 Along with Chidananda Dasgupta and others , Ray founded the Calcutta Film Society in 1947 . They screened many foreign films , many of which Ray watched and seriously studied . He befriended the American GIs stationed in Calcutta during World War II , who kept him informed about the latest American films showing in the city . He came to know a RAF employee , Norman Clare , who shared Ray 's passion for films , chess and western classical music . 
