Karuna Bannerjee (often spelled Banerjee) was an Indian actress, best remembered for her intense portrayal of Sarbajaya, Apu's mother, in Satyajit Ray's celebrated Apu Trilogy: *Pather Panchali* (1955), *Aparajito* (1956), and *Apur Sansar* (1959).

Her film career was almost entirely linked to director Satyajit Ray, with whom she also collaborated on other acclaimed films such as *Jalsaghar* (The Music Room, 1958) and *Devi* (The Goddess, 1960). Bannerjee was admired for her naturalistic and understated acting style, capable of conveying profound emotions through gazes, minimal gestures, and dignified composure. She often embodied roles of strong but vulnerable women, resilient maternal or female figures, becoming an icon of motherhood in Indian cinema.