Satyajit’s ‘Panther Pachali’ ranks as best Indian film of all time

The International Federation of Film Critics (FIPRESCI) conducted a survey, where two of Oscar-winning Indian filmmaker Satyajit Ray’s films— ‘Pather Panchali’ and ‘Charulata’ ranked as first and seventh in India’s ‘Best films of all time’ list, according to a recent report by Times of India.

The India chapter of FIPRESCI chose 10 films in the history of Indian cinema of as the ‘best of all time’, through a secretly conducted poll.

The 1955 film ‘Pather Panchali’ is based on Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay’s 1929 Bengali novel of the same name, which marked Ray’s directorial debut. It was the first film in his ‘Apu’ trilogy, followed by ‘Aparajito’ and ‘Apur Sansar’.

The entire list is dominated by filmmakers who are also known for the parallel film movement in India, focusing on social conflicts and politics and those that are not mainstream entertainment.

Founded in 1930, the FIPRESCI gives out awards at reputed international film festivals, including the likes of— the Vienna International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Cannes Film Festival, Venice Film Festival, Warsaw Film Festival, and International Film Festival of Kerala.