Fall In Love with Master Storyteller of Satyajit Ray
Table of Content:
- Early Life of Satyajit Ray
- Satyajit Ray's First Masterpiece Pather Panchali: The Triumph and Struggle of Pather Pancholi
- The "Apu Trilogy"
- Movies Which Were Directed by Satyajit Ray
- Satyajit Ray’s Awards and Facilitation
He is calm, exact, and methodical while nevertheless evoking strong emotions in the audience. Without resorting to sensationalism or exaggerated dramatics, his pictures capture a delicate sensibility. He developed a virtually undetectable cinematic aesthetic. He felt that the best technique was the one that was obscure.
Early Life of Satyajit Ray:
On May 2, 1921, Satyajit Ray was born in Calcutta, India, into a wealthy and intelligent family. Sukumar and Suprabha Ray gave birth to Satyajit Ray in Calcutta. Satyajit was only three when Sukumar passed away, and the family made do on Suprabha Ray's modest earnings. After attending Ballygunge Government High School in Calcutta, Ray attended Presidency College to earn his BA in economics. Nevertheless, he had a lifelong passion for the arts.
Rabindranath Tagore created Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, and his mother urged that he attend the institution in 1940. Eventually, he agreed to try after being persuaded to do so by his mother and his admiration for Tagore.
Ray learned to love Oriental art in Santiniketan. His enthusiasm for Indian art was sparked by his travels to Ajanta, Ellora, and Elephanta.
Ray began working as a junior visualizer at the British advertising firm D.J. Keymer in 1943, at 80 rupees per month. He also served as a commercial artist for a publishing business and rose to prominence in India as a top typographer and book-jacket designer. Later, Ray worked for the Signet Press, a brand-new publisher established by D. K. Gupta. Ray was given an unlimited artistic license by Gupta when he was requested to develop book covers for the business.
Many books were designed by Ray, including Banalata Sen and Rupasi Bangla by Jibanananda Das, Chander Pahar by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, Maneaters of Kumaon by Jim Corbett, and Discovery of India by Jawaharlal Nehru. The book's cover and illustrations influenced Ray deeply.
Ray established the Calcutta Film Society in 1947 along with Chidananda Dasgupta and other individuals. Ray and Bijoya Das got married in 1949. Sandip Ray, a film director, was the couple's son.
“The River” was a movie that French director Jean Renoir shot in Calcutta that same year. In the countryside, Ray assisted him in finding spots. Renoir was informed by Ray of his long-standing desire to direct Pather Panchali, and he received Renoir's support for the endeavor.
Ray was assigned to the headquarters in London by D.J. Keymer in 1950. Ray viewed 99 movies over his six months in London. One of these was Vittorio De Sica's Ladri di biciclette (Bicycle Thieves), a 1948 neorealist film that had a significant influence on him. Ray claimed in a later interview that he left the theatre with the intention of becoming a director.
On May 2, 1921, Satyajit Ray was born in Calcutta, India, into a wealthy and intelligent family. Sukumar and Suprabha Ray gave birth to Satyajit Ray in Calcutta. Satyajit was only three when Sukumar passed away, and the family made do on Suprabha Ray's modest earnings. After attending Ballygunge Government High School in Calcutta, Ray attended Presidency College to earn his BA in economics. Nevertheless, he had a lifelong passion for the arts.
Rabindranath Tagore created Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan, and his mother urged that he attend the institution in 1940. Eventually, he agreed to try after being persuaded to do so by his mother and his admiration for Tagore.
Ray learned to love Oriental art in Santiniketan. His enthusiasm for Indian art was sparked by his travels to Ajanta, Ellora, and Elephanta.
Ray began working as a junior visualizer at the British advertising firm D.J. Keymer in 1943, at 80 rupees per month. He also served as a commercial artist for a publishing business and rose to prominence in India as a top typographer and book-jacket designer. Later, Ray worked for the Signet Press, a brand-new publisher established by D. K. Gupta. Ray was given an unlimited artistic license by Gupta when he was requested to develop book covers for the business.
Many books were designed by Ray, including Banalata Sen and Rupasi Bangla by Jibanananda Das, Chander Pahar by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, Maneaters of Kumaon by Jim Corbett, and Discovery of India by Jawaharlal Nehru. The book's cover and illustrations influenced Ray deeply.
Ray established the Calcutta Film Society in 1947 along with Chidananda Dasgupta and other individuals. Ray and Bijoya Das got married in 1949. Sandip Ray, a film director, was the couple's son.“The River” was a movie that French director Jean Renoir shot in Calcutta that same year. In the countryside, Ray assisted him in finding spots. Renoir was informed by Ray of his long-standing desire to direct Pather Panchali, and he received Renoir's support for the endeavor.
Ray was assigned to the headquarters in London by D.J. Keymer in 1950. Ray viewed 99 movies over his six months in London. One of these was Vittorio De Sica's Ladri di biciclette (Bicycle Thieves), a 1948 neorealist film that had a significant influence on him. Ray claimed in a later interview that he left the theatre with the intention of becoming a director.
Filmography and Career of Satyajit Ray:
Satyajit Ray's First Masterpiece Pather Panchali: The Triumph and Struggle of Pather Pancholi
Ray assembled a crew of young guys to work as technicians upon his return in late 1950, despite having no filmmaking expertise. In search of financial support, he made contact with the widow of Pather Panchali author Bibhuti Bhusan Banerjee to inquire about film rights.
Ray had a little notebook with sketches, dialogue, and the treatment in it that he used to present the idea for the movie to possible producers.
Later, Ray gave the Paris' Cinémathèque Française this script and the wash sketches. Producers looked at this script with interest, as well as a sketchbook that depicted the film's major dramatic events. Despite the fact that many of them were impressed, none offered to make the movie.
It took around two years in vain to locate a producer. Unfazed, Ray started putting the ensemble together and scouting for venues.
Lacking a producer, Ray came to the conclusion that he would not likely secure funding unless he could establish his credentials by producing a few key scenes of the movie.
Because of his position at D.J. Keymer, the shooting had to be done on Sundays. It was the well-known "train discovery by Apu and his sister Durga in the field of Kaash flowers" scene.
They were horrified to learn that a herd of cattle had feasted on the Kaash blossoms when they went back the next Sunday to shoot. In order to finish the scene, he had to wait until the following flowering season.
Satyajit Ray's confidence in the genre of movie he was making was further bolstered by Do Bigha Jamin and Rashoman by Kurosawa. He came across a producer named Ana Dutta, who promised to supply additional money after providing a small amount. Ray considers this time to have been a very instructive one. The monies ran out very quickly. However, since the plans for the shoot had already been made, some of Ray's wife Bijoya's jewelry was pawned, and filming continued for a few more days. Anil Choudhury, the production manager for Ray, proposed asking Dr. B. C. Roy, the West Bengal Chief Minister, for assistance.
The government agreed to provide funding. The filming restarted in the early months of 1954 after a pause of nearly a year. One, Apu's voice did not break while shooting the movie, which Ray afterward referred to as a miracle. Two, Durga did not mature. Three, Indir Thakrun did not pass away. Ray presented some Pather Panchali stills during a chance encounter. Wheeler proposed having a world premiere at MOMA.
Ray asked the renowned Sitar master Pandit Ravi Shankar to create the music for the movie. Pather Panchali was ultimately released in Calcutta on August 26, 1955, a few months after its initial release. The first two weeks of the movie's release were only mediocre. A special jury prize for the film was given for "the Best Human Document."
Pather Panchali went on to win a whopping twelve honors at domestic and international film festivals, including Best Actress for her performance as Indir Thakrun in Manila's Chunibala. He made the decision to leave advertising and pursue filmmaking full-time. And so, a lengthy and successful career got started. Pather Panchali, his debut film, has made Satyajit Ray a well-known filmmaker.
Satyajit Ray's First Masterpiece Pather Panchali: The Triumph and Struggle of Pather Pancholi
Ray assembled a crew of young guys to work as technicians upon his return in late 1950, despite having no filmmaking expertise. In search of financial support, he made contact with the widow of Pather Panchali author Bibhuti Bhusan Banerjee to inquire about film rights.
Ray had a little notebook with sketches, dialogue, and the treatment in it that he used to present the idea for the movie to possible producers.
Later, Ray gave the Paris' Cinémathèque Française this script and the wash sketches. Producers looked at this script with interest, as well as a sketchbook that depicted the film's major dramatic events. Despite the fact that many of them were impressed, none offered to make the movie.
It took around two years in vain to locate a producer. Unfazed, Ray started putting the ensemble together and scouting for venues.
Lacking a producer, Ray came to the conclusion that he would not likely secure funding unless he could establish his credentials by producing a few key scenes of the movie.Because of his position at D.J. Keymer, the shooting had to be done on Sundays. It was the well-known "train discovery by Apu and his sister Durga in the field of Kaash flowers" scene.
They were horrified to learn that a herd of cattle had feasted on the Kaash blossoms when they went back the next Sunday to shoot. In order to finish the scene, he had to wait until the following flowering season.
Satyajit Ray's confidence in the genre of movie he was making was further bolstered by Do Bigha Jamin and Rashoman by Kurosawa. He came across a producer named Ana Dutta, who promised to supply additional money after providing a small amount. Ray considers this time to have been a very instructive one. The monies ran out very quickly. However, since the plans for the shoot had already been made, some of Ray's wife Bijoya's jewelry was pawned, and filming continued for a few more days. Anil Choudhury, the production manager for Ray, proposed asking Dr. B. C. Roy, the West Bengal Chief Minister, for assistance.
The government agreed to provide funding. The filming restarted in the early months of 1954 after a pause of nearly a year. One, Apu's voice did not break while shooting the movie, which Ray afterward referred to as a miracle. Two, Durga did not mature. Three, Indir Thakrun did not pass away. Ray presented some Pather Panchali stills during a chance encounter. Wheeler proposed having a world premiere at MOMA.
Ray asked the renowned Sitar master Pandit Ravi Shankar to create the music for the movie. Pather Panchali was ultimately released in Calcutta on August 26, 1955, a few months after its initial release. The first two weeks of the movie's release were only mediocre. A special jury prize for the film was given for "the Best Human Document."
Pather Panchali went on to win a whopping twelve honors at domestic and international film festivals, including Best Actress for her performance as Indir Thakrun in Manila's Chunibala. He made the decision to leave advertising and pursue filmmaking full-time. And so, a lengthy and successful career got started. Pather Panchali, his debut film, has made Satyajit Ray a well-known filmmaker.
The "Apu Trilogy":
The first installment of Ray's "The Apu trilogy" is his debut feature, Pather Panchali (1955). Apu is followed as a son, a man, and then a father in the final two movies of the trilogy, Aparajito, and Apur Sansar. Humanists everywhere will enjoy Pather Panchali. Despite the fact that the movie is about an impoverished family's harrowing battle for survival, there is no melodrama in it. Respect for human dignity is what is portrayed in place of that.
Aparajito (1956) is the second of three films in "The Apu Trilogy"; the first was Pather Panchali and the third was Apur Sansar. As Apu grows up and distances himself from his mother, the film basically tells the story of his growth and separation. There is a lot of tension and conflict between the mother and son in the film. There is a lot of charm in Apu's and his mother's characterization. A brilliant performance by Karuna Banerjee as Sarbajaya can be seen in the film.
The third and concluding installment of the "Apu Trilogy" is "Apur Sansar" (1959). As a recent graduate without a job, Apu. In close proximity to a bustling railroad yard, he rents a room. He finds himself in the city's sizable population of young people without jobs. He needs to sell his books to cover his rent. The job search ends up being both entertaining and frustrating.
Here are All the Movies Which Were Directed by Satyajit Ray:
There were several other films Ray intended to make, including The Alien, which inspired Steven Spielberg's 1982 film E.T.; a documentary on Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar; and an adaptation of the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. He died in 1992 before any of them had been started.
The first installment of Ray's "The Apu trilogy" is his debut feature, Pather Panchali (1955). Apu is followed as a son, a man, and then a father in the final two movies of the trilogy, Aparajito, and Apur Sansar. Humanists everywhere will enjoy Pather Panchali. Despite the fact that the movie is about an impoverished family's harrowing battle for survival, there is no melodrama in it. Respect for human dignity is what is portrayed in place of that.Aparajito (1956) is the second of three films in "The Apu Trilogy"; the first was Pather Panchali and the third was Apur Sansar. As Apu grows up and distances himself from his mother, the film basically tells the story of his growth and separation. There is a lot of tension and conflict between the mother and son in the film. There is a lot of charm in Apu's and his mother's characterization. A brilliant performance by Karuna Banerjee as Sarbajaya can be seen in the film.
The third and concluding installment of the "Apu Trilogy" is "Apur Sansar" (1959). As a recent graduate without a job, Apu. In close proximity to a bustling railroad yard, he rents a room. He finds himself in the city's sizable population of young people without jobs. He needs to sell his books to cover his rent. The job search ends up being both entertaining and frustrating.
Here are All the Movies Which Were Directed by Satyajit Ray:
There were several other films Ray intended to make, including The Alien, which inspired Steven Spielberg's 1982 film E.T.; a documentary on Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar; and an adaptation of the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. He died in 1992 before any of them had been started.
Satyajit Ray’s Awards and Facilitation:
Ray won numerous honors, including 36 National Film Awards from the Indian government as well as prizes at foreign film festivals.
He received the Honourable Prize for Contribution to Cinema at the 11th Moscow International Film Festival in 1979. He has the record for the most Golden Bear nominations, with seven, and was one of only four directors to win the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin International Film Festival more than once.
He received the Golden Lion Honorary Award in 1982 at the Venice Film Festival, where he had previously won a Golden Lion for Aparajito (1956). At the 1982 Cannes Film Festival, he was presented with an honorary "Homage à Satyajit Ray" prize. In 1985, the President of India gave him the Dadasaheb Phalke Award; in 1987, the President of France gave him the Legion of Honour. His greatest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratan, was presented to him by the Indian government soon before his passing in 1965, and he also received the Padma Bhushan. Ray received an Honorary Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1992.
In 1992, at the San Francisco International Film Festival, he received the Akira Kurosawa Award for Lifetime Achievement in Directing. Satyajit Ray received many more awards and facilitations in India as well as all around the world.
Ray won numerous honors, including 36 National Film Awards from the Indian government as well as prizes at foreign film festivals.
He received the Honourable Prize for Contribution to Cinema at the 11th Moscow International Film Festival in 1979. He has the record for the most Golden Bear nominations, with seven, and was one of only four directors to win the Silver Bear for Best Director at the Berlin International Film Festival more than once.
He received the Golden Lion Honorary Award in 1982 at the Venice Film Festival, where he had previously won a Golden Lion for Aparajito (1956). At the 1982 Cannes Film Festival, he was presented with an honorary "Homage à Satyajit Ray" prize. In 1985, the President of India gave him the Dadasaheb Phalke Award; in 1987, the President of France gave him the Legion of Honour. His greatest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratan, was presented to him by the Indian government soon before his passing in 1965, and he also received the Padma Bhushan. Ray received an Honorary Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1992.
In 1992, at the San Francisco International Film Festival, he received the Akira Kurosawa Award for Lifetime Achievement in Directing. Satyajit Ray received many more awards and facilitations in India as well as all around the world.
Source: Satyajitray.org and Various News Articles Available in Public Domain
Fall In Love with Master Storyteller of Satyajit Ray Master Storyteller Satyajit Ray Satyajit Ray Early Life of Satyajit Ray Satyajit Rays Pather Panchali Apu Trilogy Movies Directed by Satyajit Ray Satyajit Rays Awards and Facilitation Filmography and Career of Satyajit Ray
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