Apur Panchali by Satyajit Ray [Hardcover]

It is well known that Satyajit Ray's "Pather Panchali" was not just a Bengali film but transformed the entire Indian film industry overnight, setting a new benchmark for the future. We are aware of how this film was made despite numerous obstacles and challenges. This book provides a comprehensive account of its creation. Not only does it cover "Pather Panchali," but also details the preparation and production of "Aparajito" and "Apur Sansar," as well as "Parash Pathar" and "Jalsaghar." We hear directly from Satyajit Ray about many aspects that were previously unknown to us. We have seen his films; in fact, many of us have watched each of his films multiple times. Here, since his language captures images, he also presents the behind-the-scenes visuals of those films. He discusses his lifelong passion for Western music and cinema, how he left behind other successful careers to enter the world of filmmaking, his determination to stay true to his goals despite adverse conditions, and even how the shooting of "Pather Panchali" nearly stopped due to a shortage of just two hundred and fifty rupees. Through countless detailed accounts, Satyajit Ray seems to reveal his own personality to us. In one sense, this book is an intimate memoir, and in another sense, it serves as a historical document.