Satyajit Ray's home receives a makeover

You mention Bishop Lefroy Road in South Kolkata, and the first thing that immediately spring s to mind is filmmaker Satyajit Ray. 

The house on 1/1 Bishop Lefroy Road is a landmark because this is where Ray had lived and worked for his immortal celluloid creations. On February 29, the landmark road got a facelift and got posters from some of his films like “Pather Panchali”, “Goopy Gyne, Bagha Byne”, “Nayak”, “Mahanagar” and “Sonar Kella”. The house, where the Ray family still resides, has already been declared a grade one heritage building by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

In the make-over of Bishop Lefroy Road, sodium bulbs have been replaced by antique streetlights and pavements re-laid with pebbled blocks. Special benches adorn both sides of the pavement along with designer street furniture installed, in sync with Ray's residence.

After the facelift, the road was inaugurated by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee in the presence of Ray's son Sandip.

Mamata asked the Kolkata civic body to rename Lee Road that connects with Bishop Lefroy Road with the main thoroughfare Acharya Jagadish Bose Road after Satyajit Ray, and suggested that it be called 'Satyajit Ray Dharani' (land) rather than the usual Satyajt Ray Sarani.

“Kolkata Municipal Corporation has beautified the area near Ray's house in a unique way.... It is only our small tribute to the iconic man who took Bengal to a distinctive place in the world in the field of cinema and more,” she said.

Sandip said his father had lived in the house for about 22 years from 1972 till his death in April 1992.