On Satyajit Ray’s birth anniversary, let’s take a look at the films he directed

New Delhi: The renowned auteur, Satyajit Ray is hailed as the maverick and greatest filmmakers not just in India but worldwide. His cinema reflected the society of the time and brilliantly highlighted the class crisis and conflict on-screen. Ray, was driven to filmmaking after meeting French director Jean Renoir and watching the famous Italian neo-realist film ‘Bicycle Thieves’ by Vittoria De Sica. 

Born in a family of prolific writers and artistes, Ray’s parents were Sukumar Ray and Suprabha Ray. Satyajit Ray, before making his mark as a filmmaker, also worked in an advertising agency, publishing house – designing book covers for many. 

In fact, he designed for Jibanananda Das’s ‘Banalata Sen’, and ‘Rupasi Bangla’, Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay’s ‘Chander Pahar’, Jim Corbett’s ‘Maneaters of Kumaon’, and Jawaharlal Nehru’s ‘Discovery of India’. He also worked on a children’s version of ‘Pather Panchali’, a classic Bengali novel by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, renamed as Aam Antir Bhepu (The mango-seed whistle).

Ray was so influenced with his work at the publishing house that he used his illustrations as still shots in the first film he helmed.

On his birth anniversary (May 2, 1921) let’s take a look at the films he directed: 

1955 Pather Panchali

1956 Aparajito,

1958 Parash Pathar, Jalsaghar

1959 Apur Sansar

1960 Devi

1961 Teen Kanya

 • The Postmaster

 • Monihara

 • Samapti

1961 Rabindranath Tagore

1962 Kanchenjungha, Abhijan

1963 Mahanagar

1964 Charulata, Two

1965 Kapurush-O-Mahapurush

 • Kapurush

 • Mahapurush

1966 Nayak

1967 Chiriyakhana

1969 Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne

1970 Aranyer Din Ratri

1970 Pratidwandi

1971 Seemabaddha, Sikkim 

1972 The Inner Eye 

1973 Ashani Sanket

1974 Sonar Kella

1976 Jana Aranya

1976 Bala

1977 Shatranj Ke Khilari

1979 Joi Baba Felunath

1980 Hirak Rajar Deshe, Pikoo

1981 Sadgati

1984 Ghare Baire

1987 Sukumar Ray

1989 Ganashatru

1990 Shakha Proshakha

1991 Agantuk

Satyajit Ray was graced by The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences with an Honorary Academy Award. He became the first and the only Indian, yet, to receive the honour. He received it 24 days before his death, calling it the “Best achievement of his movie-making career.”

Ray breathed his last on April 23, 1992.

Satyajit Ray has left behind a legacy of cinematic brilliance which schools the aspiring movie makers and actors on how to view the reality and create magic on the reel.