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ALL TIME GREATS

Uttam Kumar

Recalling the evergreen hero
Uttam Kumar had all the makings of a super-star--a mesmerising screen presence, a mellifluous voice and a dazzling personality. When he passed away on July 24, 1980, the Bengali film world lost one of its most brilliant stars.
During his lifetime, Uttam Kumar acted in more than 250 films. But most of the prints have gone missing. So today one has to be satisfied just by seeing a repetition of few select movies like Bhranti Bilash, Sagarika, Bikele Bhorer Phul, Sarey Chuattor, Agniswar, Pathe Holo Deri, Nayak, Saptapadi and Ami Se O Sakha.
Since 1980, July 24, Uttam's death anniversary has been observed in West Bengal through Uttam Kumar retrospectives, seminars and condolence, nothing concrete has been done to preserve the films in which he starred.
As actor Prasenjit admits, 'A few of us in the Bengali film industry are now trying to locate the negatives and the prints of the films in which Uttam Kumar acted. But it is a very difficult job. Many producers, who did a couple of films with Uttam Kumar in the lead, have passed away. Their descendants have no idea as to where the prints and negatives of the movies have been preserved.'
Two other veteran actors Soumitra Chatterjee and Subhendu Chatterjee feel that it is the responsibility of the Bengali film industry as well as the West Bengal Government to protect and preserve the memories of Uttam Kumar.
After he finished his graduation, his family's precarious financial situation compelled him to take up employment as a clerk at the Port Commissioner's office. To make ends meet, he also gave singing lessons at a music school.
He began his film career with a brief role in a
Hindi film Mayador, which never saw the light of day. His first release was the Bangla film Drishtidaan (1948) directed by the great Nitin Bose. For a while, it looked as if he was destined to fail. In fact, with a string of flops, he had earned the sobriquet of 'flop master'.
Thankfully, the tide turned for Uttam. His 1952 film titled Basu Parivar, ably partnered by Savitri Chatterjee, was a big hit. This was followed by another big hit, Sharey Chuattar (1953), in which he paired for the first time with Suchitra Sen. Among his other notable films with Suchitra were Agnipariksha (1954), Shap Mochan (1955), Sagarika (1956), Harano Sur
(1957), Saptapadi (1961), Bipasha (1962) and Grihodaho (1967).
The Uttam Kumar-Suchitra Sen mystique was apparent in all these films. For over 20 years they reigned as icons of Bengali romantic melodrama, becoming almost a genre to themselves. Their films won acclaim for the soft-focus close ups of the pair against windswept expanses and richly decorated interiors.
Another heroine with whom Uttam had an unmistakable chemistry on and off stage was Supriya Devi. In 1963, he left his wife and stayed with Supriya for the next 17 years till his death.
A milestone in Uttam's acting career was his
lead role of actor Arindam Mukherjee in Satyajit Ray's film titled Nayak. The audience saw some similarity between the character and Uttam's own life--mostly the same sense of anxiety and restlessness. The following year he again worked with Ray in the film Chiriakhana (1967). His performances in the latter and Anthony Firingee (1967) won the Best Actor Award instituted by the Indian government.
Along with acting, Kumar forayed into spheres such as production, singing, composing music, screenplay writing and directing. The Bengali films which he produced were Harano Sur, Saptapadi and Uttar Falguni--all of which won acclaim.
Encouraged by the success of these ventures, he branched out into Hindi films. In 1967 he produced Chhotisi Mulaqaat, starring himself and Vyjayantimala. The film was adapted from Agniparikhsha and the music was courtesy Shankar Jaikishen. The film fell flat with the audience and led to a huge debt--and possibly his first heart attack. Though he returned to acting full time, he never produced a film again.
Among his Hindi film successes were Amanush (1975), Anand Ashram (1977), Kitaab (1979) and Dooriyan (1979).
In 1980, Uttam passed away following a heart attack. Among those who eulogised the late actor was filmmaker Satyajit Ray. Said Ray: 'It is the demise of a leading light of the Bengal film industry--There isn't -there won't be another hero like him.'
Source: Compiled by Cultural Correspondent with reporting by Sakyasen Mittra, from Kolkata