To celebrate legendary auteur Satyajit Ray’s birth anniversary on 2 May, Shyam Benegal inaugurated a gallery dedicated to the filmmaker at the National Museum of Indian Cinema in Mumbai. He was joined by Ravinder Bhakar, managing director of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) India.
The inauguration was part of the larger festivities, including a film festival, organized as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to commemorate the filmmaker’s birth centenary.
Benegal, who was the guest of honour at the event, stated, “It is a state-of-the-art museum, and the gallery dedicated to Satyajit Ray is spectacular. Ray’s works are unique, original and one of a kind. His work transcended borders and represented humanity in its most universal sense. No wonder that his work is admired the world over.”
Bhakar added, “On the birth centenary of Satyajit Ray, it’s a great tribute to the legendary filmmaker. The highlight of Ray’s gallery was his near life-sized statue which garnered attraction and was praised by one and all.”
The gallery was set up in association with the National Council of Science Museums in Kolkata.
It covers various sections of Ray’s life, including his honours and awards and his films. Other sections focus on his music and how he nurtured new talents, the camerawork and lighting in his films, his literature, and finally, a larger look at how he became a master storyteller.
Filmmaker Anik Dutta, actor Jeetu Kamal and producer Firdausul Hasan, all of whom are associated with the upcoming Bengali film Aparajito (2022), which is based on Ray’s life and career, were present at the inauguration, which was followed by the Indian premiere of the film.