Roy, Ray (1921-1992) is an internationally acclaimed Bengali filmmaker; Also known as a photographer, illustrator, children's writer, musician. He was born on 2 May 1921 in Calcutta. His ancestral home was at Masua village in Kishoreganj district of greater Mymensingh.
His father, renowned writer, editor and photographer Sukumar Roy, was a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain. His mother Supravya Roy was a musician and handicraftsman and his grandfather Upendrakishore Roy Chowdhury was also a renowned writer, children's writer,
Painter, photographer, block designer and editor of children's magazine Sandesh (1913). Ray lost his father within two years of his birth and spent his childhood and adolescence in the care of his uncle under the care of a determined mother.
Satyajit Ray was admitted to Santiniketan in 1940 after passing Matriculation from Baliganj Government High School and BA with Honors in Economics from Presidency College.
He started his career in 1943 as a commercial artist in an advertising agency. He added new dimensions to the language and design of advertising. Around the same time he started painting on the cover of books and in magazines.
In 1948, with the help of some friends, he formed the Calcutta Film Parliament. The following year he had the opportunity to meet French filmmaker Jean Renoir. Renoya shot some parts of his film The River in Kolkata and Ray witnessed it.
He later formed a company called Konak Pictures for the purpose of making films. At that time, Ray wrote a screenplay called Perfect Day. During his five-month stay in London in 1950, he watched about a hundred films and became acquainted with British filmmaker Lindsay Anderson, film expert Penelope Huston and Gabin Lambti.
He was fascinated by The Bicycle Thief, directed by Vittorio de Sica, Italy, and decided to make a film based on Bibhutibhushan Banerjee's novel Pather Panchali. Returning to the country in October of the same year, he wrote the screenplay and in 1952 started shooting with amateurs.
He could not finish the work of painting even after selling many loans and selling jewelery, books and accumulated assets. He collected only Rs 16,500 by mortgaging his life insurance policy and from friends and relatives.
He later rented an old camera to cut costs, cut down on food and travel costs, and shot in remote areas of Kolkata.
He was looking for a producer who could afford at least Rs 40,000. After one-third of the film was filmed, the money raised ran out.
He was compelled to seek financial assistance from the government of West Bengal. Seeing the reluctance of the bureaucrats in this regard, Chief Minister Bidhan Chandra Roy himself arranged for the construction of the film.
Pather Panchali was screened in New York in 1955 and in the same year, in August in Kolkata theaters.
Shortly after its release, the film received worldwide acclaim and awards and accolades. In 1955, Pather Panchali won the President's Award and the West Bengal Journalists' Association Award. In the same year, the film won a special jury award at the France International Film Festival as the 'Greatest Document'.
The film won awards in various cities and countries around the world, including Edinburgh, Manila, Spain, San Francisco, Berlin, Vancouver, Denmark and Japan. His second film, Unbeaten, released in 1958, won him the Venice Film Festival Award, the Golden Lion, the Cinema Nuveall and the Critics Award.
From 1958 until his death in 1992, the film was mixed with his thoughts and actions. He was one of the top ten filmmakers in the world. His film career includes 26 full-length films, 5 documentaries and 3 tele-films.
Notable among his films are: Pather Panchali (1955), Aparajit (1958), Parashpathar (1958), Jalsaghar (1958), Apur Sansar (1959), Devi (1960), Tin Kanya (1971), Rabindranath (1971). Kanchenjunga (1962), Expedition (1972), Mahanagar (1973), Charulata (1984), Cowards and Great Men (1975),
Nayak (196), Zoo (196), Gupi Gain Bagha Bain (1969), Forest Day and Night (1970), Rivals (1960), Sikkim (1971), Limited (1971), Ashani Sanket (1983), Sonar Kelwa ( 1974), Inner Eye (1974), Janaranya (1975), Bala (198), Shataranj Ki Khiladi (198), Diamond King's Country (1980),
Piku (1982), Sadgati (1982), Ghare Baire (1984), Sukumar Roy (198), Ganashatru (1989), Shakha Prashakha (1990), Agantuk (1991). He also wrote screenplays and directed music for many films.
Ray also gained fame as a writer. His published books include: Subject Films, Shooting the Same, Our Films There Films, Feluda Series, Shanku Series, Pikur Diary etc. Awards: A total of 11 international awards for Pather Panchali from 1955 to 1967 besides India;
Unbeaten 5 international awards including Venice, San Francisco, Berlin, Denmark. The documentaries 'Rabindranath' and 'Inner Eye' and the TV film 'Sadgati' have also won awards at home and abroad. He has also received special honors and awards personally. He has received 40 awards from the Government of India and 60 awards in the international arena.
These include honorary doctorate degrees from many universities at home and abroad, Visva-Bharati's' Desikottam ',' Dada Saheb Phalke 'Award, Magsaysay Award, France's' Legion of Honor' (198), 'Bharat Ratna' (1992), Special ' Oscar '(1992). ) Rewards etc. Satyajit Ray died on 23 April 1992 in Calcutta. : !! ►►
Very informative article. Thank you.