Ray's three master pieces to be screened at Mumbai multiplexes

Mumbai, May 17 (UNI) Censorboard chairperson and actress Sharmila Tagore has lamented that despite being appreciated overseas, films of the legendary Satyajit Ray did not get past Bengal in his own country.

Speaking at the inauguration of a retrospective of Ray's three films as part of his 86th birth anniversary celebrations at the Fame Adlabs multiplex in suburban Mumbai here last evening, Sharmila said Manikda (Ray) was her mentor who introduced her to cinema and expressed satisfaction that the legend's legacy lives on.

''He helped build a bridge between Bengal and the rest of the world in countries which promoted and appreciated good, meaningful and sensitive cinema. Unfortunately, his films remain unseen in India. May be because of lack of marketing or language barrier,'' Sharmila felt.

According to her, before Ray came into limelight, Bengali films were theatrical, with bookish dialogues. ''Ray made films which were life like. He was interested in the struggle of the ordinary person.

His films were firmly rooted in culture,'' she said.

Sharmila said Ray fought economic and technical battles to make his films. ''He faced so much tension and perhaps it was the reason why he may have suffered an early heart attack,'' she added.

The function was attended by actor-MP Shatrughan Sinha, actress Dipti Naval, actor Anupam Kher among others.

Dipti Naval felt young filmmakers should learn from Ray, the art of depicting different facets of India on celluloid, human drama and complexity of relationships. ''His protagonists were mainly women.

My personal favourites have been Charulata and Pather Panchali,'' she said.

Earlier, Sharmila inaugurated an exhibition of Ray's rare photographs. His film 'Aryaner Din Ratri' was also screened on the occasion. The films Pradidwandi, Aryaner Din Ratri and Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne will be screened for the public from Friday throughout the week. The festival of three films has been organised by Sony Pictures in association with Fame Adlabs.

UNI