The World of Apu (Bengali: অপুর সংসার Opur Shôngshar), also known as Apur Sansar, is the third and final installment of the famous film series, the Apu Trilogy, about a boy named Apu in early twentieth century Bengal by Satyajit Ray. Released in 1959, The World of Apu focuses on Apu's adult life, and also introduces the actors Soumitra Chatterjee and Sharmila Tagore, who would go on to appear in many subsequent Ray films. The film is based on the novel Aparajito by Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay. Satyajit Ray (Bengali:  ) (May 2, 1921–April 23, 1992) was a Bengali Indian filmmaker and polymath. ... Bibhutibhushan Bandhopadhyay Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay (Bengali: Bibhutibhushon Bôndopaddhae; last name also rendered as Banerjee or Banerji) was a Bengali novelist and writer. ... Soumitra Chatterjee (born 1935) is a Bengali actor from India, most famous for his frequent collaborations with the great Indian director Satyajit Ray. ... See Tagore for disambiguation Sharmila Tagore (Bengali: ) is a renowned Indian film actress from Bengal, who as of April 2005 heads the Indian Film Censor Board. ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Bangla redirects here. ... Aparajito (Bengali: অপরাজিত, Ôporajito, meaning The Unvanquished) is an award-winning 1956 Bengali film directed by Satyajit Ray. ... Bangla redirects here. ... The Apu trilogy is a series of three films directed by Satyajit Ray. ... For other uses, see Bengal (disambiguation). ... Satyajit Ray (Bengali:  ) (May 2, 1921–April 23, 1992) was a Bengali Indian filmmaker and polymath. ... Soumitra Chatterjee (born 1935) is a Bengali actor from India, most famous for his frequent collaborations with the great Indian director Satyajit Ray. ... See Tagore for disambiguation Sharmila Tagore (Bengali: ) is a renowned Indian film actress from Bengal, who as of April 2005 heads the Indian Film Censor Board. ... Bibhutibhushan Bandhopadhyay Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay (Bengali: Bibhutibhushon Bôndopaddhae; last name also rendered as Banerjee or Banerji) was a Bengali novelist and writer. ...

Plot

A large part of the story unfolds in Calcutta (now Kolkata). Apu (played by Soumitra Chatterjee) is an unemployed graduate living in a rented room in Calcutta. Despite his teacher's advice to go to University, he is unable to do so because he can't afford it. He tries to find a job, while barely getting by providing private tuition. His main passion is however, writing a novel partially based on his own life and get it published some day. One day he meets his old friend Pulu, who coaxes him to join him on a trip to his village in Khulna to attend the marriage of a cousin named Aparna (played by a 14 year old Sharmila Tagore). , “Calcutta” redirects here. ... Soumitra Chatterjee (born 1935) is a Bengali actor from India, most famous for his frequent collaborations with the great Indian director Satyajit Ray. ... Khulna is the third-largest city in Bangladesh. ... See Tagore for disambiguation Sharmila Tagore (Bengali: ) is a renowned Indian film actress from Bengal, who as of April 2005 heads the Indian Film Censor Board. ...

On the day of the marriage it turns out that the bridegroom has a serious mental disorder. The bride's mother cancels the marriage, despite the father's protests. He and the other villagers believe, according to prevalent Hindu tradition, that the young bride must be wedded off during the previously appointed auspicious hour. Otherwise, she will have to remain unmarried all her life. Apu, after initially refusing when requested by a few villagers, ultimately decides to take Pulu's advice and come to the rescue of the bride by agreeing to marry her.

He returns with Aparna to his apartment in Calcutta after the wedding. He takes up a clerical job, and a loving relationship begins to bloom between them. Yet the young couple's blissful days are cut short when Aparna dies while giving birth to their son, Kajal. Apu is overcome with grief and holds the child responsible for his wife's death.

He shuns his worldly responsibilities and becomes a recluse - traveling to different corners of India, while the child is left with his maternal grandparents. Meanwhile, Apu throws away his manuscript for the novel he had been writing over the years. A few years later, Pulu finds Kajal growing wild and uncared for. He then seeks out Apu working at a mining quarry and advises Apu one last time to take up is fatherly responsibility. At last, Apu decides to come back to reality and reunite with his son. When he reaches his in-laws' place, Kajal, having seen him for the first time in his life, at first does not accept him as a father. Eventually he accepts Apu as a friend and they return to Calcutta together to start life afresh.

Awards

• National Film Award for Best Film, India - 1960

National Board of Review, USA - 1960 The National Film Award (Golden Lotus Award) for Best Film winners: Category: ...

Trivia

Apur Sansar was the debut of both Soumitra Chatterjee and Sharmila Tagore. They acted together the next year in Devi as well; once again, Soumitra Chatterjee acted as a husband and Sharmila Tagore played the role of his wife. Soumitra Chatterjee (born 1935) is a Bengali actor from India, most famous for his frequent collaborations with the great Indian director Satyajit Ray. ... See Tagore for disambiguation Sharmila Tagore (Bengali: ) is a renowned Indian film actress from Bengal, who as of April 2005 heads the Indian Film Censor Board. ... Devi (The Goddess) is a 1960 film by Bengali director Satyajit Ray, starring Soumitra Chatterjee and Sharmila Tagore. ...

External links

• Apur Sansar at the Internet Movie Database
• Apur Sansar at SatyajitRay.org