Satyajit Ray's Vision of Bringing ‘Mahabharata’ to Life on Screen
Click to start listening
Synopsis
An archival video of filmmaker Satyajit Ray discussing his ambition to adapt the Indian epic ‘Mahabharata’ has surfaced online. He expressed his desire to create an epic using traditional stylization methods, revealing his lasting fascination with the story.
Key Takeaways
- Satyajit Ray aimed to adapt the epic ‘Mahabharata’.
- He favored focusing on segments rather than the entire narrative.
- Ray's cinematic legacy continues to inspire modern filmmakers.
- Shoojit Sircar considers Ray a significant influence on his work.
- Distribution of Ray's films was limited during his time.
Mumbai, April 26 (NationPress) An archival video featuring the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray has emerged online, showcasing his aspirations to adapt the Indian epic ‘Mahabharata’ for the screen.
The video was shared by the Indian network, Prasar Bharati. In the footage, Ray expressed, “Yes, there are several elements that remain unexplored. For example, I have always been captivated by the ‘Mahabharata’ and continue to be, yet I believe that the entirety of the Mahabharata is too vast to fully address.”
He elaborated, “Perhaps I could focus on a specific portion of the epic, utilizing our traditional stylization methods, possibly incorporating Kathakali. While I don't possess a fully formed idea of how to approach this, I am keen to create an epic narrative that is widely recognized. This is a project I genuinely wish to undertake.”
Satyajit Ray is hailed as one of the most influential directors in global cinema. His ‘Apu’ trilogy is celebrated as a masterpiece of cinematic artistry. He has inspired numerous renowned filmmakers, including Martin Scorsese, known for his iconic works like ‘Taxi Driver’, ‘Raging Bull’, ‘The Departed’, and ‘Shutter Island’. Scorsese has openly acknowledged the impact of Ray's filmmaking style, particularly his “Apu Trilogy.”
The National award-winning director Shoojit Sircar is another ardent admirer of Satyajit Ray and regards him as his ‘guru’. Shoojit believes his own films are deeply influenced by Ray's cinematic heritage.
Recently, during a panel discussion at IFP, Shoojit Sircar remarked, “Satyajit Ray has been my mentor, and I feel his films significantly influence my life and my work. In addition to Ray, I have appreciated the works of Oliver Stone, Fellini, Buñuel, Mrinal Sen, and Ritwik Ghatak. During my formative years, those films lacked widespread distribution.”
He continued, “For instance, in Mumbai, if a Ray film was released, it might only show in a single theater somewhere in town. It never had the opportunity for extensive screenings. Times have changed; now there are numerous theaters to showcase films, but back then, in Delhi, there was just one theater available for such films, including those by Bergman or Buñuel or Ray. These films have been my true inspirations.”
