It has been 30 years since Sandip Ray, the son of the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray, last visited Sydney. He will break that long hiatus next month when he visits in connection with the first Indian Parallel Cinema Festival of Australia (IPCFA).
Speaking to The Indian Sun over Zoom from Kolkata, Ray mentioned that he last visited Sydney in 1994 for the Sydney Film Festival, where his film Target was screened. He is excited about participating in IPCA this August, where four of his father’s films will be showcased.
The four Satyajt Ray films that will be screened are Pather Panchali, Ghare Baire, Agantuk, and Sonar Kella. ‘It is a good selection,” says Ray. “I think people will enjoy them. They are different kinds of films, and I hope they are good prints with good subtitles.”
Ray adds that his father’s films are timeless. “They still look very fresh, and most of his films, in fact, are based on human relationships. That’s a universal theme that will resonate well with the Australian audience. People in Australia have seen many of my father’s films, and I think they are familiar with his work and will enjoy the latest retro (retrospectives).”
As a filmmaker, Ray sees the legacy of his father influencing contemporary Indian cinema. “A lot of new young filmmakers have been influenced by him. People are still interested in and watch his films. Some of them swear by him.”
He believes festivals like IPCFA are crucial for promoting and preserving the works of legendary filmmakers, as well as for enhancing global appreciation of Indian parallel cinema. “Retrospectives should happen. These films have been shown worldwide and are quite popular, especially in the US and the UK, where they are constantly being released and shown. It’s ongoing, and it’s good.”
Ray reflects on his first film, Phatik Chand, made in 1983. “It was a tough film to make,” he recalls. “I didn’t want my father to be present on the sets. I was particular about that, so he came, had a cup of tea, and left.”
Since then, Ray observes significant changes in filmmaking. “Everything has changed; the audiences have changed, and their attention spans have diminished. You have to consider these factors now.”
Ray emphasises the challenges of modern filmmaking, noting the pressure to produce quickly. “It’s very difficult to make a film now with a factory-like approach, where you might have only 12 days to finish. That’s the reality of the present situation.”
And that’s why he insists on getting good producers. “That’s another tough thing.”
At 70, Ray is still living the definition of busy. He edits Sandesh, a Bengali children’s magazine started by his great-grandfather Upendrakishore Ray Chowdhury. He is also working towards preserving the “huge legacy” of his family heritage, which includes his father Satyajit Ray, his grandfather Sukumar Ray and great grandfather Upendrakishore Ray.
“We first established a society. Right now, I am restoring the paper or print heritage – writings, letters, drawings, music notations, etc., and that’s a huge thing. It takes a lot of my time but fortunately we have a lot of enthusiastic Ray followers who have joined the society and are helping,” says Ray.
Ray finds it all very exciting, especially since he is constantly discovering new things in the process and showcasing them in exhibitions.
Asked if he has little time for filmmaking now, Ray replies, “I manage it all somehow.”
Ray has plenty of memories of his father, which he plans to share at his event in Sydney during the film festival. But he does share a valuable lesson he learned from his father in the editing room: if a scene, no matter how perfect, does not advance the film, you should reject it. “That’s the most important thing I have learnt from him – that you have to be ruthless about your work.”
He was also advised to watch bad films to learn more.
With new ventures on the pipeline, including an anthology of short story films, Ray will come to Sydney in August, where his passion for cinema will once again take centre stage.
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Sandip Ray returns to #Sydney after 30 years for the Indian Parallel Cinema Festival of Australia, showcasing his father's films & sharing his insights on filmmaking & legacy preservation. 🎥🇮🇳📽️🎞️✨ #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/OUow3YcDci
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