SATYAJIT RAY :JOURNEY IN INDIAN CINEMA

 Remembering Satyajit Ray: The man who changed the course of Indian Cinema 

Satyajit Ray - the legendary director who spearheaded a new wave of classic films & creations, has made unparalleled contributions to Indian cinema. Marking Indian cinema on the global map, the auteur became the first Indian director to bring Oscars on this land. From thought-provoking films to literary creations for children, this visionary man is looked upon by filmmakers from across the globe who continues to take inspiration from his work. Today, on his death anniversary, let us take a walk down the memory lane to remember the journey of this cinematic legend. 

Rich-cultural heritage of Ray

The man of several talents, Ray’s polymath personality led him to not only direct films or write scripts, but to compose music, designing title cards, creating marvellous sets often on ridiculously low budgets and many more. His talents can be traced down to a family with a rich cultural heritage. Ray’s grandfather, Upendra Kishore Ray Chaudhary was a prominent artist, musician, publisher, who marked literary history with his name. Ray’s father, Sukumar Ray was a critically acclaimed poet whose poems still hold significance in literature. Ray realised his talents for writing, designing when he graduated from Presidency College in Kolkata and persuaded art school at Shantiniketan. 

Essentials from the auteur

Ray’s entry into the world of direction began with Pather Panchali. This movie not only announced the arrival of new film-making talent but created an entirely different proposition from Bollywood’s trademark musicals and melodrama. Not just lauded in India but the film also received critical acclaim overseas. This movie bagged National Award and several international awards including BAFTA. 

To name a few from his extraordinary 36 feature films, another feature named Charulata marks the highest achievement for the ace film-maker. The film which was based on Tagore’s novel, the broken nest, won Silver Bear for Best Director at Berlin International Film Festival. Yet another National Award-winning film Nayak by Ray showcased the complexities of human nature's correlation with stardom and won several awards. 

All his movies, short-films scored above others because he always dealt with the reality of times through his cinema. He has once observed that the best kind of inspiration derives from life. He touched the emotional chords with the precision that is still loved and admired by many, and although his work has been culture-specific, the beauty of his cinema transcends beyond languages and broke socio-cultural barriers to create a lasting impact on audiences across the globe. 

And as once acclaimed filmmaker Martin Scorcese said, “Ray’s magic, the simple poetry of his images and their emotional impact will always stay with me.”