Satyajit Ray made his debut as director with this masterpiece of world cinema. Played with restraint by a non-professional cast and influenced by such Italian neorealist features as Bicycle Thieves, its story of a young Bengali boy's introduction to the ways of the world is remarkable for its simplicity and humanity. The first in the acclaimed Apu trilogy (Aparajito and The World of Apu make up the saga), it astounded everyone when it won the Special Jury Prize at Cannes, particularly as it was filmed on weekends and holidays over a four-year period, with Ray having to pawn his wife's jewellery to complete the shoot. The title translates as Song of the Road.

Impoverished priest Harihar Ray leaves his rural Bengal village in search of work. His wife, Sarbojaya, looks after their rebellious daughter, Durga, and young son, Apu. The children enjoy the small pleasures of their difficult life.