by Tamaal Ghosh

Created on: March 11, 2009

Satyajit Ray - Small Starts

Independent film-making is by no means a recent development. Neither is it an uniquely-Western phenomenon. The Indian director, Satyajit Ray, also proved recognition doesn't always go to the Hollywood studio's toy-boys

Born in the eastern state of West Bengal in 1921, in the Raj capital of Calcuta, Ray grew into an imposing figure - and not simply for a 6' 4" frame.

In 1978, for instance,the members of the Berlin Film Festival's organising committee categorised Ray as one of the three top directors in the world. Less than fifteen years later, when awarding its prized Oscar for Lifetime Achievement in 1992, shortly prior to his passing, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences solemnly intoned that it was: "In recognition of his rare mastery of the art of motion pictures and for his profound humanitarian outlook, which has had an indelible influence on filmmakers and audiences throughout the world."

The community of nations' nod of approval followed suit. France awarded him its highest decoration, the Legion d'Honneur, in 1987, his own nation marking its respect by bestowing their ultimate prize, the Jewel of India, five years later

Bollywood, almost inevitably, was the most strident Indian voice in initially dismissing Ray as a peddler of poverty, someone who made low- budget features with the foreign markets foremost in mind. Unbelievably, this oriental fantasy factory was seen by Ashish Nandy as the epitome of Indian film, objecting that Calcutta-born-and-bred Ray knew virtually nothing of rural Bengal and, by extension, the largely-rural people of India.

Ray's family was seemingly a production line of giftedly-muti-talented men. His paternal grandfather was a well-known author, artist, violinist and composer. His eldest son, Ray's father was likewise a highly-talented author of poetry as well as prose and an illustrator having English studies in printing technology.

Ray himself was also a writer, a regular name in the pages of "Sandesh", a Bengali children's publication launched by his grandfather. He was also, fairly naturally, very interested in block-making and printing

The family had, in the previous century, adopted a sect of Hinduism known as Brahmo Samaj. This rejected Christian theology, objectionable orthodox Hindu practices such as 'suttee' and Western literature in general. Founded with a tolerant, inclusive outlook by Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Brahmo would later be led by Rabindranath Tagore's father. Its progressive attitude

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