Kanu Bannerjee, born Kanu Bandyopadhyay (1905-1983), was an Indian actor known primarily for his career in Bengali cinema. His international fame is inextricably linked to the role of Harihar Roy, the protagonist's father, in the first two installments of Satyajit Ray's Apu Trilogy: 'Pather Panchali' (1955) and 'Aparajito' (1956). Already an established actor in Jatra theatre and local cinema, Bannerjee was chosen by Ray for his ability to embody the figure of a poor, dreaming father with profound humanity and realism. His performance was universally acclaimed by critics, contributing decisively to the films' global success. Although he did not receive major individual international awards, his work is considered a fundamental component of the works that won prestigious accolades, such as the 'Best Human Document' award at the Cannes Film Festival for 'Pather Panchali'. After his success with Ray, he continued to act in numerous other Bengali productions, consolidating his reputation as a versatile actor of great depth.