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Gautam Benegal Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated October 4, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth1965

Age56 Years At The Time Of Death

BirthplaceCalcutta, West Bengal (now Kolkata)

ProfessionFilmmaker, Writer, Cartoonist, Artist

NationalityIndian

Marital statusMarried

FamilySon: Anand Benegal; Father: Sudarsan Benegal; Brother: Vivek Benegal; Grandfather: Shridhar Benegal

Gautam Benegal Biography

Gautam Benegal (1965–2021) was an Indian filmmaker, writer, cartoonist and artist from Calcutta (now Kolkata). Trained in comparative literature and in动画,

Early life and background

Gautam Benegal was born in 1965 in Calcutta, West Bengal (now Kolkata). He came from a family with longstanding ties to Indian cinema and grew up in a Saraswat Brahmin household. His father was Sudarsan Benegal; other family members include well-known cinema figures. He completed a graduate degree in comparative literature at Jadavpur University and later obtained a diploma in animation from the National Institute of Design.

Career

Benegal built a multifaceted creative career as a filmmaker, writer, cartoonist and artist. He began publishing very young: at 14 he produced his first illustrated book, which led to an introduction to Satyajit Ray and regular contributions to the Bengali childrens magazine Sandesh and other publications. Seeking to expand his visual practice, he trained professionally in classical animation and went on to make several animated films.

His work in animation earned national recognition. In 2010 he received the Rajat Kamal National Award for Best Animation Film for The Prince and the Crown of Stone. Benegals films were showcased internationally, including festival nominations in Tehran, Belarus, Hiroshima and Cairo.

Benegal also wrote and illustrated for young readers. In 2011 he published a short story collection for teenagers titled 1/7 Bondel Road, which included his own illustrations and attracted critical attention. Beyond publishing, he exhibited as a painter: in 2012 he took part in an exhibition in Bombay themed around Irani cafés, and in 2013 he showed work in an exhibition in Majorda that reflected on the enduring public spaces of Bombay.

In later years Benegal turned increasingly to political satire. A 2018 cartoon titled A1 Chicken Sope, which commented on Indian politics and leaders, was widely shared after he posted it on Facebook; the response inspired him to produce a series of satirical cartoons. He also maintained a YouTube channel under his name where he discussed social issues.

Public profile

Benegal was known by the nickname Tutul and maintained a visible presence on social media platforms, including Facebook. His creative interests extended beyond filmmaking and illustration to painting, cartooning and occasional journalism and freelance painting work. He listed hobbies such as painting and cooking, and his tastes included non-vegetarian dishes like shrimp and chicken. He identified politically with the Indian National Congress.

Personal life

Gautam Benegal was married and had a son, Anand Benegal, who is a musician. He had a brother named Vivek Benegal. Benegal's grandfather was Shridhar Benegal. He stood about 172 cm tall (approximately 5'8") and his eye and hair colour were described as black.

Death

Gautam Benegal died on 16 July 2021 at his residence in Kolkata at the age of 56. The reported cause of death was cardiac arrest.

Latest updates

In the years before his death Benegal continued to exhibit paintings, publish illustrated writing and share satirical cartoons online. His 2018 political cartoons and his YouTube activity brought renewed public attention to his views and artwork.

Editorial Review and Sources

This F4U profile is written from publicly available career and profile information, then reviewed for clarity before publication. If you spot an outdated detail about Gautam Benegal, send the page URL and a reliable correction source to f4udotin@gmail.com.

Reference context: StarsUnfolded
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Recent Work

The Prince and the Crown of Stone

Animated film awarded the Rajat Kamal National Award for Best Animation Film in 2010.

2010
1/7 Bondel Road

Short story book for teenagers that Benegal wrote and illustrated, published in 2011.

2011
A1 Chicken Sope (cartoon)

A satirical political cartoon posted on Facebook in 2018 that went viral and led to a series of similar works.

2018
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Career Highlights

  1. Raj at Kamal (National Award) for Best Animation Film: The Prince and the Crown of Stone (2010)
  2. Early illustrator for Sandesh and other Bengali publications after meeting Satyajit Ray
  3. Published illustrated short story collection for teenagers: 1/7 Bondel Road (2011)
  4. Exhibited paintings in Bombay (2012) and Majorda (2013)
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Gautam Benegal born?

1965

What is Gautam Benegal known for?

Filmmaker, Writer, Cartoonist, Artist

What is Gautam Benegal’s marital status?

Married