A month before his passing in 1992, Satyajit Ray, one of the most influential Indian filmmakers, was honoured with a prestigious award by the Academy at 64th Oscar Awards.
Satyajit Ray is widely regarded as one of the most influential Indian filmmakers in history, with his iconic films leaving a lasting impact on viewers worldwide. Today marks the 104th birth anniversary of Satyajit Ray. Some of his best films include Pather Panchali, Aparajito, Devi, Shatranj Ke Khilari, Charulata, and The World of Apu.
He received an Honorary Academy Award at the 64th Academy Awards in 1992. However, Satyajit Ray could not attend the ceremony to receive it himself. Let’s read why.
Satyajit Ray was hospitalized in Kolkata during the 64th Academy Awards and was unable to travel to Los Angeles. However, a video message from him was aired at the ceremony held at the Dolby Theatre. The announcement of Ray's award was made by renowned actress Audrey Hepburn, who lauded his work as "a rare mastery of the art of motion pictures and his profound humanism, which has had an indelible impact on filmmakers and audiences around the world."
In his acceptance speech, Satyajit Ray said, "It is an extraordinary experience for me to be here tonight to receive this wonderful award, which is certainly the best achievement of my filmmaking career."
Less than a month after receiving the Honorary Oscar award in 1992, on April 23rd, Satyajit Ray passed away in Kolkata at the age of 70. To this day, Ray remains the only Indian to have received the Honorary Oscar award.