Uttam Kumar
Encyclopedia
Uttam Kumar is one of the most famous names of Indian Bengali Cinema.
Born Arun Kumar Chatterjee
in 1926 at Ahiritola, North Calcutta
he is widely known as Uttam Kumar and Mahanayak (The great hero). He remains as much of a cultural icon as he had been in his lifetime. A versatile actor, director, producer, singer and music director, his multifaceted talent earned him much acclaim and adulation.
in the home of his maternal uncle at Ahiritola, while his ancestral house is on Girish Mukherjee Road, Bhowanipore
, Kolkata. After his schooling in South Suburban School (Main), he went for higher studies in Goenka College of Commerce and Business Administration
, a college affiliated to the University of Calcutta
. He could not, however, complete his studies and started working at the Kolkata Port as a clerk. During this period, he acted in amateur theatre groups. His prodigious joint family
had its own theatre group, the Suhrid Samaj, which staged many amateur shows.
Uttam Kumar was the eldest of three sons (Arun, Barun and Tarun) of Satkari Chatterjee and Chapala Debi. The youngest, whose screen name was Tarun Kumar, acted in several Bengali films and grew to become an actor of considerable repute, in screen and on stage. There are several films in which Uttam Kumar and Tarun Kumar starred together like Saptapadi, Sonar Harin, Maya Mriga, Sesh Anka, Deya Neya, Jeeban-Mrityu, Dhanyi Meye,"Mon Niye" Sanyasi Raja, and Agniswar. Uttam Kumar married Gauri Debi [Chatterjee]. Their only son, Gautam, a businessman, died of cancer at the age of 53. His grandson, Gaurav is a Tollywood
actor. Pulak Bandyopadhyay, a famous lyricist, was his uncle.
(The gift of sight) directed by Nitin Bose
, though he worked in an earlier unreleased film called Mayador (Embrace of affection). He came into prominence in the film Basu Paribar and his breakthrough film was Agni Pariksha that began the roaring success of the all-time romantic pair of Uttam Kumar - Suchitra Sen; though they had first starred in Sharey Chuattor
(74 and a half anna). Altogether, this pair starred in about 30 films between 1954 and 1974-75.
Coming in the wake of the Indian Partition of 1947, and unprecedented mass migration from the then East Pakistan to Kolkata (then known as Calcutta), the Uttam-Suchitra pair gave expression to the yearnings of a new, transformed city. They played out on screen the new desires of a young audience trying to come to terms with industrial modernity and a new form of urban existence. The stylized, black-and-white romanticism of landmark Uttam-Suchitra films of the 1950s like "Agni Pariksha", "Shapmochan",Sagarika
(1956), Shilpi (1956), or Harano Sur
, Indrani, Sabar Upare, Surjyo Toron reflected a novel, youthful urban desire to break free from the confines of the feudal joint family and set up a nucleated, private space for the couple in love. In contrast to the earlier phase of Bengali cinema mostly dominated by the dramatised style of the New Theaters' films (in the 1940s), the Uttam-Suchitra films were marked by a more naturalistic acting style, a bit dramatic-stylized, soft-focus black-and-white cinematography with chiaroscuro effects, and a more popular and modern form of music that broke away more decisively from earlier dependence on classical types . These features were put in place by a new generation of cinematographers like Dinen Gupta and Ajoy Kar, a fresh batch of directors (Kar himself,Sudhir Mukherjee, Naresh Mitra, Sushil Majumdar, the combines of Jatrik and Agradoot) and musicians like Nachiketa Ghosh, Rabin Chattopadhyay, Anupam Ghatak, Hemanta Mukherjee
Anil Bagchi, Sudhin Dasgupta and Salil Chowdhury
, along with lyricists like Gauriprasanna Majumdar, Pranab Roy, Pulak Bandopadhyay. A number of them hailed from the left wing Indian People's Theater Association (IPTA) movement.
Uttam Kumar was especially adored for his effortless naturalism in front of the camera and a distinctively urbane charisma that broke free from the prototypical Bengali screen hero of the past. He went on to form successful screen pairs with many leading ladies like Supriya Choudhuri, Sabitri Chatterjee
, Madhabi Mukherjee, Sharmila Tagore
, Anjana Bhaumick, Aparna Sen
and Sumitra Mukherjee; apart from Sandhyarani in the 50s, Arundhati Debi and Mala Sinha in the 60s and Kaberi Bose and Tanuja in the 60s and 70s. Often hailed as the one-man industry, he dominated Bengali cinema for three decades until his death. This near-total reign was somewhat slightly disturbed during the politically turbulent era of the late sixties up to the emergency, when Uttam Kumar's regular, politically passive or relatively conservative romantic film persona sometimes found it difficult to fit into the narratives of unrest that came to the fore.
Never quite satisfied with his undisputed matinée idol status, Uttam Kumar started experimenting with character roles early in his career, as evidenced by films like Khokababur Pratyabartan, (1960), Mayamriga, (1960) or Thana Theke Aschi (1965) and Bicharak. In Marutirtha Hinglaj (1959), he essayed a mentally disturbed character. In Kuhak he was a psychotic killer, the film itself being a remake of the American noir The Night of the Hunter
(with Kumar in Robert Mitchum
's role), while in Sesh Anka, he was a suave businessman who had murdered his wife and was romantically engaged to the daughter of a social elite and rich nobleman. In Aparichita
(1969) he was a Dostoevskian villain. Such departures were unusual in relation to set formats of stardom in Indian popular cinematic cultures, where deviating from established 'star images' were often considered to be risky. However, this brought Uttam Kumar early recognition as a genuine actor of substance apart from a box office superstar and stood him in good stead later, especially in his collaborations with Satyajit Ray
in Nayak (1966) and Chiriyakhana
. A perfectionist, Uttam Kumar performed on stage for a full year, opposite Sabitri Chatterjee in Star Theatre in the play "Shyamali" [On screen, he played opposite Kaberi Bose]to hone up his skill as an actor.
films such as Chhoti Si Mulaqat (along with Vyjayanthimala
), Amanush
,Anand Ashram
, Dooriyaan (with Sharmila Tagore), and Kitaab
with Vidya Sinha. But his towering contribution was to Bengali cinema and the Bengali film industry on the whole.
Perhaps his most lauded appearances was in Satyajit Ray
's Nayak (The Hero). It is now widely accepted that Ray wrote the script with Uttam in mind. Many people feel the film bears resemblance to Uttam Kumar's own life — the sense of anxiety and restlessness mirrored Uttam's insecurities about his phenomenal success and abiding fear that his superstardom might not last. Uttam made the role of Arindam (Mukherjee) his own and Ray later confessed that if Uttam had refused the film, he would have abandoned it. He worked with Ray the following year in Chiriyakhana
(1967).
When the Indian government instituted the National Film Awards
for National Film Award for Best Actor
and National Film Award for Best Actress
in 1967, Uttam Kumar was the first-ever recipient of the Best Actor Award for his performances in Anthony Firangee and Chiriyakhana
in 1967.
He explored new avenues of film-making by trying his hand at production, singing, composing music, screenplay writing and directing. The success of his Bengali films as producer — Harano Sur
, Saptapadi
, Bhrantibilash, Jotugriha (1964), Grihadah — won great acclaim. Later, Uttam directed much-lauded films such as Sudhu Ekti Bochhor and Bon Palashir Padaboli. He composed music for the film Kaal Tumi Aleya in which Hemanta Mukherjee and Asha Bhonsle sang to his tune.
He came out with an autobiography Amaar Ami in 1979-80. He had a phenomenal fan base which continues even to this day. Reruns of his films on television decades after his death are still eagerly watched. Uttam Kumar’s time is considered by most as the golden era of Bengali cinema.
(Seven Steps), Pathe Holo Deri (Delay on the road), Harano Sur
(Lost Music), Chaowa Paowa
(Wish and Achievement), Bipasha, Jiban Trishna (Thirst for Life), Sagarika, Trijama, Indrani, Sabar Upare, Surjyo Toron, Rajlakshmi O Sreekanto, "Ekti Raat", "Grihadaha" [also starring Sabitri Chatterjee], Kamallata, Har Mana Har, Alo Amar Alo.
(who would win great accolades for her performance in Ritwik Ghatak's Meghe Dhaka Tara
the following year) play the lead opposite Uttam Kumar. As they began to act in more films together, the two got involved off-screen as well. In 1963, Uttam left his family home in Girish Park and stayed with Supriya for the next 17 years till his death. They starred together in several other films like Uttarayan, Chirodiner, Agni Sanskar", "Suno Baranari", "Kal Tumi Aleya", "Lal Pathor", "Andha Ateet", "Sudhu Ekti Bochhor", "Mon Niye", "Bilambita Loy", "Bhola Maira", "Sanyasi Raja, "Bon Palashir Padabali" etc.
in 1980, he suffered a heart attack
. Uttam Kumar was admitted to the Belleveue Clinic. The doctors did their best for 16 hours but he died that night on July 24, 1980 at the age of 53. As his hearse wound its way across Bhowanipur and finally to the Keoratala Burning Ghat, traffic in Kolkata came to a halt as thousands flocked the streets to pay their respects and have a last glimpse of the legend.
Kolkata Film Festival 2011 has a special screening of the Mahanayak's "Nayak" and a documentary on him.
Born Arun Kumar Chatterjee
Chatterjee
Chatterjee is an Indian family name of a Bengali Brahmin caste; it is a variant of Chattopadhyay .Chattopadhyay is the Sanskritized form of the local Prakrit word "chaturjye", anglicized to Chatterjee...
in 1926 at Ahiritola, North Calcutta
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
he is widely known as Uttam Kumar and Mahanayak (The great hero). He remains as much of a cultural icon as he had been in his lifetime. A versatile actor, director, producer, singer and music director, his multifaceted talent earned him much acclaim and adulation.
Early life and family
Uttam Kumar was born in KolkataKolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
in the home of his maternal uncle at Ahiritola, while his ancestral house is on Girish Mukherjee Road, Bhowanipore
Bhowanipore
Bhowanipore or Bhabanipur is the oldest locality of South Kolkata. It is located just south of the Lower Circular Road . It is the second largest locality in South Kolkata after Ballygunge...
, Kolkata. After his schooling in South Suburban School (Main), he went for higher studies in Goenka College of Commerce and Business Administration
Goenka College of Commerce and Business Administration
Goenka College of Commerce and Business Administration is a Kolkata based degree granting college that offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in commerce...
, a college affiliated to the University of Calcutta
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
. He could not, however, complete his studies and started working at the Kolkata Port as a clerk. During this period, he acted in amateur theatre groups. His prodigious joint family
Extended family
The term extended family has several distinct meanings. In modern Western cultures dominated by nuclear family constructs, it has come to be used generically to refer to grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins, whether they live together within the same household or not. However, it may also refer...
had its own theatre group, the Suhrid Samaj, which staged many amateur shows.
Uttam Kumar was the eldest of three sons (Arun, Barun and Tarun) of Satkari Chatterjee and Chapala Debi. The youngest, whose screen name was Tarun Kumar, acted in several Bengali films and grew to become an actor of considerable repute, in screen and on stage. There are several films in which Uttam Kumar and Tarun Kumar starred together like Saptapadi, Sonar Harin, Maya Mriga, Sesh Anka, Deya Neya, Jeeban-Mrityu, Dhanyi Meye,"Mon Niye" Sanyasi Raja, and Agniswar. Uttam Kumar married Gauri Debi [Chatterjee]. Their only son, Gautam, a businessman, died of cancer at the age of 53. His grandson, Gaurav is a Tollywood
Cinema of West Bengal
The cinema of West Bengal refers to the Tollygunge-based Bengali film industry in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The origins of the nickname Tollywood, a portmanteau of the words Tollygunge and Hollywood, dates back to 1932...
actor. Pulak Bandyopadhyay, a famous lyricist, was his uncle.
Debut and breakthrough
Uttam's first release was DrishtidanDrishtidan
Drishtidan is an Indian Bengali feature film directed by Nitin Bose. Uttam Kumar, a superstar, debuted in this film....
(The gift of sight) directed by Nitin Bose
Nitin Bose
Nitin Bose was an Indian film director, cinematographer and screenwriter of the nation's film industry. He was born in Calcutta and died in the same city. In the 1930s and early 1940s, he worked with New Theatres, who made bilingual movies: in both Bengali and Hindi...
, though he worked in an earlier unreleased film called Mayador (Embrace of affection). He came into prominence in the film Basu Paribar and his breakthrough film was Agni Pariksha that began the roaring success of the all-time romantic pair of Uttam Kumar - Suchitra Sen; though they had first starred in Sharey Chuattor
Sharey Chuattor
Sharey Chuattor was the 1953 comedy film, directed by Nirmal Dey, story by Bijon Bhattacharya, starring Tulsi Chakrabarti and Molina Devi, and co-starring Suchitra Sen and Uttam Kumar. Contemporary playback singers like Dhananjay, Dwijen Mukherjee, Shamol Mitra and Manabendra Mukherjee acted in...
(74 and a half anna). Altogether, this pair starred in about 30 films between 1954 and 1974-75.
Coming in the wake of the Indian Partition of 1947, and unprecedented mass migration from the then East Pakistan to Kolkata (then known as Calcutta), the Uttam-Suchitra pair gave expression to the yearnings of a new, transformed city. They played out on screen the new desires of a young audience trying to come to terms with industrial modernity and a new form of urban existence. The stylized, black-and-white romanticism of landmark Uttam-Suchitra films of the 1950s like "Agni Pariksha", "Shapmochan",Sagarika
Sagarika
K-15 Sagarika is a nuclear-capable submarine launched ballistic missile with a range of .-Development:...
(1956), Shilpi (1956), or Harano Sur
Harano Sur
Harano Sur is a 1957 film by Ajoy Kar, starring Suchitra Sen and Uttam Kumar, with music by Hemanta Mukherjee, and sung by Geeta Dutt.The film is regarded as one of the finest examples of Bengali cinema of this early golden period.-Synopsis:...
, Indrani, Sabar Upare, Surjyo Toron reflected a novel, youthful urban desire to break free from the confines of the feudal joint family and set up a nucleated, private space for the couple in love. In contrast to the earlier phase of Bengali cinema mostly dominated by the dramatised style of the New Theaters' films (in the 1940s), the Uttam-Suchitra films were marked by a more naturalistic acting style, a bit dramatic-stylized, soft-focus black-and-white cinematography with chiaroscuro effects, and a more popular and modern form of music that broke away more decisively from earlier dependence on classical types . These features were put in place by a new generation of cinematographers like Dinen Gupta and Ajoy Kar, a fresh batch of directors (Kar himself,Sudhir Mukherjee, Naresh Mitra, Sushil Majumdar, the combines of Jatrik and Agradoot) and musicians like Nachiketa Ghosh, Rabin Chattopadhyay, Anupam Ghatak, Hemanta Mukherjee
Hemanta Kumar Mukhopadhyay
Hemanta Kumar Mukhopadhyay also known as Hemanta Mukherjee was an Bengali singer, composer and producer. He sang in Hindi films under the name Hemant Kumar.-Early life:...
Anil Bagchi, Sudhin Dasgupta and Salil Chowdhury
Salil Chowdhury
Salil Chowdhury was an Indian music composer. He mainly composed for Bengali, Hindi, and Malayalam films. He was also a poet and a playwright. He is affectionately called Salilda by all his admirers....
, along with lyricists like Gauriprasanna Majumdar, Pranab Roy, Pulak Bandopadhyay. A number of them hailed from the left wing Indian People's Theater Association (IPTA) movement.
Uttam Kumar was especially adored for his effortless naturalism in front of the camera and a distinctively urbane charisma that broke free from the prototypical Bengali screen hero of the past. He went on to form successful screen pairs with many leading ladies like Supriya Choudhuri, Sabitri Chatterjee
Sabitri Chatterjee
Sabitri Chatterjee is an Indian Bengali female actor whose career as an actor spans more than 50 years. She was born in Comilla, in British India .-Early life:...
, Madhabi Mukherjee, Sharmila Tagore
Sharmila Tagore
Sharmila Tagore is an Indian film actress. She has won National Film Awards and Filmfare Awards for her performances.She has led the Indian Film Censor Board from October 2004 till March 2011...
, Anjana Bhaumick, Aparna Sen
Aparna Sen
Aparna Sen is a critically acclaimed Bengali Indian filmmaker, script writer, and actress. She is the winner of three National Film Awards and eight international film festival awards.-Biography:...
and Sumitra Mukherjee; apart from Sandhyarani in the 50s, Arundhati Debi and Mala Sinha in the 60s and Kaberi Bose and Tanuja in the 60s and 70s. Often hailed as the one-man industry, he dominated Bengali cinema for three decades until his death. This near-total reign was somewhat slightly disturbed during the politically turbulent era of the late sixties up to the emergency, when Uttam Kumar's regular, politically passive or relatively conservative romantic film persona sometimes found it difficult to fit into the narratives of unrest that came to the fore.
Never quite satisfied with his undisputed matinée idol status, Uttam Kumar started experimenting with character roles early in his career, as evidenced by films like Khokababur Pratyabartan, (1960), Mayamriga, (1960) or Thana Theke Aschi (1965) and Bicharak. In Marutirtha Hinglaj (1959), he essayed a mentally disturbed character. In Kuhak he was a psychotic killer, the film itself being a remake of the American noir The Night of the Hunter
The Night of the Hunter (film)
The Night of the Hunter is a 1955 American thriller film directed by Charles Laughton and starring Robert Mitchum and Shelley Winters. The film is based on the 1953 novel of the same name by Davis Grubb, adapted for the screen by James Agee and Laughton...
(with Kumar in Robert Mitchum
Robert Mitchum
Robert Charles Durman Mitchum was an American film actor, author, composer and singer and is #23 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male American screen legends of all time...
's role), while in Sesh Anka, he was a suave businessman who had murdered his wife and was romantically engaged to the daughter of a social elite and rich nobleman. In Aparichita
Aparichita
Aparichita is a Kannada, suspense oriented, thriller movie directed by Kashinath, starring Suresh Heblikar, Shobha and Vasudeva Rao. Its a directorial debut movie of Kashinath. The music was composed by noted composer L Vaidyanathan. The movie was critically acclaimed.-Sound Track:...
(1969) he was a Dostoevskian villain. Such departures were unusual in relation to set formats of stardom in Indian popular cinematic cultures, where deviating from established 'star images' were often considered to be risky. However, this brought Uttam Kumar early recognition as a genuine actor of substance apart from a box office superstar and stood him in good stead later, especially in his collaborations with Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
in Nayak (1966) and Chiriyakhana
Chiriyakhana
Chiriakhana or Chiriyakhana is a 1967 Bengali film by Satyajit Ray. It is a whodunit suspense thriller, starring Uttam Kumar as Byomkesh Bakshi. The title means "The Zoo". The screenplay is by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay.- Plot :...
. A perfectionist, Uttam Kumar performed on stage for a full year, opposite Sabitri Chatterjee in Star Theatre in the play "Shyamali" [On screen, he played opposite Kaberi Bose]to hone up his skill as an actor.
Stardom and legacy
Apart from Bengali, Uttam Kumar also acted in some HindiHindi
Standard Hindi, or more precisely Modern Standard Hindi, also known as Manak Hindi , High Hindi, Nagari Hindi, and Literary Hindi, is a standardized and sanskritized register of the Hindustani language derived from the Khariboli dialect of Delhi...
films such as Chhoti Si Mulaqat (along with Vyjayanthimala
Vyjayanthimala
Vyjayanthimala Bali is an Indian film actress, Bharathanatyam dancer, carnatic singer, dance choreographer, golfer and a Parliamentarian....
), Amanush
Amanush
Amanush is a 1975 Indian film made in both Hindi and Bengali produced and directed by Shakti Samanta. The film stars Sharmila Tagore, Uttam Kumar, Utpal Dutta and Asit Sen....
,Anand Ashram
Anand Ashram
Anand Ashram is a 1977 Bollywood film directed by Shakti Samanta. The film stars Uttam Kumar.-Cast:*Uttam Kumar ... Dr. Deepak*Sharmila Tagore ... Asha*Rakesh Roshan ... Dr. Pratap*Moushumi Chatterjee ... Kiran*Ashok Kumar ... Thakur...
, Dooriyaan (with Sharmila Tagore), and Kitaab
Kitaab
Kitaab is a 1977 Hindi movie. Produced by Pranlal Mehta and Gulzar the film is directed by Gulzar. The film stars Uttam Kumar, Vidya Sinha, Shreeram Lagoo, Keshto Mukherjee and Asit Sen. Musical score is by R. D. Burman.-Plot:...
with Vidya Sinha. But his towering contribution was to Bengali cinema and the Bengali film industry on the whole.
Perhaps his most lauded appearances was in Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray
Satyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
's Nayak (The Hero). It is now widely accepted that Ray wrote the script with Uttam in mind. Many people feel the film bears resemblance to Uttam Kumar's own life — the sense of anxiety and restlessness mirrored Uttam's insecurities about his phenomenal success and abiding fear that his superstardom might not last. Uttam made the role of Arindam (Mukherjee) his own and Ray later confessed that if Uttam had refused the film, he would have abandoned it. He worked with Ray the following year in Chiriyakhana
Chiriyakhana
Chiriakhana or Chiriyakhana is a 1967 Bengali film by Satyajit Ray. It is a whodunit suspense thriller, starring Uttam Kumar as Byomkesh Bakshi. The title means "The Zoo". The screenplay is by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay.- Plot :...
(1967).
When the Indian government instituted the National Film Awards
National Film Awards
The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...
for National Film Award for Best Actor
National Film Award for Best Actor
The National Film Award for Best Actor is an honor presented annually at the National Film Awards of India to an actor who has delivered the best performance in a leading role within the Indian film industry.-Background:The Directorate of Film Festivals makes awards annually in several categories...
and National Film Award for Best Actress
National Film Award for Best Actress
The National Film Award for Best Actress is an honor presented annually at the National Film Awards of India to an actress who has delivered the best performance in a leading role within the Indian film industry...
in 1967, Uttam Kumar was the first-ever recipient of the Best Actor Award for his performances in Anthony Firangee and Chiriyakhana
Chiriyakhana
Chiriakhana or Chiriyakhana is a 1967 Bengali film by Satyajit Ray. It is a whodunit suspense thriller, starring Uttam Kumar as Byomkesh Bakshi. The title means "The Zoo". The screenplay is by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay.- Plot :...
in 1967.
He explored new avenues of film-making by trying his hand at production, singing, composing music, screenplay writing and directing. The success of his Bengali films as producer — Harano Sur
Harano Sur
Harano Sur is a 1957 film by Ajoy Kar, starring Suchitra Sen and Uttam Kumar, with music by Hemanta Mukherjee, and sung by Geeta Dutt.The film is regarded as one of the finest examples of Bengali cinema of this early golden period.-Synopsis:...
, Saptapadi
Saptapadi
Saptapadi is the most important rite of a Hindu marriage ceremony. The word, Saptapadi means "Seven steps"...
, Bhrantibilash, Jotugriha (1964), Grihadah — won great acclaim. Later, Uttam directed much-lauded films such as Sudhu Ekti Bochhor and Bon Palashir Padaboli. He composed music for the film Kaal Tumi Aleya in which Hemanta Mukherjee and Asha Bhonsle sang to his tune.
He came out with an autobiography Amaar Ami in 1979-80. He had a phenomenal fan base which continues even to this day. Reruns of his films on television decades after his death are still eagerly watched. Uttam Kumar’s time is considered by most as the golden era of Bengali cinema.
Filmography
Late journalist Rintu Mukherjee, in his Khanojonma Uttam, explained the incredible bankability of this star. From 1947 to 1980, both in Bengali and Hindi, Uttam Kumar acted in 202 films. Among them 39 were blockbusters, 57 were superhits, 57 made profits above the average and the rest flopped.Awards
- B.F.J.A Best Actor Award for Hrod (1955)
- Recognition from the Government of India for Harano SurHarano SurHarano Sur is a 1957 film by Ajoy Kar, starring Suchitra Sen and Uttam Kumar, with music by Hemanta Mukherjee, and sung by Geeta Dutt.The film is regarded as one of the finest examples of Bengali cinema of this early golden period.-Synopsis:...
(1957) - B.F.J.A Best Actor award for SaptapadiSaptapadi (film)Saptapadi Bengali Film is a 1961 film by Ajoy Kar, starring Suchitra Sen, Uttam Kumar, Chhabi Biswas, Chaya Debi.-Synopsis:Its a love story with a twist set in Bengal in pre independent India ; the time when young Indian students were competing equally with British 'goras' in all fields whether it...
(1961). Uttam Kumar received the award from the legendary film-maker Debaki BoseDebaki BoseDebaki Bose , also known as Debaki Kumar Bose, was a top director, writer, actor of Bengali cinema/Indian cinema. He was born on 25 November 1898 in Akalpoush, Burdwan, Bengal, British India. He died on 17 November 1971 in Calcutta, West Bengal, India. He is known for his innovative use of sound...
. - B.F.J.A Best Actor award for Nayak (1966). Attended the Berlin Film Festival as a distinguished guest.
- The very first recipient of the National Film AwardsNational Film AwardsThe National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it is administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.Every year, a national panel...
in the Best ActorNational Film Award for Best ActorThe National Film Award for Best Actor is an honor presented annually at the National Film Awards of India to an actor who has delivered the best performance in a leading role within the Indian film industry.-Background:The Directorate of Film Festivals makes awards annually in several categories...
category for both ChiriyakhanaChiriyakhanaChiriakhana or Chiriyakhana is a 1967 Bengali film by Satyajit Ray. It is a whodunit suspense thriller, starring Uttam Kumar as Byomkesh Bakshi. The title means "The Zoo". The screenplay is by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay.- Plot :...
and Antony Firingee (1967). - B.F.J.A Best Actor award for Grihadha (1967).
- B.F.J.A Best Actor award for Ekhane Pinjar (1971).
- Best Actor award from 'Prosad' magazine for Stri (1973). He received the award from Kanan DeviKanan DeviKanan Devi was an Indian actress and singer. She was among the early singing stars of Indian cinema, and is credited popularly as the first star of Bengali Cinema...
. - B.F.J.A Best Actor award for AmanushAmanushAmanush is a 1975 Indian film made in both Hindi and Bengali produced and directed by Shakti Samanta. The film stars Sharmila Tagore, Uttam Kumar, Utpal Dutta and Asit Sen....
(1974). - Best Actor Filmfare Award Nomination for AmanushAmanushAmanush is a 1975 Indian film made in both Hindi and Bengali produced and directed by Shakti Samanta. The film stars Sharmila Tagore, Uttam Kumar, Utpal Dutta and Asit Sen....
(1975). - He received the Best Actor award for the same film from the Government of West Bengal on January 26, 1975. The price was worth 5000 rupees. Uttam Kumar donated the whole sum to the impoverished artists' fund.
- B.F.J.A Best Actor award for Bahnisikha (1976).
- Best Actor award both from the Prosad magazine and Sanonskritik Sanbadik Sanostha for Anand AshramAnand AshramAnand Ashram is a 1977 Bollywood film directed by Shakti Samanta. The film stars Uttam Kumar.-Cast:*Uttam Kumar ... Dr. Deepak*Sharmila Tagore ... Asha*Rakesh Roshan ... Dr. Pratap*Moushumi Chatterjee ... Kiran*Ashok Kumar ... Thakur...
(1977).
Uttam-Suchitra
The on-screen chemistry between Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen has always been much adored. Some of Uttam's famous films co-starring Suchitra Sen include "Share Chuattor", "Agni Pariksha", "Shilpi", SaptapadiSaptapadi
Saptapadi is the most important rite of a Hindu marriage ceremony. The word, Saptapadi means "Seven steps"...
(Seven Steps), Pathe Holo Deri (Delay on the road), Harano Sur
Harano Sur
Harano Sur is a 1957 film by Ajoy Kar, starring Suchitra Sen and Uttam Kumar, with music by Hemanta Mukherjee, and sung by Geeta Dutt.The film is regarded as one of the finest examples of Bengali cinema of this early golden period.-Synopsis:...
(Lost Music), Chaowa Paowa
Chaowa Pawa (1959 film)
Chaowa Pawa is a 1959 Bengali film directed by Yatrik. The film is starring Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen.-Cast:* Uttam Kumar* Suchitra Sen* Chhabi Biswas* Tulsi Chakraborty* Jiben Bose* Bharati Debi* Anil Chatterjee* Amar Mullick* Rajlakshmi...
(Wish and Achievement), Bipasha, Jiban Trishna (Thirst for Life), Sagarika, Trijama, Indrani, Sabar Upare, Surjyo Toron, Rajlakshmi O Sreekanto, "Ekti Raat", "Grihadaha" [also starring Sabitri Chatterjee], Kamallata, Har Mana Har, Alo Amar Alo.
Uttam-Supriya
Shonar Harin (1959) saw Supriya DeviSupriya Devi
Supriya Devi , also known as Supriya Choudhury , is an Indian Bengali female actor, acting in Bengali cinemas for more than 50 years. Her real name was Krishna and nickname is Benu. She received Banga-Vibhushan, the highest civilian honour in West Bengal in 2011.-Early life:Supriya Devi was born...
(who would win great accolades for her performance in Ritwik Ghatak's Meghe Dhaka Tara
Meghe Dhaka Tara
Meghe Dhaka Tara is a 1960 film by written and director Ritwik Ghatak, based on a novel Shaktipada Rajguru. It stars Supriya Choudhury, Anil Chatterjee, Gita Dey, Bijan Bhattacharya, Niranjan Roy, and Gyanesh Mukherjee...
the following year) play the lead opposite Uttam Kumar. As they began to act in more films together, the two got involved off-screen as well. In 1963, Uttam left his family home in Girish Park and stayed with Supriya for the next 17 years till his death. They starred together in several other films like Uttarayan, Chirodiner, Agni Sanskar", "Suno Baranari", "Kal Tumi Aleya", "Lal Pathor", "Andha Ateet", "Sudhu Ekti Bochhor", "Mon Niye", "Bilambita Loy", "Bhola Maira", "Sanyasi Raja, "Bon Palashir Padabali" etc.
Death
A workaholic, he was rumored to have said that his preferred demise would be on the floor of a studio, doing what he loved best: acting. While filming Ogo Bodhu ShundoriOgo Bodhu Shundori
Ogo Bodhu Shundori is a 1981 Bengali comedy film. It was one of the last films of the iconic Bengali actor Uttam Kumar, who died during production. A lookalike was brought in to stand in for Kumar during the final sections of the film, and younger brother Torun Kumar's voice was dubbed in.The...
in 1980, he suffered a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
. Uttam Kumar was admitted to the Belleveue Clinic. The doctors did their best for 16 hours but he died that night on July 24, 1980 at the age of 53. As his hearse wound its way across Bhowanipur and finally to the Keoratala Burning Ghat, traffic in Kolkata came to a halt as thousands flocked the streets to pay their respects and have a last glimpse of the legend.
Quotes
- "I prefer following my own ways of acting, like the ways we talk, get angry,that kind of natural spontaneous acting. More of portraying a character."
- "Sometimes I got scared. So much of accolade... Would they last for long? And that is why I was not ready to get carried away in the waves of admiration. I desire for more work."
- "I never fear work. Rather I derive pleasure out of work."
- "Films, Shilpi Sansad, then there was the world of my own, my privacy: I was confused. As if my every moment has been sold..."
- "Whenever I set to work, one after the other, death news hit me. Again I eased myself by realizing that death is the only truth."
Tributes and appreciations
There is a theatre (Uttam Mancha) named after him in Kolkata. A life-size statue has been erected near Tollygunj metro station which has recently been renamed after the iconic actor by the Central Railway Ministry. Besides, Shilpi Sansad, the actor's pet project of safegurading the artistes especially the poor and the old, is active still. Celebrating the 83rd birth anniversary of Uttam Kumar, the Department of Posts in 2009, released a series of new postal stamps featuring the actor on them.The Department of Posts also released a brochure on the Uttam Kumar Stamp release with a note that says 'Uttam Kumar – The Legend of Indian Cinema'.Distinguished names paying homage to Uttam
- Satyajit RaySatyajit RaySatyajit Ray was an Indian Bengali filmmaker. He is regarded as one of the greatest auteurs of 20th century cinema. Ray was born in the city of Kolkata into a Bengali family prominent in the world of arts and literature...
- "It is the demise of a leading light of the Bengali film industry...There isn't - there won't be another hero like him."
- Tapan SinhaTapan SinhaTapan Sinha , was a Indian film director. He was arguably the most uncompromising filmmaker outside the orbit of Parallel Cinema.-Personal life and background:...
- Tapan Sinha
- "I personally felt that the acting of Uttam Kumar could be compared to the best actor of any country. His great attribute is his diligence...Many are born with talent, but the talent gets eclipsed due to the lack of diligence. Uttam Kumar has both of them. Perhaps, that is the reason why he still sparkles."
- Suchitra SenSuchitra SenSuchitra Sen ; or Rama Dasgupta , is an Indian actress who acted in several Bengali films. In particular, the movies in which she paired opposite another legend in Bengali films, Uttam Kumar, became classics in the history of Bengali cinema. She now lives a life of a recluse rarely making any...
- Suchitra Sen
- "Uttam is my friend. In a word, he is a great,great artist. But still sometimes i feel as if he is not properly exploited."
- Shakti SamantaShakti SamantaShakti Samanta was an Indian film director and producer, who founded Shakti Films in 1957, which is most known for films like Howrah Bridge, China Town, Kashmir Ki Kali, An Evening in Paris, Kati Patang and Amar Prem.He received Filmfare Awards for Best Film for Aradhana, Anuraag and Amanush,...
- Shakti Samanta
- "Uttam was a great human being...it can easily be underscored -- actor of his class is a rare kind"
- Madhabi MukherjeeMadhabi MukherjeeMadhabi Mukherjee née Chakraborty is a reputed Bengali actress who has acted in some of the most critically acclaimed films in Bengali cinema.Her major role was the title role of Charu in Satyajit Ray's masterpiece Charulata...
- Madhabi Mukherjee
- "...slowly Uttam Kumar got popular. And a fairy tale was born. I was never bothered to know the individual self of the romantic hero of this fairy tale. I would never want to. What if the dream gets shattered! Let the beautiful spell be alive! Long live Uttam Kumar -- The evergreen romantic hero."
- Kanan DeviKanan DeviKanan Devi was an Indian actress and singer. She was among the early singing stars of Indian cinema, and is credited popularly as the first star of Bengali Cinema...
- Kanan Devi
- "It feels good to see all praising one. Uttam is one such person...He never had any pose or pretension...God gave him everything but a friend."
- Samaresh BasuSamaresh BasuSamaresh Basu was an Indian Bengali writer based in Kolkata, India. He was born on December 11, 1924 and spent his early childhood in Dhaka, Bikrampur in what is today Bangladesh...
- Samaresh Basu
- "Uttam Kumar, the numero uno hero of Bengal, the most loving."
- Bimal MitraBimal MitraBimal Mitra was a prominent Bengali writer who wrote several novels.Bimal Mitra was equally adept in writing in Bengali as well as in Hindi, and has more than one hundred novels and short stories to his credit...
- Bimal Mitra
- "Sri Uttam Kumar is not merely the actor, I regard him as the creator of character. May be as the creator of character, he has achieved such stupendous popularity."
- Ashutosh Mukhopadhyay
- "He is the hero and life of many of my fictions."
- Ashapoorna DeviAshapoorna DeviAshapoorna Devi , also Ashapurna Debi or Asha Purna Devi, is a prominent Bengali novelist and poet. She was born in 8 January 1909. She has been widely honoured with a number of prizes and awards...
- Ashapoorna Devi
- "Uttam! An extraordinary artist! The artistic self of Uttam Kumar never dies down! Oh God give him Uttam health, Uttam strength, Uttam longevity" (in Sanskrit and in Bengali, 'Uttam' means 'Good')
- Mithun ChakrabortyMithun ChakrabortyMithun Chakraborty is an Indian film actor, social activist, and entrepreneur, who has won three National Film Awards. He made his acting debut with the arthouse drama Mrigaya , for which he won his first National Film Award for Best Actor....
- Mithun Chakraborty
- "Uttam Kumar is my guru. From my childhood, I am a diehard Uttam fan"
- Soumitra ChatterjeeSoumitra ChatterjeeSoumitra Chatterjee or Soumitra Chattopadhyay is an iconic Bengali actor from India, known among other things for his frequent collaborations with the great Bengali film director Satyajit Ray and his constant comparison with the Bengali screen idol Uttam Kumar.-Background:Soumitra graduated from...
- Soumitra Chatterjee
- "Many think that I have always been a sharp critic of Uttam Kumar's acting. This is not true. I have rarely seen actor of his stature. I have been fan of his acting, his admirer."
- Rajesh KhannaRajesh KhannaRajesh Khanna is an Indian actor of from Hindi films, and has been Hindi film producer and an Indian politician....
- Rajesh Khanna
- "I have seen so many dhuti, kurta-clad Bengalis both on screen and in reality. But Uttam Kumar as the Bengali babu is unique. What I believe is that there is no one who can ever represent the Bengali community like Uttamda did."
- Shatrughan SinhaShatrughan SinhaShatrughan Sinha is an Indian film actor and politician. Apart from being member of Rajya Sabha twice he was also Union Cabinet Minister of Health and Family Welfare and Shipping...
- Shatrughan Sinha
- "Usually, what we find is that the good-looking guys lack substance, or the reverse. But Uttam Kumar had the both...I have always respected that man...when I was at Pune Film Institute, we used to argue on Dilip KumarDilip KumarDilip Kumar , is an Indian actor and a former Member of Parliament.He lives in Pali Hill, Bandra in Mumbai, India. He is commonly known as "Tragedy King",and is described as "the ultimate method actor" by Satyajit Ray....
-Uttam Kumar-Raj KapoorRaj KapoorKnown as Ranbir Raj Kapoor Rāj Kapūr, 14 December 1924 – 2 June 1988), also known as The Show-Man, was an Indian film actor, producer and director of Hindi cinema. He was the winner of nine Filmfare Awards, while his films Awaara and Boot Polish were nominated for the Palme d'Or at the...
."- Shashi KapoorShashi KapoorShashi Kapoor , born Balbir-Raj Prithviraj Kapoor on 18 March 1938 in Calcutta , is an award-winning Indian film actor and film producer. He has also been film director and assistant director in Hindi Films. He is a member of the Kapoor family, a film dynasty in India's Bollywood cinema...
- Shashi Kapoor
- "My first real meet with Uttam Kumar was in Calcutta and the occasion was the release of Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti HaiJis Desh Men Ganga Behti HaiJis Desh Mein Ganga Behti Hai is a 1960 Hindi film directed by Radhu Karmakar...
. Hemen Ganguly happened to be the distributor of that film. He used to be the 'common friend' of elder brother (Raj KapoorRaj KapoorKnown as Ranbir Raj Kapoor Rāj Kapūr, 14 December 1924 – 2 June 1988), also known as The Show-Man, was an Indian film actor, producer and director of Hindi cinema. He was the winner of nine Filmfare Awards, while his films Awaara and Boot Polish were nominated for the Palme d'Or at the...
) and Uttam Kumar. It was my pleasure to see the two greats together. I was awestruck by the royal gaits of the both...I like Uttam Kumar like any common Bengali."- Hindustan Standard (on Uttam Kumar's directorial debut)
- "In Uttam Kumar, we have found a director who shows his brilliance on diverse levels."
Respects
The Tollygunge metro station of Kolkata Metro was renamed as "MAHANAYAK UTTAM KUMAR" and decorated the station by movie pictures of Uttam Kumar by Indian Railways.Kolkata Film Festival 2011 has a special screening of the Mahanayak's "Nayak" and a documentary on him.