atyajit Ray (2 May 1921 – 23 April 1992)
was an Indian filmmaker, screenwriter, music composer, graphic artist, lyricist and author, widely regarded as one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. Starting his career as a commercial artist, Ray was drawn into filmmaking after meeting French filmmaker Jean Renoir and viewing film Bicycle Thieves (1948) during a visit to London.
Ray directed 36 films, including feature films and documentaries . He was also a fiction writer, publisher, illustrator, calligrapher, music composer, graphic designer and film critic. He authored several short stories and novels, meant primarily for young children and teenagers. Feluda, the sleuth, and Professor Shonku , the scientist in his science fiction stories, are popular fictional characters created by him.
Ray’s first film, Pather Panchali (1955), won eleven international prizes, including the inaugural Best Human Document award at theCannes Film Festival . Ray received many awards in his career, including 32 Indian National Film Awards , a Golden Lion, a Golden Bear, 2 Silver Bears, a number of additional awards at international film festivals and award ceremonies, and an Academy Honorary Award in 1992. The Government of India honored him with the Bharat Ratna, its highest civilian award, in 1992.
