Karuna Banerjee (1919–2001) was an Indian actress, best known for her performances in Bengali cinema and her collaboration with director Satyajit Ray. She achieved international fame for her role as Sarbajaya, the resilient mother in the first two installments of the Apu Trilogy: *Pather Panchali* (1955) and *Aparajito* (1956). Her performance, characterized by a deep naturalism and subtle expressiveness, earned her a nomination for Best Foreign Actress at the 1959 BAFTA Awards for *Aparajito*, a significant recognition for an Indian actress of the time. Her artistic collaboration with Ray continued with major roles in films such as *Devi* (1960), where she played the protagonist, and *Kanchenjungha* (1962). Before her film career, she was an active figure in committed theatre with the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA). For her ability to embody complex female figures with great sensitivity, Karuna Banerjee is considered one of the most iconic and influential actresses in the history of Indian cinema.