Parash Pathar was Ray’s third film. In 1958, after making two ‘serious’ films, namely Pather Panchali (1955) and Aparajito (1956), both of which were critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful, Ray wanted to make something light hearted, something with which he could connect with the average cinegoer in Bengal. There were two choices which appealed to his sensibilities – either make a film with song and dance, or turn to humour. With this end in mind, Ray set out to make Jalsaghar (1958), which was to have elaborate song and dance sequences in it. Work began with veteran actor Chhabi Biswas in the lead. But just about then, Biswas got an invitation from Berlin, where his iconic film – Tapan Sinha’s Kabuliwala (1957) – was being screened. Biswas had never travelled outside the country, and he expressed his desire to attend the event. He also spoke to Ray about spending some time in the continent after the screening. A gentleman by all measures and standards, Ray could not say ‘no’ to him. But not one to sit idle and fritter away valuable time, Ray began working on another film – one which he had adapted from a comic short story written by veteran Bengali author Rajshekhar Bose, also known by his pen-name Parashuram. That film was Parash Pathar.
