All eyes are on West Bengal, and Kolkata now, as election fever reaches its pointy end. One can imagine even longer adda sessions at every street corner to discuss the outcome of this hotly-fought contest. Also high on the public discussion list of late was a tribute to a celluloid icon. Fans of polymath and legendary filmmaker Satyajit Ray observed his 34th death anniversary on April 23, with exhibitions, discussions, and walkabouts along 1/1, Bishop Lefroy Road.

The last time I visited Kolkata, a chance encounter with a few members of the esteemed Ray Society [a society committed to the preservation of Ray’s body of work] led me to this address. It’s where Ray lived from 1970 until his death in 1992. The charming colonial structure has been officially designated a Grade I heritage building. His son, the respected filmmaker Sandip Roy, lives in the same residence. It’s impossible to miss the landmark from a distance as it boasts of an open-air art gallery where the entire stretch replicates artworks from Satyajit Ray’s film posters and magazines. On a sweltering morning, viewing these masterpieces along this road made for an immersive walkthrough unlike anything I’ve experienced in the art ecosystem. The Victorian-style street lamps, benches [that need a serious clean-up], and the aura of the locality’s legacy are all-encompassing, while offering a glimpse of his massive contribution to world cinema.