Renowned filmmaker Christopher Nolan showered praise on legendary Indian director Satyajit Ray during a recent visit to the Criterion Closet in New York. Browsing through the archived collection housing over 1,000 classic global films, the director selected The Apu Trilogy and shared his admiration for Ray’s foundational masterpiece, Pather Panchali (1955).
In a video shared by the Criterion Collection on social platform X, Nolan remarked: “And then there’s the Apu Trilogy by Satyajit Ray, one of the greatest Indian filmmakers. The trilogy starts with Pather Panchali, which is an absolutely incredible film. It just blew my mind. I haven’t yet seen parts two and three of the trilogy, so I’m pretty excited to get this and complete the story.”
The Bengali-language drama, adapted from Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay’s novel, follows young Apu’s family in rural Bengal and remains internationally celebrated for its emotional depth and realistic narrative style. The trilogy continues with Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959). Nolan’s appreciation aligns with his ongoing connection to India, following promotional visits alongside producer Emma Thomas and cast members Matt Damon and Tom Holland.
