Vol. 7, Issue 8, Part F (2021)

The Apu Trilogy is a series of three films made in India by Satyajit Ray between 1950 and 1959. The films tell the story of Apu, a boy born in Bengal in the 1920s. The first film of the series, Pather Panchali changed the course of Indian cinema as it showcased Ray's ability to turn that human essence into art. Apu and Durga, his elder sister are quintessence of the innocent joys of life. The film depicts the raw beauty of unadulterated life which has no sophistication involved. Thus, Pather Panchali, the first full length feature film of Satyajit Ray is an exceptional adaptation of the novel of the same name.The distinctiveness brought by Ray’s cinematic treatment lies in his deftness of depicting the innocent childhood joys with deep empathy.This element of transcendental mirth elevates the movie from a simple maudlin melodrama to a perennial source of cinematic savoir faire.