Christopher Nolan has often spoken about the films and filmmakers that shaped his understanding of cinema. His latest recommendation, however, turned the spotlight towards one of India’s most revered directors.
During a visit to the Criterion Closet in New York, Nolan picked up Satyajit Ray’s The Apu Trilogy and spoke about the impact its opening chapter, Pather Panchali, had on him. The Oscar-winning filmmaker described the 1955 Bengali classic as an “absolutely incredible film” and admitted that the experience had stayed with him.
“It just blew my mind,” Nolan said in a video shared by the Criterion Collection on X.
Nolan Plans To Complete The Apu Trilogy
While Nolan has watched Pather Panchali, he revealed that he is yet to see the two films that complete Ray’s celebrated trilogy.
“And then there’s the Apu Trilogy by Satyajit Ray, one of the greatest Indian filmmakers. The trilogy starts with Pather Panchali, which is an absolutely incredible film. It just blew my mind. I haven’t yet seen parts two and three of the trilogy, so I’m pretty excited to get this and complete the story,” he said.
✨Christopher Nolan’s Closet Picks! ✨ pic.twitter.com/UrJBKDR0Pz
— Criterion Collection (@Criterion) July 24, 2026
The story that begins with Pather Panchali continues in Aparajito, released in 1956, and Apur Sansar, which arrived in 1959. Together, the three films chart Apu’s life from childhood to adulthood.
Based on Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay’s novel, Pather Panchali follows Apu and his family as they struggle with poverty in rural Bengal. Ray’s restrained storytelling, close observation of everyday life and emotional realism helped the film win international recognition. It later came to be regarded as one of the defining works of world cinema.
Christopher Nolan’s Connection With India
Nolan’s tribute to Ray came shortly after another visit to India. He travelled to the country with producer Emma Thomas and actors Matt Damon and Tom Holland while promoting The Odyssey, which released worldwide on July 17, 2026.
During a press conference in Mumbai, Nolan said the India stop had been planned well in advance. He also recalled visiting the city earlier at the invitation of his friend Shivendra for a conference centred on cinema’s future.
“I met a lot of filmmakers and really got to know a little bit about the film culture here,” he said.
Nolan also praised Indian audiences for the seriousness and enthusiasm with which they engage with films.
“I’ve never been anywhere in the world with an appreciation of what movies can be and what they should be for audiences. To me, it seemed crazy that we wouldn’t be bringing our films here to Mumbai for Mumbai audiences,” he said, calling the visit “an absolute thrill”.
The filmmaker previously shot portions of Tenet in Mumbai and filmed scenes for The Dark Knight Rises at Jodhpur’s Mehrangarh Fort.
