Often seen through a social and realistic lens, the spectacular oeuvre of Satyajit Ray speaks for itself. The year 2021 marks the birth centenary year of the legend, who is recognised as one of the most versatile creative geniuses of India, and whose presence has dominated the local and global screens for more than 60 years.

To celebrate his contributions to the film industry, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne (IFFM) has decided to showcase some of his finest films from August 12 to 30. IFFM’s festival director Mitu Bhowmick Lange says, “Satyajit Ray’s cinema creates a perspective and engaging portrait of our society by highlighting the complexities of the modern world. His ingenuity, style of work, and passion for all things creative are loved by cinephiles across the world.” The films, including The Apu Trilogy (Pather Panchali, Aparajito, and Apur Sansar), Ghanashatru, Ghare Baire, and Agantuk,  along with the documentary series on Ray’s journey as a music director and composer, Music of Satyajit Ray, will be screened at cinemas in the Federation Square. The films will also be streamed online during the festival.