Christopher Nolan calls Satyajit Ray one of India’s greatest filmmakers
NEW YORK, July 26: Acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan has described legendary director Satyajit Ray as “one of the greatest Indian filmmakers” while praising his iconic Apu Trilogy, saying the first film of the series, Pather Panchali, left a lasting impression on him.
During a visit to the popular Criterion Closet at the Criterion Collection in New York, Nolan spoke about Ray’s celebrated trilogy and revealed that he is looking forward to watching the remaining two films.
Referring to the trilogy, Nolan said, “Pather Panchali is an absolutely incredible film. It just blew my mind. I haven’t yet seen parts two and three of the trilogy, so I’m pretty excited to get this and complete the story.”
The Apu Trilogy comprises Pather Panchali (1955), Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959). Based on the life of the fictional character Apu, the trilogy follows his journey from childhood in rural Bengal to adulthood and is widely regarded as one of the finest achievements in world cinema.
The trilogy has received widespread international acclaim over the years. Pather Panchali won the Best Human Document award at the Cannes Film Festival, while Aparajito received the prestigious Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival. The films also earned President’s Gold Medals at India’s National Film Awards.
Videos of Nolan’s visit to the Criterion Closet have been widely shared on social media, with film enthusiasts welcoming his appreciation of Ray’s work and his interest in completing the acclaimed trilogy.
Meanwhile, Nolan’s latest directorial venture, The Odyssey, continues to perform strongly at the global box office, earning more than $300 million worldwide. The film features an ensemble cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Anne Hathaway and Charlize Theron.
— Agencies
