2. About the author

Satyajit Ray was born in Calcutta (Kolkata) on May \(2\)nd \(1921\). Ray's grandfather was a writer and illustrator, while his father, Sukumar Ray, was a Bengali nonsense verse writer and illustrator. Ray was an Indian film director who worked prominently in Bengali cinema. Besides, he was a scriptwriter, documentary filmmaker, author, essayist, lyricist, magazine editor, illustrator, calligrapher, and music composer.

 

Satyajit Ray*

Ray started his career as a commercial artist, who later grew into a great filmmaker. With "Pather Panchali" (\(1955\); The Song of the Road) and its two successors, known as the Apu Trilogy, Ray earned a international recognition to Indian cinema worldwide. The Apu Trilogy consists of this film, Aparajito (\(1956\)) and Apur Sansar (The World of Apu) (\(1959\)). The film has received eleven international awards, including the Cannes Film Festival's first Best Human Document award in 1956. As a filmmaker, Ray was noted for his sincerity and versatility. He was one of the most important filmmakers of the twentieth century.

Ray directed \(36\) films, including feature films, documentaries and shorts and authored several short stories and novels, primarily for young children and teenagers. In \(1978\), he was awarded an honorary degree by Oxford University.

Ray wrote the storyline, cast the actors, composed the music, edited the film himself, and designed the credit titles and advertising material. Ray received many major awards in his career, including \(32\) Indian National Film Awards, a Golden Lion, a Golden Bear, 2 Silver Bears, many additional awards at international film festivals and ceremonies, and an Academy Honorary Award in \(1992\). In \(1992\), the Indian government awarded him the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian honour. During his lifetime, Ray received several honours and rose to a position of prominence. He died at the age of \(70\), on April \(23\)rd, \(1992\), due to heart and lung problems.