Summary: (http://kamlashow.com/podcast/wp-content/uploads/Shyam_Benegal.thumbnail.jpg)In our final segment Indian filmmaker, director and writer Mr. Shyam Benegal (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0070867/) talks about his cousin the legendary filmaker Guru Dutt (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=ur2&tag=wwwkamlabhatt-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&path=external-search%3Fsearch-type=ss%26index=blended%26keyword=019567233X%20)(http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=wwwkamlabhatt-20&l=ur2&o=1) and Satyajit Ray, and how they influenced and inspired him. A prolific filmmaker he continues to make feature films and talks abou the changes in Indian films. Mr. Benegal talks about the changing India and how that is influencing his story-telling. Mr. Benegal was part of the creative team that designed the spectacular opening (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f12e6390-cf0e-11df-9be2-00144feab49a.html)ceremonies of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi. In 1950 when Guru Dutt's first film became a success Mr. Benegal says, "Guru Dutt made it big." Mr. Benegal was in high school at this time. "Suddenly he had become this enormous figure in my eyes...and I said that is what I want." Mr. Benegal wanted to make different kinds of film and not the grand romantic films that his cousin directed and starred. He points out this cousin's films were young people's films with young people's sensibilities. Tragically his cousin Guru Dutt died very young. He was only 39 years old. Mr. Benegal says Satyajit Ray (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=ur2&tag=wwwkamlabhatt-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&path=external-search%3Fsearch-type=ss%26index=blended%26keyword=Satyajit%20Ray)(http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=wwwkamlabhatt-20&l=ur2&o=1)'s Pather Panchali(http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=wwwkamlabhatt-20&l=ur2&o=1) opened up the filmmaking path for him. After watching the film he realized that he could make films of his own choice, style and method. Later on, Mr. Benegal went on to make a film titled, Benegal on Ray. This two-hour long film is one of the rare instances where Mr. Ray talks about his private life and films. Mr. Benegal concludes our conversation by discussing the changing India and how this is influencing his story-telling. He dismisses any ideas of retiring and laughingly admits, " I am very jealous (of the new films) because I am not keeping up." He has two projects in the pipeline: Chamki based on Prosper Merimee 's Carmen, and a second project that is based on a 21st century Indian village. This one-on-one conversation was recorded in Mr. Benegal's office in Mumbai, India. Since then Mr. Benegal has produced a couple of feature films.
