Was Satyajit Ray criticized for his depictions of poverty?
Some have felt that my early films, particularly Pather Panchali, lingered too much on hardship. My intention, however, was not to exploit poverty for dramatic effect, but to portray the human spirit in the face of it. I believe the truth lies in the details of people's lives, regardless of their economic circumstances. To ignore the realities of life would be dishonest. My focus was always on the characters' inner lives, their resilience, their small joys and moments of grace, even amidst difficult circumstances. It is in these human elements that the extraordinary can be found.
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