In keeping with the Foundation’s objective – to ensure that Ray’s work is shown and appreciated so that it can remain an example and inspiration to generations of film-makers and audiences alike - The Satyajit Ray Foundation has built up a library of his feature films available for rental to cinemas, colleges and other institutions on 35mm, 16mm and DVD.  Exerpts from some of these films are available on our film clips page. Films in the library are:

PATHER PANCHALI (SONG OF THE ROAD) (1955)

Considered one of the ten greatest films in the history of cinema”. This simple tale of an impoverished family, living in a small village in Bengal, won Ray dozens of prizes, international recognition and launched his career as a film-maker.  The slow rhythm of the film misses nothing – small joys, irritations, tragedies – as the camera follows the lives of Apu and his family.

ARANYER DIN RATRI (DAYS AND NIGHTS IN THE FOREST)(1969) 

Widely regarded as one of Ray’s most magnificent films.  A touching story of four young, middle-class friends from Calcutta who drive out to spend a short holiday in the hills and forests of Palamau.   They bribe the caretaker of a forestry estate to allow them to use a rest house as their base.  Putting the city and the countryside on a spectacular collision course, Ray subtly undercuts his Calcutta heroes whose youthful arrogance get them into a series of disastrous, but often hilarious adventures.  This film of class, money and power has been referred to as “Ray’s Mozartian masterpiece” for its emotional complexity and delicate balancing of responses.

PRATIDWANDI (THE ADVERSARY)(1970)

Ray’s most politically committed film.  The ‘Adversary’ is life itself – in particular life in Calcutta.  Siddartha, a medical student, feels he must discontinue his studies following the death of his father.  Unable to find meaningful employment, his ensuing hardships and personal grief are magnified by the tense setting of Calcutta, a city experiencing its own intense political upheaval and revolutionary violence.  A beautiful film of overwhelming spiritual perspective and astounding depth of feeling.

SHATRANJ KE KHILARI (THE CHESS PLAYERS) (1977)

The action takes place in 1856, in Lucknow, capital of the Moslem kingdom of Oudh.  The king, Wajid Ali Shah, prefer to devote himself to the pleasure of art instead of submitting to the subterfuges and stakes of politics.  Meanwhile the English Company of India is strengthening its grip on the country – 1858 the British Crown takes over the control of the government entirely for Queen Victoria.  Parallel to this, two aristocrats indulge their passion for chess while neglecting everything else and without having noticed the historic changes occurring under their noses.

AGANTUK (THE STRANGER) (1991)

Ray’s final film after thirty-six years of film-making proves him still to be a master of great feeling and compassion in his portrayals of humankind.  Anila receives a letter from a man who claims to be her uncle who disappeared 35 years ago.  He is a stranger to the family who has been given up for dead.  He wishes to spend a few days with her.  However, Anila’s husband and family are suspicious of the stranger and suspect him to be an imposter.  What follows, is a gentle, exquisitely realized comedy of manners and a debate on urban living which keeps us guessing until the final scenes.