The Apu Trilogy The Apu Trilogy The Apu Trilogy comprises three Bengali films directed by Satyajit Ray: "Pather Panchali" (1955), "Aparajito" (1956) and "The World of Apu" (1959). They are frequently listed among the greatest films of all time and are often cited as the greatest movies in the history of Indian cinema. The original music for the films was composed by Ravi Shankar. They are based on two Bengali novels written by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay: "Pather Panchali" (1929) and "Aparajito" (1932). The three films went on to win many national and international awards, including three National Film Awards and seven awards from the
Satyajit Ray Sukumar and Suprabha Ray in Calcutta. Satyajit Ray's family had acquired the name 'Ray'(originally 'Rai') from the Mughals. Although they were Bengali Kayasthas, the Rays were 'Vaishnavas' (worshippers of Vishnu) as against majority Bengali Kayasthas who were 'Shaktos' (worshippers of the Shakti) . Sukumar Ray died when Satyajit was barely three, and the family survived on Suprabha Ray's meager income. Ray studied at Ballygunge Government High School, Calcutta, and completed his BA in economics at Presidency College, Calcutta then affiliated with the University of Calcutta,(now Kolkata)though his interest was always in fine arts. In 1940, his mother insisted that he