'''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]]