The legendary filmmaker is remembered for his films like 'Pather Panchali', 'Jalsaghar', 'Devi', 'Charulata', 'Mahanagar', and 'Nayak' among others.
"Not to have seen the cinema of Ray means existing in the world without seeing the sun or the moon.” - Akira Kurosawa
Art is a reflection of society and the times, and Satyajit Ray's works are the biggest examples of that! Take 'Pather Panchali' for instance, which takes us back to the rural Bengal of the 50s, showcasing the struggle of marginalized families and all. But it's not just about the hardships as his films also celebrate the human spirit that overpowers the challenges of life. Through the journey of Apu, the protagonist of the 'Apu Trilogy', Ray delved deep into the nuances of human emotions - the joys, the sorrows, and everything in between - making us believe that life is beautiful no matter what. And despite being deeply rooted in Bengali culture and traditions, his films possess a universal appeal like no other, resonating with one and all from across the world. Whether it's 'Charulata', 'Devi', 'Abhijaan', 'Jalsaghar', 'Nayak', 'Mahanagar', 'Aranyer Din Ratri', or the 'Gupi Bagha' franchise, each of these films serves as a testament to his unmatched vision, his deep understanding of human life, and his command over the craft.
Born on May 2, 1921, Ray was the global brand ambassador of Indian cinema. He was a well-known figure on the international stage, and his films received widespread critical acclaim at prestigious film festivals across the world. His cinematic style has influenced several international filmmakers including Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Abbas Kiarostami, Quentin Tarantino, Wes Anderson, Danny Boyle, and Christopher Nolan.
"His (Ray's) work is in the company of that of living contemporaries like Ingmar Bergman, Akira Kurosawa, and Federico Fellini." - Martin Scorsese
To mark the 103rd birth anniversary of Ray, let's have a look at the top achievements in his career.
In 1992, around a month before his passing, Ray was honored by the Academy at the 64th Academy Awards with the Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award. He could not fly to Los Angeles due to his health issues and accepted the award from his hospital bed. The video of him holding the statuette and giving his Oscar acceptance speech was shown during the ceremony on March 30, 1992.
(Credit: Oscars)
"... it is a magnificent award, certainly the best achievement of my movie-making career,” said Ray in his speech.
Ray's debut film, 'Pather Panchali', was released in 1955, establishing him as one of the world's most distinguished filmmakers. It won several national as well as international awards, including the Best Human Document award at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival. Besides, it also won an OCIC Award – Special Mention there.
A still from 'Pather Panchali'
Apart from the award at Cannes, 'Pather Panchali' also won the Vatican Award (Rome), the Golden Carabao (Manila), and the Diploma of Merit (Edinburgh) among others. At India's 3rd National Film Awards in 1955, it was named Best Feature Film and Best Bengali Feature Film.
Ray won a total of 36 National Film Awards, a record that is still unbeaten today. Among these, six were for Best Director while others were for Best Film, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, and other categories.
'Aparajito', the second installment in 'The Apu Trilogy', won 11 international awards. And the most significant among all was the Golden Lion and Critics Award at the 1957 Venice Film Festival, becoming the first ever film to win both. It also won the top awards at the Berlin and Cannes Film Festival. Moreover, it received the Golden Gate awards for Best Picture and Best Director at the San Francisco International Film Festival in 1958, along with the Critics Award for this film.
In 1982, Ray won the Golden Lion Honorary Award at the Venice Film Festival. That same year, he received an honorary "Hommage à Satyajit Ray" award at the 1982 Cannes Film Festival. Also, he became the second film personality after Charlie Chaplin to be awarded an honorary doctorate by Oxford University.
He was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1965. In 1985, he was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke Award by the Government of India. In 1987, he was awarded the Legion of Honor by the President of France.
(Credit: Soorajit Mukherjee)
In 1992, he was posthumously awarded the Akira Kurosawa Award for Lifetime Achievement in Direction at the San Francisco International Film Festival.
However, Ray's legacy goes beyond all the awards and accolades that he received. Even after so many years since his demise, he is still relevant today and is a cultural icon for every Indian.
