One day during the monsoon season, Durga plays in the downpour, catches a cold and develops a high fever. During his absence, the family sinks deeper into poverty, and Sarbajaya grows increasingly lonely and bitter. He promises that he will return with money to repair their dilapidated house.

Unable to earn a good living in the village, Harihar travels to the city to seek a better job. One day, they run to catch a glimpse of the train, only to find Indir dead upon return. Every evening, they are delighted by the sound of a distant train's whistle. Together, they share life's simple joys: sitting quietly under a tree, viewing pictures in a travelling vendor's bioscope, running after the candy man who passes through, and watching a jatra (folk theatre) performed by an acting troupe. One day, the neighbour's wife accuses Durga of stealing a bead necklace (which Durga denies) and blames Sarbajaya for encouraging her tendency to steal.Īs the elder sibling, Durga cares for Apu with motherly affection but spares no opportunity to tease him. Durga is fond of Indir and often gives her fruit stolen from a wealthy neighbour's orchard. At times, Sarbajaya's taunts become offensive, forcing Indir to take temporary refuge in the home of another relative. Because of their limited resources, Sarbajaya resents having to share her home with the old Indir, who often steals food from their already bare kitchen. His wife Sarbajaya cares for their children, Durga and Apu, and Harihar's elderly cousin, Indir Thakrun. In 1910s Nischindipur, rural Bengal, Harihar Roy earns a meagre living as a pujari (priest) but dreams of a better career as a poet and playwright. It is often featured in lists of the greatest films ever made. The first film from independent India to attract major international critical attention, it won India's National Film Award for Best Feature Film in 1955, the Best Human Document award at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival, and several other awards, establishing Ray as one of the country's most distinguished filmmakers. Pather Panchali is described as a turning point in Indian cinema, as it was among the films that pioneered the Parallel Cinema movement, which espoused authenticity and social realism. The tale of Apu's life is continued in the two subsequent installments of Ray's trilogy: Aparajito ( The Unvanquished, 1956) and Apur Sansar ( The World of Apu, 1959). Scholars have commented on the film's lyrical quality and realism (influenced by Italian neorealism), its portrayal of the poverty and small delights of daily life, and the use of what the author Darius Cooper has termed the 'epiphany of wonder', among other themes. Critics have praised its realism, humanity, and soul-stirring qualities, while others have called its slow pace a drawback, and some have condemned it for romanticising poverty. A special screening was attended by the Chief Minister of West Bengal and the Prime Minister of India. It was a hit at the box-office, yet up until early 1980 had earned a profit of only ₹24 lakh. Following its premiere on during an exhibition at New York's Museum of Modern Art, Pather Panchali was released in Calcutta later the same year to an enthusiastic reception. Subrata Mitra was in charge of the cinematography while editing was handled by Dulal Dutta.

The sitar player Ravi Shankar composed the film's soundtrack and score using classical Indian ragas.

The film was shot mainly on location, had a limited budget, featured mostly amateur actors, and was made by an inexperienced crew. Production was interrupted because of funding problems and it took nearly three years for the film to be completed. Featuring Subir Banerjee, Kanu Banerjee, Karuna Banerjee, Uma Dasgupta, Pinaki Sengupta, Chunibala Devi and being the first film in The Apu Trilogy, Pather Panchali depicts the childhood travails of the protagonist Apu and his elder sister Durga amidst the harsh village life of their poor family. It is an adaptation of Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay's 1929 Bengali novel of the same name, and marked Ray's directorial debut. Song of the Little Road) is a 1955 Indian Bengali-language drama film written and directed by Satyajit Ray and produced by the Government of West Bengal. Pather Panchali ( Bengali pronunciation: transl.

Voice returns its village voicey