With 26 films to his credit and numerous international prizes, Satyajit Ray is India's most recognized filmmaker--yet, no extended study of his films has previouly been published in English in the West. Ben Nyce examines each of Ray's films in close detail and provides a cinematic examination of his unique style. Nyce explores Ray's career chronologically to best chart his stylistic development as a filmaker. Each chapter considers one film and how it expressed the particular quality of rhythm and mood which characterizes his work. Narrative synopses are first presented, and the opinions of his critics are continually noted and discussed. Included are studies of the following well known films: Pather Panchali, Aparajito, Apur Sanar (The Apu Trilogy), Jalsaghar (The Music Room), Ashani Sanket (Distant Thunder), and Ghare-Baire (The Home and the World).