Satyajit Ray

‘Not Satyajit Ray’s ancestral home’

The authorities yesterday halted the demolition of a century-old house in Mymensingh city following public outcry.

India urges Bangladesh to reconsider demolition of Satyajit Ray's ancestral home

The century-old house is tied to the legacy of the illustrious Ray family, whose contributions to Bangla literature and arts are considered foundational

Satyajit Ray’s ancestral home being demolished

The ancestral home of eminent litterateur Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury -- formerly used as the Mymensingh Shishu Academy -- is being demolished to make way for a new semi-concrete structure.

‘Aranyer Din Ratri’ returns to Cannes, Wes Anderson leads restoration with Sharmila and Simi in attendance

The Bengali classic, known internationally as “Days and Nights in the Forest”, was screened under the Cannes Classics section—an honour reserved for timeless works meticulously preserved. This restoration, spearheaded by The Film Foundation's World Cinema Project, was completed in collaboration with L'Immagine Ritrovata, the Film Heritage Foundation (FHF), Janus Films, and the Criterion Collection, with funding from the Golden Globe Foundation.

ESSAY / Feluda, the idea of ‘Bangali Bhadralok’, and the gendered silence in detective fiction

These decisions hint at an implicit belief that certain genres or readerships require the exclusion of certain genders, whether due to artistic limitations, market considerations, or adherence to established genre conventions.

Satyajit Ray’s ‘Aranyer Din Ratri’ to screen at Cannes

The Film Heritage Foundation announced on Wednesday that a restored 4K version of Oscar-winning filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s 1970 film “Aranyer Din Ratri” (Days and Nights in the Forest), featuring Soumitra Chatterjee, Sharmila Tagore, and Rabi Ghosh, will be showcased at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.

Birthday Special / Satyajit Ray in the modern era: Can we still relate to his timeless classics?

Discovering Satyajit Ray in his literary and cinematic masterpieces is a never-ending process. Every time we dive into different aspects of Ray’s talents, there’s always more to discover in his techniques, ideas, and overall execution. Today marks the legendary director’s 104th birthday, and even after three decades since his demise, his brilliant stories are still relevant in our daily lives.

Satyajit Ray and Tapan Sinha’s restored classics shine at IFFI

The restored versions of Tapan Sinha's “Harmonium” and Satyajit Ray's “Seemabaddha” were showcased at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa yesterday. 

Hugo Weaving on how Satyajit Ray introduced him to Indian cinema

Hugo Weaving celebrated for his unforgettable performance as the enigmatic Agent Smith in “The Matrix” saga, recently reflected on his newest cinematic endeavour, “The Rooster”.

October 22, 2024
October 22, 2024

Hindi cinema used to operate in an alternative reality: Shabana Azmi

Indian veteran actress Shabana Azmi has recently captivated the audience during a masterclass moderated by actress Vidya Balan at the 2024 MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. The two icons shared insights on their journeys, the challenges of acting across different mediums, and their thoughts on the evolution of Hindi cinema.

October 6, 2024
October 6, 2024

From ‘Feluda’ to ‘Derry Girls’: Why we seek out fictional places

One of my earliest adventures into culture-based tourism was following the trail of Feluda in Kolkata, tracing the steps of Satyajit Ray’s famous detective. Since organised culture-based tourism wasn’t really a thing in this part of the world, I had to piece together the trail on my own.

June 1, 2024
June 1, 2024

Satyajit-Soumitra's memorial house lost to corporates

Satyajit Ray and Soumitra Chatterjee once shared a three-story flat at 3 Lake Temple Road in South Kolkata. This house holds a place of remembrance for two iconic figures in Bengali cinema, has now changed ownership and is in the hands of a corporate body. Anandabazar Online, an Indian media outlet, has published a report on the current condition of this historic residence.

May 2, 2024
May 2, 2024

Chronicling the ’70s through Satyajit Ray

The Calcutta trilogy withstands the test of time and seems relevant to us even today, perhaps because Satyajit Ray was keen to ask questions rather than suggest a solution to the audience

May 2, 2024
May 2, 2024

Into the multiverse of Satyajit

Satyajit Ray and his brilliance have been a quintessential part of Bengali cinema and its representation worldwide for decades. Talking about why and how his masterpieces are legendary never seems enough, and perhaps it never will be.

April 23, 2024
April 23, 2024

The lesser-known facets of cinematic maestro Satyajit Ray

Born on May 2, 1921, Ray’s artistic journey began in the realm of commercial art before he became a filmmaker. His encounter with French filmmaker Jean Renoir and his experience with Vittorio De Sica's groundbreaking film “Bicycle Thieves” during a trip to London were pivotal, steering him toward independent filmmaking.

March 20, 2024
March 20, 2024

‘Feluda’ actor Sabyasachi Chakraborty hospitalised

The “Feluda” famed actor might be admitted to the hospital for the placement of a pacemaker in his heart. However, his family members didn’t reveal anything regarding Sabyasachi’s illness or the reason behind his hospital admission, stated the newspaper.

February 18, 2024
February 18, 2024

Why every child deserves a cousin like Feluda!

Discover the Enduring Legacy of Feluda: Satyajit Ray's beloved detective series continues to enchant audiences, with its charismatic protagonist, Felu, and his youthful sidekick Topshey. Drawing parallels to Sherlock Holmes, Feluda's adventures inspire curiosity and admiration, much like real-life figures such as the author's cousin, Russell. Despite societal misgivings, Russell, like Feluda, nurtured a thirst for knowledge and exploration. Through literature and personal anecdotes, the article celebrates the timeless appeal of childhood heroes, advocating for every child to have their own Feluda-like mentor.

February 4, 2024
February 4, 2024

Satyajit Ray’s voice to be dubbed in AI for ‘Padatik’

Breaking new ground in Bengali cinema, director Srijit Mukherji is set to revolutionise the voice dubbing process in his upcoming film “Padatik”, paying homage to the legendary filmmaker Mrinal Sen.

December 29, 2023
December 29, 2023

Sayeeda Khanam: Reminiscing a rebel

Eighty-six years after Sayeeda's birth, these facts still resound, underscoring the pivotal role of parenting and support systems in shaping someone's journey, regardless of the societal norms they were born into. However, winning the birth lottery didn’t mean it was easy for Sayeeda; what she accomplished with a camera, paving the way for future generations of female photographers, was nothing short of conquering the Himalayas.