Even as an elitist anachronism, I certainly felt sympathy for him and i agree it's a delicately balanced, non-judgmental film (everyone has their reasons, indeed), that may be more rewarding with further viewings. I appreciated it more second time round, anyway, and it's also lingered in my mind enough to tempt further goes. Actually it's often appeared in critics' top 10's, behind Charulata and Apu trilogy, though one that's split critical opinion more than most by Ray?

Indian music does seem difficult for some of us in the West to properly appreciate! In Cloud-Capped Star the sections i least liked involved the self-centred brother practising his singing (not very convincingly to my ear, but then again, he was working at it!) yet there are a couple of really beautiful musical passages (and he clearly does improve), and i've really enjoyed quite a few songs in other films.