Madhur Bhandarkar Issues Clarification on Fourth Apu Film

RBN Web Desk: Director Madhur Bhandarkar has issued a clarification on his involvement in the fourth film of the Apu series which is to be directed by Subhrajit Mitra. The Apu Trilogy—comprising Pather Panchali (1955), Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959)—was directed by auteur Satyajit Ray. The trilogy is widely considered to have ushered in the neo-realist movement in Indian cinema.

Mitra recently announced that he will make Avijatrik, the fourth film in the Apu series, which will continue from where Apur Sansar ended. It will be based on the novel Aparajito by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay, parts of which Ray didn’t adapt in the 1959 film. Bhandarkar is the co-presenter of the new film.

The announcement led to a lot of confusion in the social media that Bhandarkar would be remaking the Apu Trilogy.

In a first, Soumitra Chatterjee and Naseeruddin Shah to Match Wits

The Chandni Bar director, in a clarification issued on Twitter a few hours ago, has said that they are not remaking any of the films that comprised the trilogy. “We are not touching the films made by Satyajit Ray,” he said, adding that he is “a big fan of the legendary filmmaker who helped Indian cinema reach global audiences.”

Apur Sansar marked the film debut of Soumitra Chatterjee and Sharmila Tagore. This year, incidentally, marks the diamond jubilee of the release of the last film of the trilogy.

Pic: Hindustan Times