The Satyajit Ray Film and Study Collection (Ray FASC) is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of Satyajit Ray's cinematic, literary and artistic oeuvre. It is organized as a Focused Research Activity in the Humanities Division of the University of California, Santa Cruz.

This web site attempts to introduce Ray's films, some facets of his genius along with our mission to preserve his luminous legacy.

Latest Update— Thursday April 24, 2008

On Friday May 2, 2008 the Satyajit Ray Film and Study Center at UCSC plans to mark the Fifteenth Anniversary of its establishment with a rare and unique music program: "The Music of Satyajit Ray, Impact of Tagore".

We plan to begin the program with Utpalendu Chakravarti's seldom seen documentary "Music of Satyajit Ray". This film shows Ray composing - writing the notations, playing them on the piano - rehearsing with the musicians, recording the pieces as well as shooting with the actors.

It will be followed by Sharmila Roy Pommot, a musicologist who teaches at the Sorbonne and is a leading exponent and expert on Tagore's and Ray's music, will begin by singing a song. She will then speak on how Ray composed his complex Indian and Western music adopting Tagore songs in several of his major films. The second part of the program Roy Pommot will sing the Tagore songs in Ray's films.

Roy Pommot will be accompanied by Aashish Khan on the Sarode, a string instrument favored by both Tagore and Ray, and Bodhi Das on the Khol and Tabla. The Khol is a rarely heard percussion instrument in this country.

The Ray Film and Study Center was established in 1993 as a focused research activity in the Humanities Division, UCSC. Since then it has built a comprehensive archive of Ray's films in 35mm, Ray papers, books, film art, music notations, several thousand production stills among other Ray film - related materials.

The program on May 2 will begin at 7 PM at the Humanities Lecture Hall, UCSC. There will be signs from the campus entrance directing motorists to the Lecture Hall. Parking is available at the Cowell and Stevenson College parking lots adjacent to the Lecture Hall.

Tickets are $10.00 and $5.00 for students and seniors. Tickets can be purchased at the door on the day of the show .

For more information please call (831) 459-4012 or email jpalines@ucsc.edu or dayani@ucsc.edu

Click to download poster