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Satyajit Ray's masterpiece the Apu Trilogy is widely considered one of the most important works in cinema history. In 1992, Ray was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Oscar. But when film-preservationist David Sheppard volunteered to go to Bengal, he found the original negatives in a terrible state. "It's hard to think of another world-class filmmaker", says Sheppard, "whose oeuvre hangs by such a thin thread!" The Song of the Little Road tells the story of how a master's body of work came so close to disintegration, and why Ray's films move audiences so deeply across time and cultural boundaries. Three icons – director Martin Scorsese, producer Ismail Merchant, and music composer Ravi Shankar – illustrate stirringly what makes a masterpiece.
"Pick of the Week" – Los Angeles Times
"The director Satyajit Ray was to India what Fellini was to Italy and Bergman to Sweden - an artist whose momentous achievements virtually defined a national cinema. This documentary by Priyanka Kumar is a thoughtful, intelligent examination of Ray's life and legacy . . ." – The Film Watch, Telluride, Colorado
"Priyanka Kumar has compiled a touching tribute to neglected Indian film genius Satyajit Ray which eventually wins over even those like me who had never heard of him. . . Scorsese says they (Ray's films) were "one of the great cinematic experiences of all time which were very important when I was making my own films. They were so foreign yet so persona"." – Stephen Breen, The Royal Gazette, Bermuda
"A superb new documentary. Drawing from interviews with a diverse group of Satyajit Ray's colleagues and supporters including Ravi Shankar, Martin Scorsese and others, Kumar's documentary is a quiet, subtle meditation on the life and art of one of the world's greatest filmmakers. Crafted through a dreamy series of still shots of interviewees and moving clips from Ray's films, THE SONG OF THE LITTLE ROAD is a testament to the significant contributions Ray made in his lifetime – as well as the perseverance of dedicated film archivists and Ray admirers who have helped save his works from near disintegration. Includes interviews with Ismail Merchant, Mike Pogorzelski." – Head of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Film Archive, and more." – American Cinematheque
SFR PICK "If you've never heard of Satyajit Ray, perhaps you should look into him. In the 1950s, the Bengali filmmaker created what is known as the Apu Trilogy, a series of three films that is now regarded as one of the finest film trilogies in history (yes, right up there with Star Wars). After the Apu Trilogy was made, however, the film reels were stored in a canister for 60 years and were narrowly saved from complete disintegration. Now, Santa Fe filmmaker Priyanka Kumar documents the importance of the Apu Trilogy in THE SONG OF THE LITTLE ROAD, which features interviews with Martin Scorsese and Ravi Shankar (the latter composed the trilogy's score)." – Santa Fe Reporter
Director: Priyanka Kumar
Producers: Priyanka Kumar
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 70 mins
Features: Martin Scorsese, Ismail Merchant, Ravi Shankar
