Satyajit Ray

Pather Panchali

Pather Panchali

With the release in 1955 of Satyajit Ray’s debut, Pather Panchali, an eloquent and important new cinematic voice made itself heard all over the world. A depiction of rural Bengali life in a style inspired by Italian neorealism, this naturalistic but poetic evocation of a number of years in the life of a family introduces us to both little Apu and, just as essentially, the women who will help shape him: his independent older sister, Durga; his harried mother, Sarbajaya, who, with her husband away, must hold the family together; and his kindly and mischievous elderly “auntie,” Indir—vivid, multifaceted characters all. With resplendent photography informed by its young protagonist’s perpetual sense of discovery, Pather Panchali, which won an award for Best Human Document at the Cannes Film Festival, is an immersive cinematic experience and a film of elemental power.

Film Info

  • India
  • 1955
  • 125 minutes
  • Black & White
  • 1.37:1
  • Bengali
  • Spine #783

Available In

Collector's Set

The Apu Trilogy

The Apu Trilogy

4K UHD+Blu-ray Combo Box Set

6 Discs

$99.96

Collector's Set

The Apu Trilogy

The Apu Trilogy

Blu-ray Box Set

3 Discs

$79.96

Collector's Set

The Apu Trilogy

The Apu Trilogy

DVD Box Set

3 Discs

$79.96

Pather Panchali
Cast
Kanu Banerjee
Harihar, Apu’s father
Karuna Banerjee
Sarbajaya, Apu’s mother
Subir Banerjee
Apu
Uma Das Gupta
Durga, Apu’s sister
Chunibala Devi
“Auntie” Indir Thakrun
Shampa “Runki” Banerjee
Young Durga
Reba Devi
Sejo Thakrun, bitter neighbor
Aparna Devi
Nilmoni’s wife, kind neighbor
Tulsi Chakraborty
Prasanna, schoolteacher
Binoy Mukherjee
Baidyanath Majumdar, village elder
Haren Banerjee
Chinibas, sweets seller
Harimohan Nag
Doctor
Haridhan Nag
Chakravarti, village elder
Kshirod Roy
Priest
Roma Ganguli
Ranu, Durga’s friend
Credits
Director
Satyajit Ray
Produced by
Government of West Bengal
Screenplay
Satyajit Ray
Based on the novel Pather Panchali by
Bibhutibhusan Banerjee
Original music
Ravi Shankar
Cinematographer
Subrata Mitra
Art director
Bansi Chandragupta
Editor
Dulal Dutta
Sound recordist
Bhupen Ghosh
Production manager
Anil Choudhury

Current

The Apu Trilogy: Behind the Universal
The Apu Trilogy: Behind the Universal

Satyajit Ray’s long-heralded cinematic achievement was influenced by European cinema but also grew out of long-standing Indian artistic tradition.


By Girish Shambu

The Apu Trilogy: Every Common Sight
The Apu Trilogy: Every Common Sight

Satyajit Ray began his filmmaking career by offering a vision of the young Apu, the character he would go on to follow throughout the three films of his stunning breakthrough epic.

By Terrence Rafferty

Diving into the Nitty-Gritty of Film Conservation in Kolkata
Diving into the Nitty-Gritty of Film Conservation in Kolkata

Members of the Criterion tech team headed to India last month to teach some practical skills in moving-image conservation at the Film Preservation & Restoration Workshop.

By Benjamin Mercer

Resurrecting The Apu Trilogy

Restoration Spotlight

Resurrecting The Apu Trilogy

Now that Satyajit Ray’s dazzling epic is back out in its original glory, watch a video by :: kogonada that shows how Ray’s breathtaking work was reconstructed from the ashes.

Rashaad Ernesto Green’s Top 10
Rashaad Ernesto Green’s Top 10

The Independent Spirit Award–winning director of Premature selects ten masterpieces that introduced him to the beauty of cinema.

Kelly Reichardt’s Top 10
Kelly Reichardt’s Top 10

On the occasion of the release of her latest film, First Cow, the acclaimed director shares a list of masterpieces that have been touchstones for her throughout her moviegoing life.

David and Nathan Zellner’s Top 10
David and Nathan Zellner’s Top 10

Austin-based duo David and Nathan Zellner, whose new film Damsel is now in theaters, share a list of favorites that run the gamut from genre provocation to lyrical humanism.