Satyajit Ray

Biography

Satyajit Ray (2 May 1921 – 23 April 1992) was an influential Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, music composer, graphic artist, lyricist, and author, renowned as one of the greatest filmmakers of the 20th century. Born in Calcutta into a prominent Bengali family, Ray began his career as a commercial artist before transitioning to filmmaking after being inspired by French director Jean Renoir and Italian neorealist cinema. He directed 36 films, including notable works such as Pather Panchali (1955), which garnered eleven international awards, and formed The Apu Trilogy with Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959). Ray also created beloved fictional characters, including Feluda and Professor Shonku. Throughout his career, he received numerous accolades, including 32 Indian National Film Awards, a Golden Lion, and an Academy Honorary Award. In 1992, he was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honor. Ray was recognized in 2004 as the 13th Greatest Bengali of all time by BBC.