Pather Panchali (Song of the Little Road) (1955)

97% of critics liked it
(34 reviews)
93% of users liked it
(5,270 ratings)

Pather Panchali (Father Panchali), Indian director Satyajit Ray's first feature film, relates the story of an impoverished Bengalese family. When the father (Karuna Bannerjee) leaves for the city to pursue a writing career, the mother (Karuna Banerji) is left with the responsibility of caring for… More Pather Panchali (Father Panchali), Indian director Satyajit Ray's first feature film, relates the story of an impoverished Bengalese family. When the father (Karuna Bannerjee) leaves for the city to pursue a writing career, the mother (Karuna Banerji) is left with the responsibility of caring for the rest of the brood. Gradually, the film's true central character emerges: Apu (Subir Banerji), the family's son. Though excruciatingly realistic at times, Pather Panchali takes an occasional timeout to dwell on the purely cinematic. For example, when the mother receives a postcard bearing good news, Ray dissolves to a pond, where a pair of water skates scamper about. The music by Ravi Shankar at first seems to be at odds with the action; soon, however, we come to accept the music as a logical outgrowth of the events at hand. A multiple award winner, Pather Panchali was the first of Ray's celebrated "Apu Trilogy" (the other two entries were 1956's Aparajito and 1959's The World of Apu). The film was also released as The Song of the Road and The Lament of the Path. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 6 min.
Directed By: Satyajit Ray
Genres: Art House & International, Drama

In Theaters: Aug 26, 1955 Wide
On DVD: Oct 28, 2003
Studio: Sony Pictures Classics

Critic Reviews

, TIME Magazine
It is a pastoral poem dappled with the play of brilliant images and strong, dark feelings, a luminous revelation of Indian life in language that all the world can understand.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Satyajit Ray's beautiful first feature.
Variety Staff, Variety
Film justly won the 'most human document award' at the 1956 Cannes Film Fest, unveiling a mature film talent in director Satyajit Ray.
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
There are lovely little threads in the strange fabric. It's a film that takes patience to be enjoyed.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The great, sad, gentle sweep of The Apu Trilogy remains in the mind of the moviegoer as a promise of what film can be.
Edward Guthmann, San Francisco Chronicle
One of the legendary debuts in the history of film -- deservedly so.
Jay Antani, Cinema Writer
There is a faith in the art form here, a pure, loving, embracing faith that really restores my own faith in movies.
Philip French, Observer [UK]
One of the greatest pictures ever made.
Xan Brooks, Guardian [UK]
Fresh as a daisy after all these years, Satyajit Ray's 1955 spellbinder comes underpinned by a tumultuous Ravi Shankar sitar and paints a ground's-eye portrait of life in an impoverished Bengali village.
, Film4
Not just an Indian classic, but a standout film in the history of cinema.
Alan Morrison, Empire Magazine
A remarkable debut from Ray that though slow is extremely absorbing.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
A masterpiece, inarguably.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Less like viewing a film than like spending two hours in another life in another world.
Boo Allen, Denton Record Chronicle (TX)
Touching drama from Indian Master Ray.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
Perfection.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Satyajit Ray began his career with a film that still stands as possibly the best-known Indian film ever made, and regarded by many as one of the greats of all time.
John A. Nesbit, Old School Reviews
Ray's trilogy contains absolutely no pretense as it follows Apu's journey to manhood
Dan Lybarger, Nitrate Online
Ray's debut is still one of his best.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
[Ray's] ability behind the camera is unmistakable.

Read all 19 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Stella D

it's hard to believe satyajit ray and his cinematographer had never worked on a film before this. they had observed renoir filming the river and with his encouragement and the inspiration of italian neorealism made this poetic masterpiece about life in a small bengal village… More
it's hard to believe satyajit ray and his cinematographer had never worked on a film before this. they had observed renoir filming the river and with his encouragement and the inspiration of italian neorealism made this poetic masterpiece about life in a small bengal village circa 1920, a really timeless film. i love films about india and i'm looking forward to the rest of this series. there's huge natural talent at work here
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"Pather Panchali" is the first part of Satyajit Ray's Apu trilogy. This film focuses on a poor family with a prestigious past living in rural India. The father has dreams of becoming a writer/poet/playwright, even as he accepts a job to do a… More
[font=Century Gothic]"Pather Panchali" is the first part of Satyajit Ray's Apu trilogy. This film focuses on a poor family with a prestigious past living in rural India. The father has dreams of becoming a writer/poet/playwright, even as he accepts a job to do a landowner's accounts to support his family.(It should be noted that we rarely see him or any of the other men of the village.) However, he does have a kind heart, one that clashes with the reality of the situation.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Pather Panchali" is really a simple, uiniversal story, about a struggling family. There is not a lot of plot to speak of; it is much more character driven. I thought the camerawork was very graceful. The film quietly builds up to its powerful climax. [/font]
Krystle C

A masterful departure from stereotypical Indian cinema. Beautiful nature shots.

Cast

Runki Banerji
as Durga as a child
Kanu Banerji
as Harihar the Father
Subir Banerji
as Apu

Karuna Bannerjee
as Sarbojaya Ray
Umas Das Gupta
as Durga as a young girl
Haren Bannerjee

See full cast

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Pather Panchali (Song of the Little Road) (1955)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Stella D

Walter M

Krystle C

Cast

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