Introduction: Satyajit Ray's films, his men and the inscription of the nation 1. The colonial and the pre-modern: Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Jalsaghar , and Devi 2. An Uncertain India: Early Nationalism in Ghare Baire and Charulata 3. Breaking with the Past: The Apu trilogy 4. 'For all we have and are': The Post-independence bourgeoisie in Kanchenjungha and Kapurush 5. The Hollow Men: The complacent 'achiever' in Nayak , Aranyer Din Ratri, and Seemabaddha 6. Trying times: Aspiration and failure in Kanchenjunga, Mahanagar , Pratidwandi , and Jana Aranya . 7.

At Odds with the Nation: Joy Baba Felunath , Hirak Rajar Deshe , and Sadgati . 8. 'An Essay on Man': The wise person in Ganashatru , Shakha Prasakha and Agantuk Conclusion: Moving Away from the Nation.