Film maestro Satyajit Ray remembers on his death anniversary
Kolkata, Apr 23: Bengal on Tuesday remembered the legendary film maestro Satyajit Ray on his 27th death anniversary, who not only directed his films but wrote the scripts as well as the musical score.
The filmmaker not only played a major role in placing India on the global cinematic map but his works continue to inspire a number of acclaimed filmmakers even today.
The Bharat Ratna awardee director died on April 23, 1992, at the age of 71. Following his death, the city of Calcutta came to a virtual standstill, as hundreds of thousands of people gathered around his house to pay their last respects.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid tribute to the legendary filmmaker on the
occasion.
“Tribute to Satyajit Ray, legendary filmmaker, on his death anniversary. He is the pride of Bengal, India and the whole world,” Ms Banerjee posted on her social networking page.
“He opened newer avenues in filmmaking through his craft,” she added.
Bengali superstar Prosenjit Chatterjee tribute to Satyajit Ray, one of the greatest filmmakers the world has ever seen, on the occasion.
“To have not seen the films of Ray is to have lived in the world without ever having seen the moon and the sun.”- Akira Kurosawa Tribute to the legendary #SatyajitRay, one of the greatest filmmakers the world has ever seen,” he tweeted.
Actress Arpita Chatterjee in her tweet said, 'Satyajit Ray' epitomizes world-class and iconic cinema. He is not only a pride of Indian cinema, a Pathfinder too. My homage to the visionary, on his 27th death anniversary.”
At his Bishop Lefroy Road residence in south Kolkata on Tuesday, a steady stream of visitors made floral offerings.
In 1992, Ray was awarded an Honorary Oscar for Lifetime Achievement. He was unable to attend the ceremony due to his illness and gave his acceptance speech via live video feed from a hospital bed in Kolkata.
He was fondly nick-named Manik (gem) by his mother Suprabha Devi on May 2 in 1921. And a gem he was.
Whatever he turned his hands to--films, literature, calligraphy or drawing, shone like gold. He was also credited with creating the typeface 'Ray Roman' and designed exquisite and extraordinary book covers. He also designed the logo of Nandan (Kolkata's cultural hub) in Bengali.