Manipal: The master filmmaker Satyajit Ray was prophetic about the problems arising out of certain kinds of globalisation, capturing the ‘existentialist struggles’ of the middle classes in many of his films, said National Golden Lotus award-winning film critic Prof N Manu Chakravarthy.

Delivering the commemorative address on ‘Satyajit Ray- in our times’ as a part of the film master’s birth centenary organised by Gandhian Centre for Philosophical Arts and Sciences (GCPAS), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal here today, Prof Chakravarthy said Satyajit Ray anticipated the nature of capitalist globalisation in many of his films such as Mahanagar, Nayak, Pratidwani, Seemabadh, etc.

Citing a dialogue from one of Ray’s films, he said- Ray believed that a sense of justice and equality are better achievements of the modern age than man landing on the moon. Ray’s women characters are very strong and non-stereotypical ones; they, in fact, provide a counterpoint to the dominant masculinist narrative. 

Imbibing the intellectual heritage of Rajaram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidya Sagar, and of course Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore and Mahatma Gandhi, Ray formed his views about colonialism, nationalism, women, education, modernity, war and peace, etc. which also reflected in his films such as Ghare Baire, Shatranj Ke Khiladi.

Critiquing those who are becoming willing partners in the process of dehumanised mindless globalisation and related areas, Prof Chakravarthy cited Ray’s opinion, coming through his films, that one shouldn’t become wealthy on the misery and suffering of the people.

Speaking earlier, GCPAS head Prof Varadesh Hiregange said Ray captured ‘reality of his times in his cinematic mode of ‘realism,’ emerging as a class by himself, as a classicist producing classics and cutting across class barriers to be counted among masters of world cinema. Prof Phaniraj said Satyajit Ray remains as a contemporary with his ‘humanism and modernism.

Ms Manaswini Srirangam compered the programme. Film writer Maithili Rao and many others were present during the programme.