Satyajit Ray is one of the most prominent filmmakers in the country. He used films as an effective medium to highlight the social-economic issues in the country. Through his films, he had influenced several filmmakers to enter the industry.Today marks the birth centenary, 100th birthday of legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray. He had also tried his hand in writing, music composition, lyric writing, and illustration.
His influence on the cinematic world was so high that, foreign filmmakers like Japanese director Akira Kurosawa, Francis Ford Coppola, Elia Kazan, Christopher Nolan, and Alexander Payne were impressed with his way of filmmaking.
“The quiet but deep observation, understanding, and love of the human race, which are characteristic of all his films, have impressed me greatly. … I feel that he is a “giant” of the movie industry. Not to have seen the cinema of Ray means existing in the world without seeing the sun or the moon. I can never forget the excitement in my mind after seeing it (Pather Panchali). It is the kind of cinema that flows with the serenity and nobility of a big river. People are born, live out their lives, and then accept their deaths. Without the least effort and without any sudden jerks, Ray paints his picture, but its effect on the audience is to stir up deep passions,” Akira Kurosawa said talking about Satyajit Ray.
Born into a Bengali household, Satyajit Ray was attracted towards Bengali literature and Rabindranath Tagore was his favourite writer. He went to Shanti Niketan for his studies.
After completing his studies, Ray had started his career by working for an advertising company as a visualizer. After watching, Italian film Bicycle Thieves, he had decided to enter the film industry.
By his first film, Satyajit Ray established himself as a prominent filmmaker. His first film was Pather Panchali. In his career, Mr. Ray had won 32 Indian National Film Awards, a Golden Lion, a Golden Bear, 2 Silver Bears. In 1992, he was honoured with the highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna in 1992.
