The World of Apu (1959)
"Apur Sansar" (original title)

Apu is a jobless ex-student dreaming vaguely of a future as a writer. An old college friend talks him into a visit up-country to a village wedding. This changes his life, for when the ... See full summary »

Director:

Satyajit Ray

Writers:

Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay (original story "Aparajito"), Satyajit Ray (screenplay)

Stars:

Soumitra Chatterjee, Sharmila Tagore, Alok Chakravarty

Nominated for 1 BAFTA Film Award. Another 4 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Soumitra Chatterjee	...	Apurba Roy (as Soumitra Chattopadhyay)
Sharmila Tagore	...	Aparna
Alok Chakravarty	...	Kajal (as Shriman Alok Chakraborty)
Swapan Mukherjee	...	Pulu (as Swapan Mukhopadhyay)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tushar Bandyopadhyay
Gupi Banerjee	...	(as Gupi Bandyopadhyay)
Panchanan Bhattacharya
Shanti Bhattacherjee	...	Office Associate
Jiten Bhons
Abhijit Chatterjee	...	Aparna's Brother (as Abhijit Chattopadhyay)
Jogesh Chatterjee	...	(as Jogesh Chattopadhyay)
Asha Devi
Belarani Devi	...	Apu's Neighbor (as Belarani)
Sefalika Devi	...	Shashinarayan's wife
Biren Ghosh

Storyline

Apu is a jobless ex-student dreaming vaguely of a future as a writer. An old college friend talks him into a visit up-country to a village wedding. This changes his life, for when the bridegroom turns out to be mad, Apu's friend asks him to become the husband! After initial revulsion at the idea, Apu agrees. Apu takes his exquisite bride, Aparna, back to Calcutta. But Aparna dies in childbirth, Apu leaves Calcutta, crazy with grief, and his son Kajal is left abandoned with his wife's parents. Only after a long period of total indifference to worldly responsibilities, does Apu become capable of returning to the world.

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Plot Keywords:

grief | father son relationship | calcutta india | redemption | insanity | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Country:

India

Language:

Bengali

Release Date:

4 October 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

The World of Apu

Filming Locations:

India

Box Office

Gross:

$16,000 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Satyajit Ray Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Did You Know?

Trivia

Very similar in plot to 'Vittorio de Sica''s Bicycle Thieves, a film that Satyajit Ray greatly admired.

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Connections

Follows Pather Panchali (1955)

User Reviews

The final episode of the Apu Trilogy

The final episode of the Trilogy takes us to a young adult Apu. Received the British Film Award which Sathyajits' other two episodes (Song of the Road, Unvanquished) also received.

This movie together with the other two movies are a monumental work in movie making. The way the story is portrayed, and the use of many details, enrich the emotional experience it provides. One can recall the way the screen of the movie theatre fades into the window of the horse carriage, or the way the hole on the window curtain reverberates with the spotted decorations on the actress face and etc.

This a "must see" movie for all, in the different ways emotions are expressed and the way it takes the audience in a roller coater ride of emotions. It is an enriching and a moving experience. It reinforces and reinvigorates the humanity within each of us.

To enjoy the movie most, viewers should see the first two episodes in sequence before viewing "Apur Sangsar."