Christopher Nolan Praises Satyajit Ray's The Apu Trilogy, Says Pather Panchali 'Blew My Mind'
Christopher Nolan has once again spoken about his admiration for Indian cinema , this time praising legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray and his iconic The Apu Trilogy . During a visit to the famous Criterion Closet in New York, the Oscar-winning director picked the celebrated trilogy from the shelves and shared how its first film, Pather Panchali , left a lasting impact on him.
The moment, captured in a video released by the Criterion Collection on X, has drawn attention from film lovers, especially in India, where Ray's work continues to be regarded as one of the defining achievements of world cinema.
While going through the collection, Nolan stopped at The Apu Trilogy and spoke about Satyajit Ray's work.
"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."
His comments stood out because, despite being one of the world's most celebrated filmmakers, Nolan revealed that he has so far watched only the first film in the trilogy and now plans to complete the remaining two.
The first instalment, Pather Panchali, which Nolan singled out as one of his all-time favourites, centres on young Apu (Subir Banerjee), his spirited older sister Durga (Runki Banerjee and Uma Dasgupta), their overworked mother Sarbajaya (Karuna Banerjee) and their idealistic father Harihar (Kanu Banerjee), a poor priest and aspiring poet struggling to make ends meet. Through seemingly ordinary moments, from the siblings chasing a train through swaying kaash fields to caring for their elderly aunt Indir Thakrun (Chunibala Devi). The film paints an intimate portrait of childhood, family and resilience against the backdrop of rural Bengal.
Ray's deeply human storytelling, paired with its lyrical realism, earned Pather Panchali international acclaim, winning the ‘Best Human Document’ award at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival, the Best Feature Film (President's Gold Medal) at the 1955 National Film Award, and a host of other international and domestic recognitions.
The moment, captured in a video released by the Criterion Collection on X, has drawn attention from film lovers, especially in India, where Ray's work continues to be regarded as one of the defining achievements of world cinema.
Christopher Nolan on the film that left a lasting impression
The Criterion Closet is known for its collection of more than 1,000 classic and influential films from around the world. It regularly invites filmmakers, actors and artists to browse the shelves and talk about the movies that have shaped their love for cinema.You may also like
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While going through the collection, Nolan stopped at The Apu Trilogy and spoke about Satyajit Ray's work.
"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."
His comments stood out because, despite being one of the world's most celebrated filmmakers, Nolan revealed that he has so far watched only the first film in the trilogy and now plans to complete the remaining two.
Why The Apu Trilogy is considered a classic
Based on the novels of Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, The Apu Trilogy comprises three Bengali films: Pather Panchali (1955), Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959). Together, they trace Apu's life from a poverty-stricken childhood in rural Bengal to adulthood, and are widely regarded as among the most influential works in world cinema.The first instalment, Pather Panchali, which Nolan singled out as one of his all-time favourites, centres on young Apu (Subir Banerjee), his spirited older sister Durga (Runki Banerjee and Uma Dasgupta), their overworked mother Sarbajaya (Karuna Banerjee) and their idealistic father Harihar (Kanu Banerjee), a poor priest and aspiring poet struggling to make ends meet. Through seemingly ordinary moments, from the siblings chasing a train through swaying kaash fields to caring for their elderly aunt Indir Thakrun (Chunibala Devi). The film paints an intimate portrait of childhood, family and resilience against the backdrop of rural Bengal.
Ray's deeply human storytelling, paired with its lyrical realism, earned Pather Panchali international acclaim, winning the ‘Best Human Document’ award at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival, the Best Feature Film (President's Gold Medal) at the 1955 National Film Award, and a host of other international and domestic recognitions.
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