India, Jan. 16 -- Satyajit Ray had a rather turbulent early life, followed by a rather idyllic childhood.

His father, the renowned Bengali poet Sukumar Ray - known for his delightful nonsense verse and whimsical illustrations - died when the boy was two years old. Under financial duress, his mother Suprabha Ray moved with her toddler to the home of her brother, Prashanta Kumar Das.

Here, in Bakul Bagan in South Calcutta, the idyllic part began. Ray grew up amid the love of mother, grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins. Among these were cultural giants such as his uncle, composer Atul Prasad Sen, and aunt Kanak Das, a renowned Rabindrasangeet artist. Ray visited Santiniketan with his mother, to meet Rabindranath Tagore, who had been hi...