Mumbai, 2 May 2022
Veteran Film Maker Shyam Benegal today inaugurated the Satyajit Ray’s semi-permanent Gallery at the National Museum of Indian Cinema (NMIC) in Mumbai and marked the beginning of the three-day Satyajit Ray Film Festival across the country.
Speaking about Ray, who Shyam Benegal himself admires and claims as his inspiration to the film world, the master director said that, “Everybody recognized Indian Cinema because of Ray. There is no one in the world who doesn’t know who Ray was. You utter his name even in any West African country – they will know him well.”
Appreciating the portrayal of the many talents of the legend through the exhibition, Shyam Benegal said, “Satyajit Ray was not just a film maker, but a multifaceted genius who made his own posters, story-boards, even the titles of his films.” He further remarked that “the exhibition is very well curated and I find the design wonderful. One who visits the exhibition will get an idea of what kind of filmmaker Ray was.”
Satyajit Ray’s Gallery celebrates his films, his books and his illustrations
As one enters the exhibition, a lifelike hyper-realistic statue of Ray in characteristic posture of piercingly looking at the world over the camera welcomes the visitors.
One can interactively explore Ray’s filmography and get an actual glimpse of many of his scenes that have gone into the tomes of filmmaking. Besides getting an overview of the world of the filmmaker one can also appreciate how, by adopting classic literature in films, he himself transformed in to an auteur. The exhibition beautifully exhibits his films, books and his illustrious career as an illustrator as well.
Ray created a psychedelic Ghost – dance in his film Goopy Gayn Bagha Bayn and you see these ghosts floating in air here atop the World of Goopy Bagha which is a technical and artistic marvel as well as political satire. The exhibition helps the visitors to discover the legend who was lovingly called as ‘Manik Da’ and the jewels from his world, he left for us 30 years ago.
Satyajit Ray Film Festival
As part of the film festival, films made by and made on ‘Satyajit Ray’ are being screened in Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Pune on 2nd, 3rd and 4th May 2022. Ministry of Information & Broadcasting has initiated this celebration in commemoration of the birth centenary celebrations of the auteur.
Director Anik Dutta’s film Aparajito- a tribute to Satyajit Ray was the opening film of the festival. It also marked the films Indian Premiere. The film portrays the legend’s remarkable efforts in making his debut film, ‘Pather Panchali.’which is actually based on the famous novel of the same name by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay. The screening received a good response from the audience. Post-screening of the 135-minute Bengali film, the cast & crew including Director Anik Dutta, Actor Jeetu Kamal interacted with the audience.
National Museum of Indian Cinema, Mumbai in association with National Film Development Corporation, Films Division, National Film Archive of India and Doordarshan and supported by Government of West Bengal and Aurora Film Corporation & Friends Communication is organizing the Film Festival.
Schedule of Film Festival can be accessed here.
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PIB Mumbai | DLakshmi/D.Rane
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