Pather Panchali is a 1955 Bengali film directed by Satyajit Ray. It is the first film in the Apu Trilogy, which also includes Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959). The film is based on the novel of the same name by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay.
The film explores the struggles of a poor Brahmin family living in a village in Bengal in the 1920s. Harihar, the father, dreams of becoming a successful writer but is unable to find a steady source of income. He leaves the village to work in a distant city, leaving his wife Sarbojaya to take care of their two children, Durga and Apu, as well as his elderly aunt Indir.
Sarbojaya struggles to make ends meet, selling dried up vegetables in the village market. Durga, who is rebellious and adventurous, often helps her mother in the market and steals fruits from the neighbor's orchard. Apu is a curious child who is fascinated by the world around him and often follows his older sister on her adventures.
The film is shot in a naturalistic style, capturing the daily struggles of the family and the beauty of the village in which they live. The use of non-professional actors adds to the film's realism.
Pather Panchali is often regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. It won numerous awards, including the Best Human Document award at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival. The film's success led to the making of two sequels, continuing the story of Apu's life.
