The science-fiction legacy of Satyajit Ray

A small alien creature crash lands on Earth before striking up a rapport with a boy. Sound familiar? Two decades before ET was released, Indian director Satyajit Ray wrote a script for a film that would be called The Alien, which bears striking similarities with Steven Spielberg’s Hollywood blockbuster. The movie was never made. Ray was ahead of his time in many ways. Although not primarily remembered for his science fiction, the Bengali polymath was frequently inspired by a scientific way of thinking. Ray’s legacy is revisited in this latest episode of the Physics World Stories podcast.

Born in Calcutta (Kolkata) in 1921, Ray was not only a film director but also an established author, essayist, magazine editor, illustrator, calligrapher and music composer. Between 1955 and 1991, Ray directed almost 30 features, as well as short films and documentaries. Many won leading prizes at international film festivals. In 1991 he was awarded an Oscar for lifetime achievement – the only such Oscar to be bestowed on an Indian director. Ray also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Oxford, the second film director to be awarded this honour after his hero Charles Chaplin.

Ray’s work is explored in this episode of Physics World Stories, presented as always by science communication specialist Andrew Glester. Joining the podcast is Andrew Robinson, author of Satyajit Ray: the Inner Eye, who reflects on Ray’s personality and creative process, having known the Indian director personally. Also featuring is Moumita Dasgupta a biophysicist at Augsburg University in the US, who credits Ray’s work – especially his writing – as an inspiration for her career in science.

Discover more about Satyajit Ray’s work and the story behind The Alien in Andrew Robinson’s feature article from the August issue of Physics World.