'It blew my mind': Christopher Nolan on Pather Panchali, calls Satyajit Ray 'One of the greatest Indian filmmakers'
New York/IBNS: Acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan has once again highlighted his admiration for Indian cinema, selecting Satyajit Ray's The Apu Trilogy during a visit to the iconic Criterion Closet in New York.
While browsing through the celebrated collection of classic and contemporary films, Nolan paused at Ray's landmark trilogy and spoke about the legendary filmmaker's influence on world cinema.
Picking up the box set, Nolan said, "And then there's the Apu Trilogy by Satyajit Ray, one of the greatest Indian filmmakers. The trilogy starts with Pather Panchali, which is an absolutely incredible film.
"It just blew my mind. I haven't yet seen parts two and three of the trilogy, so I'm pretty excited to get this and complete the story."
Christopher Nolan recently visited the Criterion Closet and picked up Satyajit Ray's The Apu Trilogy.
— Space of Cinema (@spaceofcinema) July 25, 2026
Calling Ray one of the great Indian filmmakers, Nolan said Pather Panchali was an absolutely incredible film that completely blew his mind. He has not yet watched the other two… pic.twitter.com/o6kTbsVdxb
The Apu Trilogy comprises Pather Panchali (1955), Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959).
Adapted from Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay's novels, the films chronicle the life and coming-of-age journey of Apu and are widely regarded as among the greatest achievements in the history of world cinema.
Satyajit Ray, one of India's most celebrated filmmakers, received the Honorary Academy Award in 1992 for his lifetime contribution to cinema.
His work has influenced generations of filmmakers across the globe, including directors such as Martin Scorsese, Wes Anderson, Akira Kurosawa and Christopher Nolan.
Nolan's remarks come at a time when his latest film, The Odyssey, is enjoying a successful theatrical run worldwide, including a strong performance at the Indian box office.
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