satyajit ray

Indira Dhar’s debut film, Putul, journeyed from Kolkata’s streets to Cannes, earning a standing ovation. A single mother, Indira battled funding struggles, sold her jewellery, and balanced parenthood to bring this powerful story to life. Her resilience, rooted in her passion for storytelling, turned obstacles into triumphs.

Here’s a list of 10 biographies of pioneering Indians -- from Dr Ambedkar and Satyajit Ray to APJ Abdul Kalam and Kapil Dev -- that will leave you inspired.

Directed by Dev Anand's elder brother, Chetan Anand, the 1946 film 'Neecha Nagar' is the only Indian film to have won the highest honour at the Cannes Film Festival.

Tucked away in a quiet corner of Kolkata's College Street, what started as a hideout for freedom fighters is now a popular place of adda where the delicious 'dam sherbet' is served.

As Netflix prepares to launch 'Ray', a four-part series based on short stories written by Satyajit Ray adapted for the screen, we revisit what some legendary filmmakers across the globe had to say about his work.

Biren Kumar Basak from West Bengal remembers the days when he earned Rs 2.5 to now establishing a Rs 50-crore venture, employing 5,000 artisans. His sarees have won several awards including Padma Shri.

“Apurva Asrani is actually not just a champion, but also one of the finest editing and screenplay minds in our country,” says legendary Bollywood actor Manoj Bajpayee.

Casting first-time actors, children and even people from her native village, Rima Das has completely changed the way we look at filmmaking.

The driving force behind a treasure trove of educational films, Mulay’s work captured the imagination of the millions of Indian kids who grew up watching Doordarshan in the 1970s and 80s. RIP, ma’am. You will be missed

Even as we believe that the movies churned out by Hindi-film industry are mass entertainers, and one needs to forget the idea of logic while watching them, it is also true that it has produced gems that are recognised not just in India, but all over the world.