Satyajit Ray’s 97th birth anniversary today

Satyajit Ray, the renowned filmmaker of the subcontinent, was remembered on his 97th birth anniversary on Wenesday.

To mark the day in a befitting manner, different socio-cultural organizations held elaborate programmes in Bangladesh and India.

On this day of 1921 he was born in Kolkata. His father, Sukumar Ray, was also a renowned writer, editor and photographer and a fellow of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain. 

His mother, Suprabha Ray, was a musician and his grandfather Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury was also a noted writer, child literary, painter, photographer, block designer and the editor of the children`s journal Sandesh. 

His ancestral home was in the village of Masua, in Kishoreganj district of greater Mymensingh, Bangladesh.

Satyajit Ray studied at Presidency College and Santiniketan. 

In his career he worked as a junior visualizer at a British advertising agency in Kolkata. Subsequently, he became interested in making films. 

When he decided to make a film he chose his all-time favorite Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay`s `Pather Panchali`. He started shooting in late 1952 with his little personal savings and some amateur actors. But due to short of funds, it was stopped after a while. 

After the West Bengal government provided him financial donations, the work of `Pather Panchali` was completed. In his first film, Satyajit has exhibited his charisma. `Pather Panchali` won 11 international awards, including Cannes Film Festival`s "Best Human Document" award. The three films of Satyajit Ray `Pather Panchali`, `Aparajito` and ` Apur Sansar` called Apu Trio are recognized as the best works of his life.

Satyajit Ray occupies a big place in Bangali literature. Ray created two popular fictional characters in Bengali children`s literature—Feluda, a detective, and Professor Shonku, a scientist. He wrote several short stories also.

On his birth anniversary we remember this extraordinary filmmaker with great respect.