Padma Shri documentary filmmaker S Krishnaswamy passes away at 87

Padma Shri awardee S Krishnaswamy, a renowned documentary filmmaker, passed away at the age of 87 on Sunday in Chennai. Reportedly, he had heart-related issues and died at a city hospital. His demise is mourned across India as it marks the end of a chapter in Indian documentary cinema.

Krishnaswamy was known across film, academic, and cultural circles for devoting more than six decades to documenting India's political, cultural, and civilizational journey. His work not only gained critical acclaim but also pulled international audiences at a time when Indian non-fiction cinema had limited visibility. Born on July 29, 1938, he was an alumnus of Columbia University, and after returning to India, he founded Krishnaswamy Associates in 1963. It laid the foundation for a long career in documentary filmmaking with a combination of scholarly research and cinematic clarity.

His most popular work includes Indus Valley to Indira Gandhi, a four-hour-long film that educated the audience about nearly 5,000 years of the subcontinent's political and cultural evolution. The documentary received international recognition and was then acquired by Warner Bros. for global distribution.

He was awarded several honours for his contributions, such asthe Padma Shri in 2009 and the Dr. V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award. International recognition features the Honor Summus Award from the Watumull Foundation in Hawaii and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the U.S. International Film & Video Festival in Los Angeles. (Agencies)

Also Read: Bollywood icon Madhuri Dixit recalls working as a 'junior' to Dharmendra