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• Pather Panchali (1955)

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Satyajit Ray’s 1955 classic, Pather Panchali, dispenses the myth that Indian cinema is only synonymous with Bollywood’s wild and extravagant musicals. It tells the story of the impoverished Brahmin family, whose bad luck seems only to mound with the passage of time. Told mostly through the eyes of the children, little Apu and his wily sister, Durga, the film manages to capture the disintegration of a family in a unique fashion.

The perspective of the film shifts every so often, occasionally showing glimpses of the mother’s inner turmoil or the great-aunt’s sprightliness. But, by sticking mainly with the children, it suggests the divide between their world and the heavy concerns of the adult world. The clash of the children’s free-spirited nature, alongside their mother’s constant concern and fear better illustrates the complexity of the life of the rural Indian poor.

Ray’s use of folk music and wonderful black and white photography creates a captivating experience that helps to suggest that Pather Panchali is more than mere melodrama (though there are indeed some melodramatic excerpts). The title, which means “song of the little road”, strives to tell the story of a journey, or rather, what it will take to push one family to move forward, both literally and figuratively.

Through loss after escalating loss, the Brahmins struggle to keep their family unit together. This brilliant little film is sure to have you poised both to laugh as the children play, and to cry as their family is threatened with destruction. It’s a must-see for anyone with an interest in Indian cinema.