Kolkata:Legendary film maestro Satyajit Ray would have celebrated his 100th birthday, had he been alive.
Bengal today remembered the Bharat Ratna awardee director, cultural icon in India and in Bengali communities worldwide, best known for his film Pather Panchali, Apu trilogy and Charulata, Satyajit Ray, on his centenary year of birth anniversary.West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee fondly remembered legendary filmmaker on the occasion.
"Fondly remembering Satyajit Ray, legendary filmmaker, on his birth anniversary ...Maharaja Tomare Selam,: Ms Banerjee posted on her social networking pageRaghvendra Singh, CEO DMCS, Union Ministry of Culture, launched a film today, titled ' A Ray of Genius' to mark the beginning of the centenary celebrations of Satyajit Ray.
While releasing the film online he observed that the short-film highlights Ray's filmmaking genius as well as his eclectic achievements across literature, art, music and design that have been put together by professionals from Kolkata and Mumbai.
Award winning director Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury and editor Arghya Kamal Mitra have created this film with the help of Sandip Ray and the Society for the Preservation of Satyajit Ray Archives. The film also features stunning photographs by Nemai Ghosh, Ray's chronicler for three decades showcasing the great filmmaker at work, sourced with the help of the Delhi Art Gallery.
He further stated that, "Satyajit Ray lives on in our memory through films like Pather Panchali, Charulata, Teen Kanya, Sonar Kella and the 'Apu Trilogy'. With Pather Panchali (Song of the Road), Indian cinema was launched on the world stage. The Development of Museums and Cultural Spaces, Ministry of Culture, is delighted to present 'A Ray of Genius' as a tribute to the versatility of Satyajit Ray, motion-picture director, writer and illustrator. With this screening, we launch the birth centenary celebrations of Satyajit Ray today on May 2, 2020."
Ray's creations inspire to fight Corona
New Delhi: Had Satyajit Ray been alive today, he might have penned- " Dekhona nayan mele jagater hahakar.... (Don't see world's screeming).
In a novel way to honour the maestro on his birth centenary on Saturday, a number of lyricists, composers and singers are inspired by Ray's " Dakhore nayan mele jagater bahar....(Wake up and witness beauty of universe).
The creators are now collaborating on a joint platform that gives birth to 'positivity' and strengthen souls to fight Covid-19.
Bengal and Maharashtra, specially Mumbai, are the front-runners at the moment to show the 'might of music' and others are set to follow suit soon.The news of 'musical madness' came with well-known A R Rehaman cancelling his scheduled trip to the US, reporting highest number of Covid deaths.
Asked to comment on the Bengal-Maha 'joint venture' on music, a senior BJP leader, on condition of anonymity, said " We are aware of the expression- Music therapy. Let's see how much it works."
When her view was sought in the matter, psychologist Anuttoma Banerjee said, " People are panicked now to some extent. Such noble efforts are commendable."Informatively, a number of singers in Kolkata and also in Mumbai are now on self-quarantine and 'introspecting' newer ways to face the menace with music.
According to reports, a number of artists, writers and eminent personalities are also 'encouraged and enthused' by Ray's other creations to combat Corona.They are also expected to join the platform soon, the reports added.(UNI)
