Cult Indian filmmaker Kundan Shah passes away

Celebrated Indian filmmaker Kundan Shah, best known for his celebrated social satire Janey Bhi Do Yaron, died on Saturday at his Mumbai home following a heart attack. He was 69.

Shah had studied direction at the Film and Television Institute of India in Pune and made his feature film debut in 1983 with the cult classic that starred Naseeruddin Shah, Om Puri and Bhakti Barwe.

The film did not become a box office success but Shah received his first and only National Award — Indira Gandhi Award for Best First Film of a Director — for the movie, which later went on to become one of the most celebrated dark satirical comedies in the history of Indian cinema.

Shah returned the award during the student protest in his alma mater FTII in 2015. He made his directorial debut on television in 1986 with the popular series Nukkad.

Shah Rukh Khan, who acted in Kundan’s applauded movie Kabhi Haan Kabhi Na, posted his condolence on Twitter.

“Oh my friend I miss you. I know u will bring smiles around wherever u are...but this world will laugh less now. RIP,” wrote Shah Rukh Khan.

His peers in Bollywood also posted their tributes:

Originally published in Dawn, October 8th, 2017