The Apu Trilogy

Story

Apu is a clever, imaginative boy living with his proud family in the village of his ancestors. Apu and his sister Durga long for a life beyond the village and spend their days watching the trains go by. As he grows up, Apu’s family move from place to place, and as his world expands, he starts to experience life’s strange ups and downs.

Why we chose it

The first film in the trilogy, Pather Panchali, is considered a landmark in modern Indian cinema. Made by first time director and with a cast of untrained actors, including two children in main roles, it gives a captivating child’s eye view of the world.

Where it came from

Satyajit Ray (1921 – 1992) was a Bengali director, writer, illustrator, typographer, and graphic designer. While working at a publishing house, he illustrated a novel called Pather Panchali (1929; The Song of the Road) by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, which would inspire his first film. Ray was encouraged by Bicycle Thieves (1948) by Vittorio De Sica, as it was shot cheaply with amateur actors. Ray decided to film Pather Panchali despite his lack of funding. When they began, Ray had never directed before, none of his actors had acted, and most of the crew had never even worked on a motion picture.

Where it went next

The first film, Pather Panchali, was a critical and commercial smash hit, both in Bengal and in the West after it won a prestigious award at Cannes International Film Festival (1956). This success enabled Ray to make the other two films in the trilogy, Aparajito (1956; The Unvanquished) and Apur Sansar (1959; The World of Apu). The trilogy won countless awards and Ray became one of India’s most significant directors – in 1994, after his death, there were even Indian postage stamps commemorating him.

Associated stories

Ray was a prolific director, and his other films include Charulata (1964) and Days and Nights in the Forest (1969). He was also a popular writer and illustrator of fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books. His most beloved characters for children include Detective Feluda and Professor Shonku.