After much confusion over reports ofSatyajit Ray’s ancestral home being demolished in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, officials have now confirmed that the legendary filmmaker’s ancestral house is safe and untouched. The Deputy Commissioner of Mymensingh, Mofidul Alam, told India Today that the house being taken down has no connection to Ray’s family.

“We checked all the government records, spoke to elderly people in the area, and even looked at historical documents,” he said. “The building that’sbeing demolished was the office of the Mymensingh Children’s Academy, and there’s no proof that it belonged to Satyajit Ray’s ancestors.”

He also confirmed that Ray’s real ancestral house, known as ‘Durlov House’, is safe and still standing. The current owner even has documents to show that he bought it directly from Ray’s family.

Where did the confusion begin?

Some earlier news reports wrongly claimed that the century-old building being demolishedwas built by Upendra Kishore Ray Chowdhury, Satyajit Ray’s grandfather. That led people to believe that Ray’s family home was being torn down. But officials say that’s a mix-up. The real ancestral house is safe, and the building being demolished had no link to the Ray family.

Md Mehedi Zaman, the District Children Affairs Officer, told The Daily Star that the building being demolished had been abandoned for nearly 10 years. The Mymensingh Shishu Academy, which earlier operated from that building, has been running its activities from a rented place for years now.

Officials said the confusion arose due to a “misunderstanding” and reassured that Satyajit Ray’s actual ancestral home is completely safe and untouched. They also confirmed that the demolished structure was never linked to Ray’s family.

About Satyajit Ray

Satyajit Ray, one of the greatest filmmakers in world cinema, was honoured with the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award, and an Honorary Oscar for his remarkable contribution to filmmaking. His family's rich legacy in literature, publishing, and art continues to be respected and celebrated across Bengal and beyond.