What makes these Ray films popular at global film fests?

Satyajit Ray movies have been festival favourites for decades now. But now, according to a Thursday TOI report, Arijit Dutta, the owner of three of the maestro’s classics – Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne, Aranyer Din Ratri and Pratidwandi – is in talks with a US-based film distribution company to sell them the rights to these movies. Apart from revealing the reason behind the move, Arijit, along with Sandip Ray and film writer Amitava Akash Nag, pick five Ray movies they think are festival favourites.
It’s very difficult to choose just five festival faves from Baba’s (Ray) body of work. But if I have to choose, they would be The Apu Trilogy, Nayak, Mahanagar, Charulata and Jalsaghar
– Sandip Ray, Satyajit Ray’s son & filmmaker

Selling the movie rights an emotional call: Arijit
A long list
While Sandip Ray named some of the most popular of his father’s films such as Mahanagar and Nayak among his picks, film writer Amitava Akash Nag named a rare gem – Ashani Sanket (1973). “The grandeur of nature in the face of a manmade famine was depicted beautifully in this movie,” he said, adding that his other picks would be The Apu Trilogy, Charulata, Aranyer Din Ratri and Pratidwandi.
Arijit, on the other hand, added Teen Kanya (1961) to the list of Ray films he considered to be festival favourites. “Aparna Sen added to the movie’s appeal,” he said.

An emotional decision
Speaking about the decision to sell the movie rights, Arijit, whose family has made the films, said, “Selling the rights of the three movies to Janus Films is indeed an emotional decision. But keeping and preserving the original negatives is too much of a strain. That’s why we took the decision.”
There are people from the festival circuit who take it for granted that we would allow them to screen the Satyajit Ray films at various fests free of cost. Why should we?
– Arijit Dutta
The Victorian romantic representation and the way it highlights a woman’s point of view makes Charulata special. I also consider Pratidwandi special because it was Satyajit Ray’s first city-based film. As for Aranyer Din Ratri, I’d say the ensemble cast and urban flavour were its USPs
– Amitava Akash Nag, film writer

5 of Ray’s festival favourites
The Apu Trilogy
Aranyer Din Ratri
Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne
Charulata
Pratidwandi