Subrata Mitra as a cinematographer with Satyajit Ray, the legendary Indian film maker, for "Pather Panchali" (1955). He continued to work with him for many of Ray's later films. He is known for pioneering the technique of bounce lighting, while filming "The Apu Trilogy". Satyajit Ray thought that "Subrata Mitra’s camera work is better than Raoul Coutard’s". Coutard was at the time much more acclaimed than Mitra having collaborated with Godard on many of his film projects. One of his most important technical innovations was his introduction of bounce lighting, which he pioneered while filming "Aparajito" (1956), the second part of "The
The Apu Trilogy (including Best Human Document at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival), followed by eleven international prizes for "Aparajito" (including the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival) and numerous other awards for "Apur Sansar" (including the Sutherland Trophy at the London Film Festival). When Ray made "Pather Panchali", he worked with a cast and crew most of whom had never been previously involved in film. Ray himself at the time of directing "Pather Panchali" had primarily worked in the advertising industry, although he had served as assistant director on Jean Renoir's 1951 film "The River". From this foundation, Ray went on