Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Apr 26: An old video of the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray has resurfaced on the Internet, in which he talks about his long-standing ambition to adapt the Indian epic, the Mahabharata.
The video, shared by Indian broadcaster Prasar Bharati, features Ray expressing his fascination with the ancient epic. "Yes, there are a few things which haven't been done yet. For instance, I've always wanted to do an epic. I had been fascinated by the Mahabharata and I'm still fascinated by the Mahabharata, but I don't think the whole of Mahabharata can be tackled," Ray says in the clip.
He further added, "So perhaps a segment of an epic, a segment of Mahabharata, I'd do using our tradition of stylization, perhaps using Kathakali. I really haven't got a very clear notion of what I want to do, but I definitely do want to do an epic, a story which everybody knows from beforehand. That is something which I want to do."
Satyajit Ray remains one of the most respected figures in world cinema, with his Apu Trilogy considered a pinnacle of cinematic art. His work has inspired generations of filmmakers, including Hollywood great Martin Scorsese, known for films such as Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, The Departed, and Shutter Island. Scorsese has often spoken about the profound influence Ray’s filmmaking, particularly the Apu Trilogy, has had on him.
National award-winning director Shoojit Sircar is another ardent admirer of Ray, often referring to him as his "guru". Speaking recently at a panel discussion at the India Film Project (IFP), Sircar said, “Satyajit Ray has been my guru and still I think his films are so much influence in my life and in my films also.”
He further reflected on how limited access to international cinema shaped his early influences: “Apart from that, I have watched a lot of Oliver Stone films, Fellini, Buñuel (Luis Buñuel), Mrinal Sen, Ritwik Ghatak, there are many. At that time, those films didn’t have this kind of exhibition or distribution. For example, if it was Mumbai and it was a Ray film, it would be showing maybe in one theatre in town. It never had a chance to go to many theatres."
Sircar added, “Things are different now. There are many theatres to exhibit your films. But at that time, growing up in Delhi, there was only one theatre where I could see these kinds of films — whether it was Bergman, Buñuel, or Ray. These films have been my influences.”