Son of the legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray, Sandip Ray was born in Calcutta in 1953. His interest in film developed at an early age, and he began his precocious career as a stills photographer on the sets of his father's films, then worked regularly as his assistant starting in 1976. He was also director of photography on Satyajit Ray's last three films, Ganashatru (An Enemy of the People, 1988), Shaka Proshaka (The Branches of the Tree, 1991) and Agantuk (The Visitor, 1991). The first film he directed was the trailer for the release of Ray's Shatranj ke khilari (The Chess Players, 1977). Sandip Ray's credits include four feature films, a documentary and a highly-successful TV series in 26 parts, Satyajit Ray Presents I & II. His third film, Uttoran (The Interrupted Journey, 1994), from a screenplay by Satyajit Ray, was selected for Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival that year. In addition to directing, Sandip Ray is known as an actor and a gifted illustrator.

Director's statement

After a dark, subdued film like Uttoran, I desperately needed a change of ideas, a different pace. Happily, Target provided the opportunity. It enjoyed a more spacious canvas, a more thrilling story, colorful characters, and most of all it dealt with strong human relationships. The film also deals with such crucial problems as the Untouchables [pariahs belonging to the lowest of India's social castes] -- a reality that still ravages certain provinces --, exploitation and illegal poaching... These are world problems, but nowhere are they so acute as in India. For all these reasons, Target proved an unforgettable experience for me.

Filmography

• 1983
  PHATIKCHAND (Phatik and the Juggler)
• 1986
  SATYAJIT RAY PRESENTS I (tv)
• 1987
  SATYAJIT RAY PRESENTS II (tv)
• 1988
  KISHORE KUMAR (doc)
• 1991
  GOOPY BAGHA PHIRAY ELO
• (The Return of Goopy & Bagha)
• 1994
  UTTORAN (The Broken Journey)
• 1995
  TARGET