Uttam Kumar in Satyajit Ray’s acclaimed Nayak, a landmark film in the actor’s celebrated career (Photos: IMDB)
West Bengal has long been one of the most fertile grounds for Indian cinema as the state has produced several icons, from Satyajit Ray to Bimal Roy and Anil Biswas. In the field of these film giants, another name stands tall, that of Uttam Kumar, who sobriquet, ‘Mahanayak’ is enough to explain his position in Bengali cinema.
As the country prepares to celebrate the birth centenary of this great actor, that falls on September 3, a series of activities, set to last the entire year, have been lined up in his home state.
On September 3, a special cultural programme will be organised, followed by the felicitation of prominent personalities associated with the Bengali film industry. The Department of Posts will also issue a stamp and commemorative book marking the birth anniversary of the actor.
At Nandan, a well-known cultural and film centre in Kolkata, an exhibition featuring rare photographs, film posters and other materials related to Uttam Kumar will be organised, along with a heritage walk covering locations associated with the actor.
Uttam Kumar beyond the screen and stardom
Uttam Kumar, widely celebrated as the ‘Mahanayak’ of Bengali cinema, remains one of the most enduring icons of Indian cinema (Photo: West Bengal Tourism)
Before becoming the Mahanayak of Bengali cinema, Arun Kumar Chattopadhyay was born in Kolkata on September 3, 1926. Growing up, he had a strong interest in music, theatre and sports. His family had connections with theatre and was associated with Suhrid Samaj, an amateur theatre group that staged plays in the local community. This environment gave young Arun an exposure to acting and performing art.
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He finished schooling at the South Suburban school and later continued his studies at Goenka college of Commerce and Business Administration, but financial difficulties at home pushed him towards employment and he joined the Kolkata Port Commissioner’s Office as a clerk. But even while working, so strong was his interest in performing arts that he participated in amateur theatre, keeping his deep connection with acting alive.
“Flop master in General” becomes the “Mahanayak”
The journey from Arun Kumar to Uttam Kumar was not an immediate success. His debut movie “Maya Dore” which was made in 1947, was never released, then he got a break with “Drishtiheen” in which he appeared as Arun Kumar Chatterjee, his first release in 1948. In 1951 with the movie “Sahajtri” he renamed himself as Uttam Kumar, and this name remained with him for life.
The initial years of his life were difficult for Kumar, as all his movies in the period bombed at the box office, giving him the tag of “Flop Master in General”. But his talent ensured that the slur did not stay associated with him for long as in 1952, Uttam Kumar’s first commercially successful film was Nirmal Dey’s “Basu Paribar” in 1952 was released. Another film “Sharey Chuattar” released in 1953 performed very well at the box office.
Over the years, he also ventured into other capacities in the film industry, working as an actor, producer, director, writer, singer and composer. He produced several Bengali movies, including “Harano Sur” (1957), Saptapdi (1961), “Bharat Bilas” (1963), “Uttar Falguni” (1963) and “Jortugriha” (1964), that earned him some national recognition.
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A major turning point came in his lifer when Satyajit Ray, one of most celebrated film makers of India, cast Uttam Kumar in his movie “Nayak” (1966), as the male lead, opposite Sharmila Tagore. Kumar’s powerful performance in the film immediately propelled him to the top of Bengali cinema. Almost overnight, the Flopmaster had turned into the Mahanayak and made his place in the hearts and minds of his fans earning recognition as one of the greatest and legendary actors of all time.
Though the Mahanayak passed away on July 24, 1980, his legacy lives through the countless characters and stories he brought to life in his movies.
“Ami Jodi konodin hariye jai, amar chhobi gulo amar hoye kotha bolbe,” he once said.
Decades later, those films continue to speak for him, proving that the Mahanayak may have left the world, but not the hearts of his audience.
His fans, in Kolkata and around the nation, will get a chance to pay homage to the Mahanayak from December 16-23 during the Kolkata International Film Festival 2026 when special screenings of several of Kumar’s films, many of them restored, will be organised as the highlight of the festival.
