Fresh off the global success of ‘The Odyssey’, Oscar-winning filmmaker Christopher Nolan paid a visit to the renowned Criterion Closet in New York, a space that houses more than 1,000 landmark films from around the world. As he explored the collection, Nolan picked several cinematic favourites, including Satyajit Ray’s iconic ‘The Apu Trilogy’, describing the legendary Indian auteur as one of the greatest filmmakers in cinema history.
‘Pather Panchali ‘ left a lasting impression on Christopher Nolan
In a video shared by the Criterion Collection, Nolan spoke about the films that have shaped his appreciation of cinema. While selecting ‘The Apu Trilogy’, he recalled the profound impact its opening chapter had on him.“And then there’s The Apu Trilogy by Satyajit Ray, one of the great 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.”His remarks quickly caught the attention of film lovers, especially in India, where Ray’s work continues to be celebrated as a defining contribution to world cinema.
Film Buffs Celebrate Nolan’s Appreciation
The video soon sparked enthusiastic reactions across social media, with many praising Nolan for acknowledging Satyajit Ray’s legacy.One fan wrote, “One GOAT appreciating another GOAT.” Another commented, “It’s like God praising another God.” A third user said, “A master knows a true master.” Another reaction read, “Nolan has good taste.”Some viewers were also surprised to learn that the filmmaker had only watched the first instalment so far. One comment read, “It’s surprising he has only seen Pather Panchali and not the other two.”
Why ‘The Apu Trilogy’ remains a landmark
Adapted from the novels of Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, ‘The Apu Trilogy’ comprises ‘Pather Panchali’, ‘Aparajito’ and ‘Apur Sansar’. The films trace the life of Apu from his childhood in rural Bengal to adulthood, capturing themes of family, aspiration, grief and human resilience.The trilogy is widely regarded as one of the finest achievements in Indian cinema and has earned multiple international honours, including National Film Awards and recognition at prestigious film festivals such as Cannes, Berlin and Venice.
‘The Odyssey’ continues its strong box office run
Meanwhile, Nolan’s latest directorial venture, ‘The Odyssey’, has emerged as the biggest opening weekend success of his career, collecting $264 million globally in its debut.The epic has also performed exceptionally well in India, earning over ₹100 crore within its first week and becoming the highest-grossing Hollywood release of the year in the country. Worldwide, the film has already crossed the $350 million mark.Based on Homer’s timeless epic, ‘The Odyssey’ stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the Greek king who embarks on a perilous decade-long journey home after the Trojan War. Along the way, he confronts mythical creatures, powerful gods and formidable challenges as he strives to reunite with his wife Penelope, played by Anne Hathaway, and his son Telemachus, portrayed by Tom Holland.