APU

Apu is a name and term that appears in different cultures with distinct meanings. In Andean spirituality, apu (plural apus) refers to sacred mountain spirits believed to protect communities and landscapes. In South Asian naming practices, Apu is used as a given name or nickname, sometimes as a shortened form of longer names such as Apurva or Apurbo.

Apu in cinema and literature includes a prominent Indian cultural reference. The central character in Satyajit Ray's The Apu Trilogy is commonly known simply as Apu. The films follow the life of a boy growing up in rural Bengal and later in adulthood, exploring family, education, and social change. The trilogy consists of Pather Panchali (1955), Aparajito (1956), and Apur Sansar (1959).

Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is a fictional character in The Simpsons. He runs the Kwik-E-Mart in Springfield and is the husband of Manjula and father to several children. The character is depicted as an Indian immigrant and shop owner, and he has been the subject of discussions about stereotypes in media. In 2020, the voice actor Hank Azaria stepped back from voicing Apu as part of a broader shift in the show’s approach to the character.

In summary, Apu has several distinct associations: a Quechua-derived term for revered mountains in the Andes, a name used in South Asian communities and in Bengali cinema, and a well-known character in an American animated series.