The World of Apu

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The World of Apu

Released Oct 4, 1959

1h 43m

Drama

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Popcornmeter

97%

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29 Reviews

95%

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2,500+ Ratings

This lauded Indian drama, the third part of a trilogy, finds Apu Roy (Alok Chakravarty), now a young unemployed man, living in poverty and attempting to be a writer. When his old school friend Pulu (Swapan Mukherjee) convinces him to go on a trip to a family wedding, surprising circumstances end in Apu marrying the bride, Aparna (Soumitra Chatterjee). Set on being a responsible husband, Apu finds a job and becomes close to his wife, but tragedy strikes, leaving him at yet another crossroads.

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Critics Consensus

Achingly poignant, beautifully shot, and evocatively atmospheric, The World of Apu closes out Satyajit Ray's classic trilogy on a high note.

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John Gillett

Sight & Sound

Apu is not only the logical last act of the trilogy but a unique work in its own right.

Feb 10, 2020

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TIME Magazine

The World of Apu completes, in alternations of suffering and joy, one of the most vital and abundant movies ever made.

Aug 14, 2012

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Time Out

Great acting, remarkable use of locations, a humanistic ethos that's both wise and wary.

Aug 7, 2012

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James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

As the concluding film of a much beloved trilogy, Apur Sansar is a fitting capstone to one of world cinema’s greatest coming-of-age stories.

Rated: 4/4

Mar 27, 2024

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Penelope Gilliatt

Observer (UK)

It is a very remarkable work, lyrically acted, cut with a slow, opulent rhythm, and filmed in a black and white that seems to have a bloom on it, like a grape.

Mar 5, 2024

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Dwight MacDonald

Esquire Magazine

What was direct has now become self-conscious. "Pather" was about a family in a village, "Apu" is about a young writer in a city, a more complex theme and I'm not sure Ray is up to it.

Jul 12, 2019

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Ishara L

Satyajit Ray closes his trilogy with yet another beautiful exploration into the human experience that brings both joy, love and sadness. Apu has not had the best of life, and now that he's an adult, he is meandering around, not really sure what to do. There's some guidance from outside of himself, but he prefers to choose for the life of no responsibility. As fate will have it, he suddenly finds himself married without planning it. But to him, it is a blessing. Finally, there appears to be a purpose in his life, to provide for his family. And it also makes him happy and fulfilled enough that he can focus on his writing. Alas, again his luck with family turns and he loses another member of his family, being left alone again. Of course he is scared to take on the responsibility for his son. Why wouldn't you be? To lose everyone, for only one person to be left. You would be scared to lose them too. So he avoids him. No one around this understands this, but the viewer does. It's a really beautiful journey into love and grief, accepting that life not always gives you what you want and can take what you love. That's why it is important to take nothing for granted and love what is there. Beautiful!

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/24/25

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Priyan B

This is cinema! 10/10

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/08/24

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John W

Fantastic film about life, love, grief, and parenthood. One of the best ever, and a fitting end to the awesome Apu Trilogy.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/01/24

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Dani G

A great way to close the story of poor Apu. Every movie was slightly better than the previous one

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

08/21/23

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Audience Member

For westerners, like myself, the beauty and wonder of the Indian culture and humanity of the people was supremely captured in Ray's masterpiece. I've seen the film three times and each reveals new insights.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/19/23

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Audience Member

By now I'm quite interested in this Apu character but the final instalment was a bit too wild and we'll polished compared to the first two. This Apu didn't convince me, seemed like a different character. Finding a beautiful wife, you knew the happiness couldn't last do it was set up for another untimely death. The. He goes a bit mad… as you would if you were Apu and finally reunited with young child, helping him find happiness again ahhhh. Sombre but lacking grit, I found the pacing too jaunty but the narrative arc is now complete and I can forget about Apu. Not a bad little trilogy this.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/28/23

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Satyajit Ray

Director

Alok Chakravarty

Kajal

Soumitra Chatterjee

Apurba Roy

Sharmila Tagore

Aparna

Swapan Mukherjee

Pulu

Satyajit Ray

Producer

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Synopsis

This lauded Indian drama, the third part of a trilogy, finds Apu Roy (Alok Chakravarty), now a young unemployed man, living in poverty and attempting to be a writer. When his old school friend Pulu (Swapan Mukherjee) convinces him to go on a trip to a family wedding, surprising circumstances end in Apu marrying the bride, Aparna (Soumitra Chatterjee). Set on being a responsible husband, Apu finds a job and becomes close to his wife, but tragedy strikes, leaving him at yet another crossroads.

Director: Satyajit Ray
Producer: Satyajit Ray
Distributor: Columbia TriStar Home Video, Sony Pictures Classics, Edward Harrison [us], Merchant-Ivory Productions [us]
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Bangla
Release Date (Theaters): Oct 4, 1959, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 20, 2015
Runtime: 1h 43m

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