Satyajit Ray's 92nd birthday celebrated with fanfare

The premier Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI), named after the maestro, has decided to have their annual convocation each year on this day to coincide with the birthday of the versatile artiste.

While delivering the convocation address, Dadasaheb Phalke awardee filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan said there is hardly any other filmmaker in India whose impact has been more powerful than that of Ray's.

"He left us too early. Had he been here now, we would have had the opportunity to get greater words from him. His contribution to Indian cinema has been monumental," he said.

SRFTI's director Sanjaya Pattanayak said awarding diplomas to film students on this day is a befitting way to contribute for the development of cinema.

At the state-run multiplex Nandan, one of Ray's favourite films "The Bicycle Thief" by Vittorio Di Sica was screened.

The Italian neo-realist film which tells the story of a poor man's struggle for survival, is known to have a profound impact on Ray and his films including the iconic "Pather Panchali".

Nandan CEO Jadav Mondol said that as a mark of homage to one of the greatest filmmakers of the world, another four of Ray's favourite foreign films will be screened in the next two days. (MORE) PTI NIK RG

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