pATher pAnchAli

Realistic Depiction

of

Rural Life:

“Pather Panchali” was a departure from the escapist fantasies of Bollywood, and it portrayed the harsh realities of life in rural India. The film depicted poverty, disease, and death with a rare sensitivity in Indian cinema then. This portrayal of rural life helped shed light on the struggles of the poor and marginalised Indian society.

Launch of Parallel Cinema: “Pather Panchali” marked the beginning of India’s parallel cinema movement, which aimed to produce films different from mainstream Bollywood fare. The film’s success inspired many other filmmakers to create meaningful and artistic films that reflected the realities of Indian society.

Influence on Indian Literature: “Pather Panchali” was based on a novel by Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay. The film’s success helped to popularise the author’s work. The film’s realism and sensitivity also inspired many other writers, who began to write stories and novels depicting the realities of Indian society.