Pather Panchali (1958)

About Pather Panchali

"Pather Panchali," a 1958 Indian Bengali-language film, was directed by Satyajit Ray and produced by the Government of West Bengal. It's based on Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay's 1929 novel of the same name and is Ray's debut film. The story revolves around the life of Apu, a young boy living in a rural Bengali village, and the hardships and simplicity of his life.

Making / Production

Ray started creating Pather Panchali without any formal training in filmmaking. It took him several years to complete due to financial issues. Shot in black and white, the film was pioneering in its presentation of poverty and daily life, significantly differing from the traditional Indian cinema of the time.

Actors

• Kanu Banerjee as Harihar Ray: He played the role of Apu's father, who is a struggling priest and dreams of becoming a successful poet and playwright.
• Karuna Banerjee as Sarbajaya Ray: She portrayed the character of Apu's mother, who constantly fights to keep the family alive and together.
• Subir Banerjee as Apu: Debuting in this film, Subir portrayed the innocence and wonder of a young village boy, Apu, successfully.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The film is part of the Apu trilogy, including "Aparajito" (1956) and "The World of Apu" (1959).
• Although initially it was ignored by Indian critics and an international audience, the film later received global acclaim.

Awards

"Pather Panchali" won the Best Human Document award at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival and received numerous other international awards, further earning India a reputation in the global film industry.

Quotes

• "You cannot drive out reality with a stick."
• "You have to go on living."

Music, Soundtrack

• The film's notable music was composed by Pandit Ravi Shankar.
• Music played an essential role in the movie, setting the mood and complementing the simple yet emotionally intense story.