notification applied to all sectors, the Advocate General replied in the affirmative. The bench observed that the matter required detailed hearing because of its wider public impact and decided to take it up in January. The Court added that petitioners may file their responses to the State’s objections before the next hearing.
Petitioners’ counsel B.K. Prashanth requested that the State be restrained from enforcing the order until the case is decided. The Advocate General responded that the government had already begun implementing the notification across all sectors.
Justice Mulimani noted that nothing would change between now and the next hearing and emphasised that the Court would consider all arguments thoroughly before issuing any direction. The bench then adjourned the matter to January 20 and asked petitioners to file any additional applications with copies to the State’s counsel.
