Satyajit Ray's Devi: A Haunting Portrayal of Devotion and Delusion
Satyajit Ray's 1960 film Devi features a haunting performance by Sharmila Tagore, showcasing the devastating effects of blind faith and superstition in rural Bengal.
The film, set in a zamindar's household, highlights the contrast between traditional and modern worldviews, as embodied by the deeply religious Kalikinkar Choudhuri (Chhabi Biswas) and his modern-thinking son, Umaprasad (Soumitra Chatterjee).
Devi is arguably one of the rawest portrayals of how devotion destroys what it seeks to protect.
Ray's message remains piercing, warning against the dangers of unchecked religion consuming reason, and the devastating consequences of devotion curdling into obsession.
Despite being released over six decades ago, the film's themes remain relevant today, serving as a powerful commentary on the collective conscience.
Author's summary: Satyajit Ray's Devi is a powerful commentary on blind faith.