Classics: Pather Panchali

Actually, the heyday of Italian neorealism was already over when director Satyajit Ray made Pather Panchali the most important Indian representative of the genre. The film was the first in the so-called Apu trilogy, in which he sheds light on everyday life at the bottom of Indian society, based on three stages of the title character's life. In the midst of all the tragedy, there is also room for poetry and humour.

Satyajit Ray (1921-1992) is without a doubt one of India's greatest filmmakers. Akira Kurosawa compared not having seen his films to "being in the world without ever having seen the sun or moon." Contemporary creators such as Wes Anderson and Chris Nolan are also among the admirers of his work.