Uttam Kumar (1926-80)

Bengali superstar who at times was the Tollygunge-based Bengali film industry. Real name: Arun Kumar Chatterjee. Employed as a clerk in the port commissioner’s office, Calcutta, before joining films. Briefly stage actor at the Star Theatre (e.g. in Shyamali, 1953, filmed in 1956). Début as extra in uncompleted Mayadore. Broke with the prevailing theatrical acting styles and achieved stardom with Nirmal Dey’s Sharey Chuattar, which also initiated his famed co-starring films with Suchitra Sen: they featured in some of the most spectacular Bengali melodramas made by Naresh Mitra, Sushil Majumdar, Ajoy Kar and the Agradoot and Agragami units, epitomising the genre of the soft-focus musical romance (with Hemanta Mukherjee as his regular playback voice). Melodramas of suffering, betrayal and the struggle for truth (cf. Sagarika, Saptapadi) made an embattled literary tradition (with a bhadralok middle-class identity and an apolitical humanist philosophy) popular again after a long history of radical attacks on the Bengali novel. In e.g. Kartick Chattopadhyay’s Saheb Bibi Golam and in the Ajoy Kar and Tapan Sinha films, the Uttam Kumar persona abandoned many conservative tenets of this tradition while receiving an unprecedented degree of mass adulation. S. Ray presented his version of the phenomenon in Nayak, which many saw as the star’s autobiography. The two also worked together in Chidiakhana. His biographer Gourangaprasad Ghosh claimed that when his effort to go ‘national’ with the Hindi film Chotisi Mulaqat proved a failure, he finally turned into an actor of mass-produced romances. Except for Amanush, his Hindi films were mostly unsuccessful. His last film, Ogo Bodhu Sundari, a version of My Fair Lady, was completed with another actor. Wrote his autobiography (1979).

FILMOGRAPHY (* also d/ also music d): 1948: Drishtidaan; 1949: Mayadore (incomplete); Kamana; 1950: Maryada; 1951: Ore Jatri; Sahajatri; Nastaneer; 1952: Sanjibani; Basu Parivar; Kar Papey; 1953: Sharey Chuattar; Lakh Taka; Nabin Yatra; Bou Thakuranir Haat; 1954: Moner Mayur; Ora Thake Odhare; Champadangar Bou; Kalyani; Maraner Pare; Sadanander Mela; Annapurnar Mandir; Agni Pareeksha; Bokul; Grihapravesh; Mantra Shakti; 1955: Sanjher Pradeep; Anupama; Raikamal; Devatra; Shap Mochan; Bidhilipi; Hrad; Upahar; Kankabatir Ghat; Bratacharini; Sabar Uparey; 1956: Raat Bhore; Sagarika; Saheb Bibi Golam; Laksha- Hira; Chirakumar Sabha; Ekti Raat; Shankar Narayan Bank; Shyamali; Trijama; Putrabadhu; Shilpi; Nabajanma; 1957: Haar Jeet; Bardidi; Yatra Holo Suru; Prithibi Amar Chai; Taser Ghar; Surer Parashey; Punar Milan; Harano Sur; Abhoyer Biye; Chandranath; Pathe Holo Deri; Jiban Trishna; 1958: Rajalakshmi-o-Shrikanta; Bandhu; Manmoyee Girls’ School; Daktar Babu; Shikar; Indrani; Joutuk; Surya Toran; 1959: Marutirtha Hinglaj; Chaowa-Pawa; Bicharak; Pushpadhanu; Gali Theke Rajpath; Khelaghar; Sonar Harin; Abak Prithvi; 1960: Maya Mriga; Raja-Saja; Kuhak; Uttar Megh; Haat Baraley Bandhu; Khokha Babur Pratyabartan; Sakher Chor; Saharer Itikatha; Suno Baro Nari; 1961: Sathi Hara; Agni Sanskar; Jhinder Bandi; Necklace; Saptapadi; Dui Bhai; 1962: Bipasha; Shiulibari; Kanna; 1963: Shesh- Anka; Nisithe; Uttarayan; Bhranti Bilas; Surya Sikha; Deya Neya; 1964: Bibhas; Jotugriha; Natun Tirtha; Momer Alo; Lal Patthar; 1965: Thana Theke Aschhi; Raj Kanya; Surya Tapa; Kal Tumi Aleya; 1966: Sudhu Ekti Bachhar*; Nayak; Rajdrohi; Sankha Bela; 1967: Antony Firingee; Chidiakhana; Grihadah; Jiban Mrityu; Nayika Sangbad; Chhotisi Mulaqat; 1968: Chowringhee; Kokhono Megh; Teen Adhyay; Garh Nasimpur; 1969: Aparichita; Chiradiner; Kamallata; Mon-Niye; Sabarmati; Shuk Sari; 1970: Kalankita Nayak; Bilambita Lay; Duti Mon; Nishipadma; Manjari Opera; Rajkumari; 1971: Chhadmabeshi; Dhanyi Meye; Ekhane Pinjar; Jay Jayanti; Jiban Jignasa; Nabaraag; 1972: Alo Amar Alo; Andha Atit; Biraj Bou; Chinnapatra; Haar Mana Haar; Memsahib; Stree; 1973: Kaya Hiner Kahini; Rater Rajanigandha; Roudra Chhaya; Sonar Khancha; Bon Palashir Padabali*; Rodon Bhora Basanta; 1974: Alor Thikana; Amanush; Bikele Bhorer Phool; Jadu Bansha; Jadi Jantem; Rakta Tilak; Mouchak; 1975: Ami Sey-o-Sekha; Agniswar; Bagh Bandi Khela; Kajal Lata; Nagar Darpane; Priya Bandhabi; Sanyasi Raja; Sei Chokh; Sabhyasachi; 1976: Banhi Sikha; Chander Kachhakachhi; Mom Batti; Nidhi Ram Sardar; Rajbansha; Hotel Snow Fox; Ananda Mela; Asadharan; 1977: Bhola Moira; Jaal Sanyasi; Sister; Anand Ashram; Kitaab; Brajabuli; 1978: Bandi; Dhanraj Tamang; Dui Purush; Nishan; 1979: Dooriyan; Devdas; Nabadiganta; Samadhan; Srikanter Will; Sunayani; 1980: Aro Ekjan; Darpachurna; Dui Prithibi; Pankhiraj; Raja Saheb; Raj Nandini; 1981: Plot No 5; Kalankini Kankabati*; Khana Baraha; Pratishodh; Ogo Bodhu Sundari; Surya Sakhi; 1982: Desh Premi; Iman Kalyan; 1987: Mera Karam Mera Dharam.

Actor