Festival of rare films add grandeur to year-long Satyajit Ray centenary celebrations

Satyajit Ray, one of the greatest film makers of all time, is credited with taking Indian cinema to the global level. A true renaissance man, Ray earned worldwide fame for himself and for the art of cinema as well, with his poetic realism and cinematic imagination. Continuing with the year-long birth centenary celebrations of the auteur, Films Division recently presented an online film festival, Ray Today, a curated package of non-feature works by Ray, along with films on him and his oeuvre.
"Like any other middleclass child, my early years were full of Feluda, Professor Shonku, Tarinikhuro, the 'Baro' series and of course 'Guga Baba'. These are still my favourites, especially Feluda. Then through my growing up years, the cinema of Ray unfolded inside my soul. The scene where Durga soaks in the first shower in Pather Panchali, still haunts me. After joining Films Division, I saw the documentary on Rabindranath Tagore and still wonder how can the multifaceted talent of Tagore be so vividly captured in 52 minutes. It's only possible by a genius like Ray. 'Ray Today' is my salute to the auteur," said Sumay Mukherjee, head (east), Films Division.
Films Division acknowledged the contribution of

NCPA

, Govt of West Bengal, Ray Society, Esso World Theatre, French Television, Doordarshan,

NFDC

and director Sagnik Chatterjee for screening permission and also the help of screening partners like educational institutions, film schools and societies, zonal cultural centers,

MEA

and others for coming forward to take Ray's works and legacy to the nook and corner of the country and abroad.