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The World of Apu

Play trailer Poster for The World of Apu Released Oct 4, 1959 1h 43m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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97% Tomatometer 29 Reviews 95% Popcornmeter 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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The World of Apu

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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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Critics Reviews

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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 Full Review 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 Full Review Time Out Great acting, remarkable use of locations, a humanistic ethos that's both wise and wary. Aug 7, 2012 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve L. The Apu Trilogy is a masterpiece of filmmaking, sensitively portraying culture clash, love, and, especially, loss. The World of Apu is a perfect third piece, the best of the three parts. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/05/25 Full Review 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 Full Review Priyan B This is cinema! 10/10 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/08/24 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review 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 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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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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The World of Apu

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Movie Info

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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