Ray’s films leave viewers with unshakeable optimism: Sharmila
Veteran actor Sharmila Tagore recalled her experience of working with filmmaker Satyajit Ray, one of the pioneers of Indian cinema. She said the director’s films continue to be relevant even today as they leave people with a deep spirit of optimism.
The 73-year-old actor, who made her film debut with Ray’s Apur Sansar (1959) and later worked with him in Devi (1960) and Nayak (1966), inaugurated a retrospective on the filmmaker in the Capital.
Celebrating Ray’s 97th birth anniversary, the event is an amalgamation of a conference, exhibition, and a retrospective. The exhibition showcases works by noted photographer Nemai Ghosh, who closely worked with Ray, and will include candid shots on the filmmaker’s sets.
“Ray’s refusal to compromise and his commitment to his work is are at the heart of his legacy,” Tagore said, adding that Ray’s appeal lies in the fact that he truthfully portrayed core human emotions that bind people globally.
“That he was appreciated across cultures, despite being firmly rooted in himself, reinforces our belief that the commonalities that we share far transcends our differences, that it is possible to maintain and respect each others’ individuality,” she said.
“I believe we have much to learn from Ray’s vision of critical inclusiveness and critical vocalness. Long after his films are over, the viewers are left with unshakable optimism that is paramount in Ray’s outlook. You will agree that his films have stood the test of time, and I have no doubt that they will remain relevant for times to come,” she added.
Tagore said she is personally indebted to Ray for teaching her the language of cinema. “He led by example,” she said.