Satyajit Ray finally gets a solo film festival

May 2 2010 is the 89th birth anniversary of Satyajit Ray -- an Indian filmmaker who influenced the face of world cinema and been studied and worshipped around the world.

The society will screen Ray's films "Agantuk" (The Stranger), "Jalsaghar" (The Music Room) and "Charulata" (The Lonely Wife) every Sunday at 10am at Cinemax Versova and Metro Big Cinemas.

It's believable that every cinephile in Mumbai has waited long for these films to be presented on the big screen, and is probably wondering why it didn't happen sooner.

"Since we began our film society, we have had many requests to do a Satyajit Ray film festival. We have never received such a response immediately after announcing a festival," says Pranav Ashar, President of the Taj Enlighten Film Society.

After this "overwhelming" show of support, the society plans to enhance the festival experience by adding Ray's famous Apu Triolgy: "Pather Panchali" (Song of the Little Road), "Aparajito" (The Unvanquished) and "Apur Sansar" (The World of Apu). The Extended Satyajit Ray Festival, as it were, will be back to back screenings over the last three days of June at the National Centre of Performing Arts (NCPA).

For those of us who haven't seen these Indian cinema classics, and have no cred among our filmmaker friends for it, this is a moment for a redemption. Be smart. Take it. There's one screening in Versova and one in town. Now what's your excuse?  

The Satyajit Ray Film Festival runs May 2-16. For screening schedule and pass details, see the CNNGo Events section.