Which one of the following films was not directed by Satyajit Ray?

Introduction / Context:
Satyajit Ray is one of India most celebrated film directors, renowned for classics such as the Apu Trilogy, Charulata and Jalsaghar. Many competitive examinations include questions that test familiarity with his filmography by asking which film, among a list, was not directed by him. This requires distinguishing Ray work from other well known Hindi and regional films directed by different filmmakers.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Four films are listed: Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Charulata, Jalsaghar and Gumnaam.
• The question asks which one was not directed by Satyajit Ray.
• We assume awareness of Ray key films and of the fact that some famous films were actually directed by other directors.

Concept / Approach:
Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Charulata and Jalsaghar are all acclaimed films directed by Satyajit Ray. Shatranj Ke Khiladi is his Hindi film set in the backdrop of Awadh; Charulata and Jalsaghar are Bengali films often cited among his masterpieces. In contrast, Gumnaam is a suspense thriller from mainstream Hindi cinema, directed by Raja Nawathe, not by Ray. By matching each film to its director, we can identify Gumnaam as the odd one out.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Shatranj Ke Khiladi (The Chess Players) is a 1977 film directed by Satyajit Ray, based on a story by Munshi Premchand and dealing with the fall of the Nawab of Awadh. Step 2: Remember that Charulata is a Bengali film directed by Satyajit Ray, adapted from a story by Rabindranath Tagore and often praised as one of his finest works. Step 3: Jalsaghar (The Music Room) is another classic Bengali film directed by Satyajit Ray, focusing on a zamindar obsessed with classical music while his fortunes decline. Step 4: Gumnaam is a Hindi suspense thriller released in the 1960s, famous for its songs and mystery plot. It was directed by Raja Nawathe, not by Satyajit Ray. Step 5: Since three of the films are definitely Ray films and Gumnaam is by another director, the film not directed by Ray is Gumnaam.

Verification / Alternative check:
Film history references consistently list Shatranj Ke Khiladi, Charulata and Jalsaghar among Satyajit Ray major works. Biographical summaries of Ray career repeatedly discuss these titles in detail. Gumnaam, on the other hand, is absent from Ray filmography and instead appears in lists of Hindi suspense films directed by Raja Nawathe. This clear separation of filmographies verifies that Gumnaam is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Shatranj Ke Khiladi is a well known Satyajit Ray film set in pre-colonial Awadh, so it is not the correct choice.
• Charulata is one of Ray most acclaimed Bengali films, definitely directed by him.
• Jalsaghar is another classic Ray film, often studied for its depiction of feudal decadence.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates sometimes get confused because Shatranj Ke Khiladi and Gumnaam are both Hindi language films from roughly similar decades, while Ray is more strongly associated with Bengali cinema. This can lead to mistakenly thinking that Shatranj Ke Khiladi is not by Ray. Another pitfall is to rely on partial memory of song-based Hindi films and to misattribute them to Ray. Carefully checking which films are repeatedly mentioned in discussions of Satyajit Ray career helps avoid these errors.

Final Answer:
Gumnaam