The film was initially meant to be directed by one of Satyajit Ray's assistant directors, who asked Ray to direct the first couple of days to get things started and then asked him to direct the whole thing as he didn't feel up to the task. Ray reluctantly agreed, as he was having trouble funding Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne (1969), but felt he lacked preparation and didn't connect with the subject matter, later referring to the finished work as his "most unsatisfying film".