Which Indian film maker is the only person from Indian cinema to have been honoured with the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of India?

Introduction / Context:
This question explores the intersection of Indian cinema and national honours. The Bharat Ratna is India s highest civilian award, given for exceptional service in any field. The question asks which Indian film maker is the only person from Indian cinema to have received this award.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The award is the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour in India.
• The field of interest is Indian cinema, specifically film makers or directors.
• The options list several noted film personalities.
• We assume familiarity with Satyajit Ray as a world famous Indian director.

Concept / Approach:
The key is to recall which film maker has been honoured with the Bharat Ratna. Satyajit Ray, known for masterpieces such as the Apu Trilogy, received the Bharat Ratna in the early nineteen nineties. He is widely regarded as the only major Indian film maker to have been conferred this highest civilian award, which makes him stand out among film personalities.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify which of the listed names is most strongly associated with art cinema recognised internationally. Step 2: Recall that Satyajit Ray received many national and international awards including an Academy Honorary Award. Step 3: Remember that he was honoured with the Bharat Ratna, recognising his immense contribution to Indian and world cinema. Step 4: Raj Kapoor, S. S. Vasan, Bimal Roy and Guru Dutt were all influential film makers, but they did not receive the Bharat Ratna. Step 5: Based on this, select Satyajit Ray as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by recalling typical exam facts that state Satyajit Ray as the only film personality from India to receive the Bharat Ratna. While many others have received Padma awards, and some have received Dadasaheb Phalke Awards, the Bharat Ratna has been given to very few individuals connected with the field of arts, and Satyajit Ray is the primary name associated with cinema.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Raj Kapoor was a legendary actor director and producer but he did not receive the Bharat Ratna. S. S. Vasan and Bimal Roy were significant film personalities in their time but also did not receive this highest civilian honour. Guru Dutt, known for his artistic films and direction, did not receive the Bharat Ratna either. Thus, these names serve as distractors for candidates who are not sure of the exact award history.

Common Pitfalls:
One common pitfall is to confuse different national honours and assume that any very famous film personality might have received Bharat Ratna, when in fact they may have received other awards such as Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan or Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Being clear about which person is uniquely associated with Bharat Ratna in the context of Indian cinema is crucial.

Final Answer:
The only Indian film maker from cinema to have been honoured with the Bharat Ratna is Satyajit Ray.