Satyajit Ray’s commitment to realism sets “Pather Panchali” apart. This 1955 film authentically captures the daily life of a poor Brahmin family in rural Bengal, presenting an unfiltered portrayal of their struggles, joys, and sorrows. The authenticity of the settings, characters, and narrative resonates with audiences on a deeply human level. Despite being set in the 1920s, the film’s themes remain relevant. Its exploration of societal dynamics, economic hardships, and the passage of time continues to resonate with audiences, ensuring its relevance across generations.
“Pather Panchali” excels in creating an intimate connection with the characters. The lens through which the story is told, often from a child’s perspective, fosters empathy. While deeply rooted in the cultural context of rural Bengal, the film explores poverty, family dynamics, coming of age, and the inevitability of change. When the old lady shows her shawl with a big hole in it and asks for a new one, she will be smiling for two things — that somebody seemed to care an old lady and also for the prospect of getting a new shawl. It touches every emotion to the core effortlessly.
The film features a groundbreaking soundtrack by the legendary Ravi Shankar. The sitar compositions enhance the emotional depth of the narrative and contribute to the film’s overall impact. The innovative use of music adds another layer to the cinematic experience. Ray’s command of his craft as well as his knack for editing and Subrata Mitra’s cinematography are exemplary. The film showcases a nuanced understanding of visual storytelling, employing long takes, tracking shots, and natural lighting to create a visually stunning and emotionally evocative experience.
The film’s aesthetic choices have influenced generations of filmmakers including Martin Scorcese who famously said, ‘It was a film made by Indians for Indians for the world without seeing it through any other culture’. Can anyone believe that this Satyajit Ray’s first film, the cameraman’s first film and that this film was made with mostly amateur actors?
Some of the scenes worth highlighting are
The iconic scene involving the passing train early in the film is a symbol of modernity intruding upon the rural landscape. This scene, capturing the awe and curiosity of the children Apu and Durga, was so brilliantly shot. The distant sound of a train whistle recurs throughout the film and the train represents the passage of time, change, and the broader world beyond the confines of the village. The camera movement through the Kash grass, the sound design capturing the movement of the wind, the framing of the train shot and then, the closing shot under the fast moving wheels, this scene is what film making is all about — a painting in motion or a visual poetry or however you may want to exaggerate it, it will still be an understatement.
The monsoon storm is a climactic moment in the film, portraying the family’s vulnerability to nature’s harshness. The cinematography during this sequence, with rain pouring down and the characters taking shelter was so tastefully shot. I still cannot wrap my head around how they produced this visual quality in the 50s when most of the films even today don’t have the same level of artistry with all the technology and sophistication available at their finger tips.
The scene when Durga suffers from high fever and the helplessness of her mom taking care of a sick adolescent girl in a broken house amidst a massive storm was brilliantly shot and edited. The use of lighting, the sound design, the clever use of the tarpoy moving and the interior lighting makes us feel equally helpless as the mother.
Various scenes depicting the close relationship between Apu and Durga, such as their playful interactions and shared experiences, are celebrated for their authenticity and emotional impact. In addition, the old lady eating her food and then licking the hands, the husband asking the wife to bring ‘fire’ for his tobacco which she takes from the cooking space, the dog that watches the mother feed her child, the algae that eat the stone thrown by Apu into the water and there are countless moments that were so mesmerizingly shot.
The concluding scene of the family leaving their home in a bullock cart marks a poignant farewell. This moment symbolizes the family’s journey into an uncertain future and metaphorically conveys the transition powerfully.
The film is a timeless testimony of an artist and a master craftsman who has shown that it is the art that is the master while the technology is just an enabler. Time cannot erase this art and this is world cinema because it is so rooted in its own culture without any trace of any other culture anywhere in the film.
Below is one of my favorite of Satyajit Ray’s thinking
