A rapturous treasure trove of Indian classical music and dance—and a tale of the reckless passion that they can inspire.

Although it cannot be said to outclass the best parts of [Ray's Apu] trilogy, it proves to be an engrossing experiment in a deliberately minor key.

Ray's social insight is not dimmed by treating his subject in this distant, allegorical manner; if anything it's intensified by the closer focus he's able to train on his characters.

Ray approaches the subject of The Music Room with all its cultural specificity intact, albeit in such a way that feels familiar and relatable to viewers across the globe who are otherwise unfamiliar with the specifics of Bengali culture.