Balu Mahendra to the script". As a film-maker, he claimed himself as belonging to the realistic way of story-telling devised by Satyajit Ray and Vittorio De Sica. Mahendra was drawn towards realistic cinema after watching Ray's "Pather Panchali" (1955). He is credited as being one among the earliest filmmakers to bring "naturalism" in Tamil cinema in the 1970s. He usually photographed, scripted and edited all his films. His films were characterised by strong "visual appeal" and minimal number of characters. A majority of his films centre on the complexity of human relationships and are known to portray women as strong characters. Although
Satyajit Ray filmography become a film-maker. Ray made his directorial debut in 1955 with "Pather Panchali" and directed 36 films, comprising 29 feature films, five documentaries, and two short films. Although Ray's work generally received critical acclaim, his film "Pather Panchali" and "Ashani Sanket" (1973) were criticised for "exporting poverty" and "distorting India's image abroad". His "Apu Trilogy" (1955–1959) appeared in "Time" All-Time 100 Movies in 2005. Aside from directing, Ray composed music and wrote screenplays for films, both his own and those by other directors. Often credited as a fiction writer, illustrator, and calligrapher; Ray authored several short stories and novels in