Celebrating Satyajit Ray, the graphic artist

Veteran filmmaker and artist Satyajit Ray’s contribution to Indian films is unmatched. The award-winning filmmaker’s first film Pather Panchali won eleven international prizes, including the inaugural Best Human Document award at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival. He was also honoured with the Bharat Ratna in 1992. On his birth anniversary today, we bring you a lesser-known side of the eminent filmmaker.

Updated on: May 2, 2016 12:09 PM IST

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Veteran filmmaker and artist Satyajit Ray’s contribution to Indian films is unmatched. The award-winning filmmaker’s first film Pather Panchali won eleven international prizes, including the inaugural Best Human Document award at the 1956 Cannes Film Festival. He was also honoured with the Bharat Ratna in 1992. On his birth anniversary today, we bring you a lesser-known side of the eminent filmmaker.

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Some of his sketches were showcased in an exhibition in Delhi to celebrate 100 years of cinema in India in 2013. This sketch by Ray for an ad for Chelsea cigarettes tells the story of a cricketer struggling to find his bowling rhythm till the lunch break. He goes back to the dressing room, smokes a Chelsea cigarette and strikes immediately on the field by taking a wicket! (Sweta Kaushal/Hindustan Times)

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Ray did this sketch for Jabakusum -- a cure for hair fall. It shows a woman scared of combs. The sketch is so arresting that you almost ignore the text on the ad. (Sweta Kaushal/Hindustan Times)

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Another sketch for Jabakusum. It shows a woman trying to escape the shower. Once again Ray succeeds in sketching a perfect picture of fear. (Sweta Kaushal/Hindustan Times)

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The Centenary Film Festival, organised by the Information and Broadcasting ministry, showcased a number of interesting sketches done by Ray during his stint in the advertising industry with British advertising agency DJ Keymer between 1943 and 1956. (Sweta Kaushal/Hindustan Times)

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Ray’s expertise introduced Indian motifs and culture in the advertisements being made in pre-independence days. (Sweta Kaushal/Hindustan Times)

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It was in the early 1940s that Ray joined the British advertising agency D.J. Keymer and worked there as graphic artist for close to 13 years, between 1943 and 1956. (Sweta Kaushal/Hindustan Times)

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Satyajit was very good at sketching and worked for some of the best advertisements in initial world of commercial advertising in India. (Sweta Kaushal/Hindustan Times)