Christopher Nolan reveals the Indian film that 'blew' his mind, says its director is among the greatest ever

Christopher Nolan has once again spoken about his admiration for Indian cinema, this time praising legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray and his iconic The Apu Trilogy. During a visit to the famous Criterion Closet in New York, the Oscar-winning director picked the celebrated trilogy from the shelves and shared how its first film, Pather Panchali, left a lasting impact on him.

The moment, captured in a video released by the Criterion Collection on X, has drawn attention from film lovers, especially in India, where Ray's work continues to be regarded as one of the defining achievements of world cinema.

Christopher Nolan on the film that left a lasting impression

The Criterion Closet is known for its collection of more than 1,000 classic and influential films from around the world. It regularly invites filmmakers, actors and artists to browse the shelves and talk about the movies that have shaped their love for cinema.


While going through the collection, Nolan stopped at The Apu Trilogy and spoke about Satyajit Ray's work.

"And then there's the Apu Trilogy by Satyajit Ray, one of the greatest Indian filmmakers. The trilogy starts with Pather Panchali, which is an absolutely incredible film. It just blew my mind. I haven't yet seen parts two and three of the trilogy, so I'm pretty excited to get this and complete the story."

His comments stood out because, despite being one of the world's most celebrated filmmakers, Nolan revealed that he has so far watched only the first film in the trilogy and now plans to complete the remaining two.

Why The Apu Trilogy is considered a classic

Directed by Satyajit Ray and adapted from the novels of Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay, The Apu Trilogy includes Pather Panchali (1955), Aparajito (1956) and Apur Sansar (1959).

The first film follows young Apu and his family as they struggle with poverty in rural Bengal. Over the next two films, the story traces Apu's journey from childhood to adulthood, exploring themes of family, ambition, loss and hope.

Over the decades, the trilogy has earned international acclaim and is widely considered one of the greatest achievements in Indian and world cinema. Its simple storytelling, emotional depth and realistic portrayal of everyday life continue to influence filmmakers across generations.

Nolan's long-standing connection with India

Nolan's appreciation for Indian cinema comes alongside his growing connection with the country. He recently visited India during the promotional tour of his latest film, The Odyssey, marking his third official visit.

Earlier, he spent around 10 days in India in 2019 while filming key sequences of Tenet. His first official visit dates back to 2011, when parts of The Dark Knight Rises were shot at Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur.

During his recent Mumbai visit, Nolan also spoke warmly about Indian audiences and the country's film culture, saying he had long wanted to bring his films to India for local audiences.