Gautam Benegal

Born in 1965 in Calcutta, Gautam Benegal graduated from Jadavpur University taking his degree in Comparative Literature. He is also a Diploma holder in animation from the National Institute of Design.

From his early years he showed a marked aptitude for writing and the graphic arts. At age 16, at the invitation of Satyajit Ray, renowned director and editor of the children’s magazine “Sandesh”, his illustrations and articles regularly appeared in Sandesh and subsequently other publications.

As a natural extension of his artistic skills, Benegal took up animation from the age of 18. He trained himself in classical animation and subsequently went on to make several animation films, one of which won the National Award. Benegal is also a freelance painter, journalist and cartoonist who has been associated with the DNA and Times Of India. In 2011 he wrote a book of short stories for teenagers called “1/7 Bondel Road” which includes his own illustrations and has received wide critical acclaim.

Gautam Benegal held an exhibition in Bombay’s Cool Chef Café in 2012 with the theme, “Irani Cafes – the vanishing old world charm of Bombay.”
He also exhibited his paintings at Carpe Diem, Majorda in 2013 from the 6^th to the 13^th on the memorable and timeless spaces of Bombay and the people who make up those spaces. His exhibition was called “Continuum – The Enduring Spaces of Bombay.”

Gautam Benegal won the National award (Rajatkamal) Best animation Film for 2010: The Prince and the Crown of Stone.