Bansi Chandragupta production designer Eugène Lourié and learned the craft of film designing. During the shooting of this movie, he met Satyajit Ray who asked him to join a group of film enthusiasts to form the Calcutta Film Society. Later, Ray asked Chandragupta to be set designer for his film "Pather Panchali". This collaboration sustained till "Shatranj Ke Khilari" (1977). Some of the best examples of Chandragupta's work are from the Ray films: "Pather Panchali", "Jalsaghar" and "Charulata". Apart from Ray's films, best works of Chandragupta's works are visible in "36 Chowringhee Lane" by Aparna Sen, "Umrao Jaan" by Muzzafar Ali and
Pather Panchali had met Ray on the set of "The River", where Mitra was allowed to observe the production, take photographs and make notes about lighting for personal reference. Having become friends, Mitra kept Ray informed about the production and showed his photographs. Ray was impressed enough by them to promise him an assistant's position on "Pather Panchali", and when production neared, invited him to shoot the film. As the 21-year-old Mitra had no prior filmmaking experience, the choice was met with scepticism by those who knew of the production. Mitra himself later speculated that Ray was nervous about working with an