Architecture is the only field that intersects with a lot of different disciplines. It requires knowledge and juxtaposition with various arts, sciences, and practices. Therefore, one of the fields that connect directly and indirectly with architecture is cinema. Cinema and architecture both share the same complexity and narrative properties. They aim to tell a story and convey meaning to people. Moreover, they both need to be universal, in some sort or another, to reach the vastest range of audiences.
Consequently, many architects make films and shift their careers to the cinema industry, acting, screenwriting, or directing. Furthermore, architecture and filmmaking involve the same visual complexity besides targeting intangible aspects, such as music and light, actors and spaces, and narrative and circulation. For that reason, it is a necessary addition to every architect to study the work and life of film directors.
Satyajit Ray was a director, screenwriter, composer, author, illustrator, and, generally, an artist. He was born in India in 1921. Nevertheless, Satyajit was raised in a printing press till he was six, which was his grandfather’s work. In addition, his father, Sukumar Ray, was a none-sense rhyme author. However, Satyajit completed his bachelor’s in economics at the presidency college in Calcutta, although his interest was in fine arts. He started as a commercial artist. Satyajit worked in the British advertising agency as a junior visualizer, D.J Keymer. Then, he got promoted to art director.
Coincidentally, he had the chance to introduce himself as a film school student to the famous French director Jean Renoir. From that point, he was drawn into independent cinema and decided to shoot his first film Pather Panchali. Moreover, he founded the Calcutta film society in 1947. They screened many foreign films to allow cross-culture education, open new perspectives, and, accordingly, unlock new creative power. Satyajit was a distinctive artist because he was an auteur in his work. He taught himself everything about filmmaking to take control of every single aspect of his movies. His most famous movies are The Apu trilogy, the music room, the bug city, and Charulata. Hence, his work was one of a kind, and several characteristics distinguish his movies from any other director.
1. Global influence | Satyajit Ray
Satyajit viewed different kinds of magazines, including photoplay and film pictorials. Thus, he was inspired by western and eastern cultures simultaneously, reflected in his movies. Although he was deeply influenced by Indian culture, he took his inspiration from John Ford, Frank Capra, Ernst Lubitsch, and William Wyler. Furthermore, he believed that simplicity is more universal than complexity. Therefore, he was interested in the concept of density, trying to figure out how much the image tells and how telling the images are. His movies were well-crafted, well-directed, well-shot, and well-acted. Citing Akira Kurosawa’s words about Satyajit: “Never having seen a Satyajit Ray film is like never having seen the sun or the moon.”
2. Dogma filmmaking
Dogma is a movement that invested in discovering filmmakers’ talents rather than popularizing expensive technological techniques. Moreover, it valued the inclusion of nature to emphasize the movie’s authenticity. Satyajit adopted this ideology. Thus, he worked with amateurs who shared the same approaches. Nevertheless, Satyajit lets the ambient circumstances decide how some scenes will be taken, such as shooting in the actual interiors with natural lighting and urban locations, even if hundreds of people gather. He was one of the first directors to use bounce lights instead of artificial lighting. For example, he shot the houses of Banaras in the central courtyards that are open to the sky just by using a white cloth to light the interior scenes. Consequently, his movies were economical and, more importantly, relatable to people.
3. Flexible direction
Satyajit was known for his unique relationship with his crew and actors. He invested time knowing the actors, directing them, and watching them express their feelings on camera. Therefore, actors who worked with him agreed that they always felt the satisfaction of being part of the creation process. Moreover, he designed the characters who became famous afterward, such as Professor Shonku, the scientist.
4. Artistic Contro | Satyajit Ray
As mentioned before, Satyajit was an auteur. Hence, he took control of most of the movie parts. He taught himself to compose music, design costumes, write screenplay, and storyboard. Therefore, his work was sophisticated and very well accomplished.
Satyajit Ray died on the twenty-third of April in 1992 after making thirty-six films and receiving several major awards. He got an honorary Oscar before he died to appreciate his work and contribution to cinema. Nevertheless, he earned Bharat Ratna, the highest civil award in India in 1992. Martin Scorsese called him his master, and his work, till the present time, inspires not only filmmakers but also other artists and people from all over the world. Satyajit Ray was a great example of passion, discipline, hope, and creativity.
References:
Wikipedia (2022). Satyajit Ray [online]. (Last updated 20 October 2022). Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satyajit_Ray [Accessed 23 October 2022].
Britannica (2022). Satyajit Ray [online]. (Last updated 06 September 2022). Available at: https://www.britannica.com/biography/Satyajit-RayRay [Accessed 23 October 2022].
StudioBinder (2022). How Satyajit Ray Directs a Film | The Director’s Chair. [YouTube video]. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIQmW-p5yQ8&t=443s [Accessed 23 October 2022].
