Uttam Kumar’s 44th death anniversary on July 24 saw fans young and old gather at Mahanayak Uttam Mancha in south Kolkata to pay tribute in words and music. The Telegraph Online My Kolkata was the digital media partner for the event.
Beyond being an actor, Uttam Kumar was also a producer and director, contributing to the creative process behind the scenes. His commitment to acting and his dedication to Bengali cinema were evident in every project he undertook.
Prominent figures from the entertainment world, including Babul Supriyo, Saikat Mitra, Rupankar Bagchi, Lopamudra Mitra, Sujoy Bhowmik, Pousali Banerjee and Madhuri Dey, performed at the event, making it a memorable homage to the cultural icon. Veteran actress Lily Chakravarty was also felicitated, and in an emotional moment, she expressed her gratitude at Uttam Kumar's enduring legacy. “Even today, it is hard to believe he is not among us,” she said.
Fans, young and old, gathered to pay tribute to the man who had given so much to the world of cinema
“This is a programme that I attend from my soul. I am deeply involved in the process and I strongly believe over the years people who come here are also involved in the process of celebrating Mahanayak’s legacy,” said Kartik Banerjee, chief patron of Uttam Kumar Memorial Cultural Society.
What made Uttam Kumar truly special was his ability to connect with the audience. He portrayed characters that were relatable and often reflected the aspirations and struggles of the common man. His on-screen chemistry with his co-actors became iconic, and his collaborations in films like Harano Sur and Saptapadi are still cherished by fans.
Mayoral council member and president Debasish Kumar spoke passionately about Uttam Kumar’s journey. “A legend who has been gone for over 40 years, yet after attending this evening, it feels like he is still with us. His story was filled with challenges and triumphs, there is a saying in english that failures are the pillars to success, this statement when matched with Mahanayak’s journey speaks a lot about his achievements, where even after repeated flops he did not give up and continued his work with the same dedication and passion and rose to the top,” Debasish Kumar said.
Further highlighting the celebration of Uttam Kumar’s enduring influence, “As a Bengali, I can’t state in words what Uttam Kumar means to me. He is not only popular but even watching his movies today means much more to me. All the singers and artistes performing today have done their job beautifully. When I was growing up there wasn’t so much tendency of using the internet or television. Hence, we used to wait for Saturday and Sunday evenings after studying the entire day eagerly just to watch him on screen,” said life coach and astrologer Sohini Sastri.
Uttam Kumar’s influence extended beyond the silver screen. He was a cultural icon who highlighted the spirit of Bengali identity and pride. His performances resonated with audiences not just in West Bengal, but across India and even internationally.
(From left) Kaushik Bhattacharya, Sohini Sastri and Kartik Banerjee
“This is a mission which is all about helping people, it is a socio-cultural organisation that has its main objective to celebrate Mahanayak Uttam Kumar’s legacy and at the same time, helping technicians who need support. We focus on providing them financial help, medical support besides celebrating Mahanayak’s music, and movies. In the end, we are just furthering Mahanayak’s vision who secretly helped people and we believe his noble philosophy must be continued,” added spokesperson Kaushik Bhattacharya.
