Uttam Kumar

Born Arun Kumar Chattopadhyay on September 3, 1926, Uttam Kumar was a multifaceted character in Indian film and often known as the Mahanayak, or "Great Actor." His long and successful career began in the late 1940s and ended tragically in 1980. During that period, he worked as a playback vocalist, director, producer, screenwriter, composer, and actor in films, mostly in Bengali cinema. Kumar acted in almost 200 films over three decades, making a lasting impression on audiences with roles in films like Agni Pariksha, Harano Sur, Jhinder Bandi, Chowringhee, Nayak, and Amanush, to mention a few. In addition to acting, he produced seven films and directed important projects like Kalankini Kankabati, Sudhu Ekti Bochor, and Bon Palashir Padabali. As the first person to win the National Film Award for Best Actor for his roles in Antony Firingee (1967) and Chiriyakhana (1967), Kumar was a trailblazer.

Moreover, he has won the Filmfare Award for Best Actor and the BFJA Best Actor Award. His legacy is still felt today with the Mahanayak Uttam Kumar metro station in Tollygunge and the West Bengal government's Mahanayak Samman Award. In Bengali film history, Uttam Kumar is still regarded as a titan, honored for his significant and enduring contributions.

Early Years

At his maternal house in Ahiritola, northern Calcutta, on September 3, 1926, Arun Kumar Chattopadhyay, later known as Uttam Kumar, was born. He was raised in a lower-middle-class household; his father, Satkari Chattopadhyay, was employed by Metro Cinema as a film projector. Barun and Tarun Kumar, Arun Kumar's two brothers, both went on to become actors. He received the loving moniker "Uttam" from his maternal grandma.

After completing his matriculation at South Suburban School (Main), he continued his studies at Chakraberia High School. He developed an interest in theater while still in school and joined the "Lunar Club." At the age of five, he played in Rabindranath Tagore's Mukut and won a medal for it. He afterward won a second medal for his role in the play Gayasur. He was accepted to Goenka College of Commerce and Business Administration for further education but had to drop out of his final year due to financial difficulties. After that, he started working as a clerk for the Kolkata Port Trust, where he was paid 275 rupees a month.

Nidanbandhu Banerjee taught Uttam Kumar how to sing, one of his many abilities. Along with these athletic pursuits, he also dabbled in yoga, football, volleyball, cricket, Lathi Khela martial arts, wrestling, and swimming, where he won three titles at the Bhawanipur Swimming Association. His family also ran Suhrid Samaj, an amateur theater company. Even though he had to face barriers in his education and finances, Uttam Kumar's early life was characterized by a strong love of the arts and a will to succeed.

Career

The early years of Uttam Kumar's career in the film industry began in 1947 with hardships. Despite the fact that the movie was never released, he made his debut in the 1947 Hindi film "Mayadore" in an additional role. 1948 saw the official release of his debut in the Nitin Bose-directed film "Drishtidan," in which he played a kid artist opposite star actor Asit Baran while going by his name, Arun Kumar Chatterjee. He played a hero for the first time the next year, in 1949, in the movie "Kamona," taking on the name Uttam Chatterjee.

He took on the alias Arup Kumar once more as he continued to experiment with several personas. He lip-synced to a song in the 1950 movie "Maryada," showcasing his flexibility. His career took a dramatic turn in 1951 when he played Uttam Kumar in the film "Sahajatri," following Pahari Sanyal's instruction. Hemanta Mukherjee made her cinematic debut singing for him as well. Despite these advancements, Uttam Kumar was dubbed "Flop Master General" because a number of his early movies, roughly seven in total, were box office disasters. Disappointed, he considered quitting the motion picture business. Uttam Kumar demonstrated his resiliency and will to overcome obstacles in his early career by working at the Port Trust concurrently during this trying time.

First Achievement

With a string of achievements, Uttam Kumar's career took a dramatic shift in the years between 1952 and 1954. He landed a major role in the 1952 Nirmal Dey-directed film "Basu Poribar," produced by M.P. Productions. For Kumar, this movie was a game-changer because it was not only successful but also a smash hit, garnering him critical acclaim. Feeling the momentum from this achievement, he decided to leave the Port Trust and dedicate himself full-time to the film industry.

He worked with M.P Production and Nirmal Dey again the next year, in 1953, on the comedy film "Sharey Chuattor." In addition to solidifying Kumar's standing in the business, this movie featured Suchitra Sen and him together for the first time. The smash tune "Sharey Chuattor" increased Kumar's notoriety even more. But the real turning point in his career was the 1954 release of Agradoot's "Agnipariksha." This movie not only started a trend in the Bengal box office but also made history in Bengali cinema. Uttam Kumar's role in "Agnipariksha" made him a well-known and financially secure performer in the business, setting the stage for an incredible future.

Stardom

Uttam Kumar rose to fame and had a big impact on the Bengali film industry between 1955 and 1965. The pivotal moment occurred in 1955 with the release of the musical smash "Shapmochon," which not only made him a star but also forged an enduring partnership with Hemanta Mukherjee, creating the most well-liked singer-actor team of that era. During this time, Kumar demonstrated his flexibility in movies like "Sabar Uparey" and the unusual genre picture "Hrad," in which he played a character with mental disabilities and won the BFJA Best Actor Award for the first time.

Kumar's filmography grew in 1956 with the release of movies such as "Shyamali," "Saheb Bibi Golam" (which was later dubbed in Hindi as "Saheb Biwi Aur Ghulam"), "Shilpi," "Sagarika," "Chira Kumar Sabha," and "Nabajanma." He made his stage debut the next year in the musical drama "Harano Sur," which cemented his status as a top actor and earned him a National Award. Additional noteworthy productions from this era include "Jiban Trishna," "Prithibi Amarey Chai," "Chandranath," the first Indian film to be released in Metro Cinema, "Pothey Holo Deri," the first Bengali film in color, and the double-part movie "Tasher Ghar."

With roles in movies such as "Indrani," "Surya Toron," and "Rajlaxmi O Srikanto," Kumar maintained his prosperous career in 1958. The next year, he acted in classic movies like "Abak Prithibi," "Bicharak," "Chawa Pawa," "Marutirtha Hinglaj," and "Sonar Harin." With roles in movies like "Maya Mriga," "Khokababur Pratyabortan," and "Kuhuk," where he portrayed a memorable character role as a devoted servant, Kumar cemented his place as the most successful performer as the 1960s approached. He produced and acted in "Saptapadi," earning his second BFJA Best Actor award, and had a double role in Tapan Sinha's cult masterpiece "Jhinder Bandi" in 1961.

With his flourishing career still going strong, Kumar starred in the thriller "Sesh Anka," in which he played a killer musical "Deya Neya" in 1963, and films like "Bipasha" and "Shiulibari" in 1962. His performance in "Branti Bilash" had him in two roles. He played a police investigator in the renowned crime thriller "Thana Theke Aschi" and acted in the popular movie "Surya Tapa" in 1965. Throughout this time, Uttam Kumar established himself as one of the most admired characters in Bengali films by showcasing both his acting talent and his versatility.

Satyajit Ray

The partnership between Uttam Kumar and the renowned director Satyajit Ray is a significant development in Bengali cinema history. In the beginning, Ray had suggested Sandip for Kumar's role in his 1956 film "Ghare Baire" in an approach. But Kumar turned down the chance because he thought a more seasoned actor would be a better fit for the role. The two eventually worked together on subsequent projects in spite of this.

Their first joint venture was on the 1966 movie "Nayak." The "Nayak" movie premiere at Indira Cinema turned into an unforgettable event. The crowd, which numbered in the thousands, became so enthralled that Kumar's clothing was stolen. In addition to winning his third BFJA Award for Best Actor for this movie, Kumar also went to the Berlin Film Festival. Notably, Hollywood actress Elizabeth Taylor called for a meeting and collaboration with Kumar following her viewing of "Nayak," praising his performance.

Kumar reunited with Ray in 1967 for the movie "Chiriyakhana," in which he played the renowned Bengali detective Byomkesh Bakshi. This partnership signified a pivotal point in Indian film history. Kumar was the first Indian laureate of the National Film Award for Best Actor, which the Government of India established. He was honored at the 15th National Film Awards in 1968 for his exceptional work in "Chiriyakhana" and "Anthony Firingee." In addition to creating outstanding motion pictures, Uttam Kumar and Satyajit Ray's collaboration enhanced Bengali cinema's artistic and cultural heritage.

National Honor

Uttam Kumar's career flourished between 1966 and 1975, exhibiting his versatility in a range of roles and his accomplishments both in front of and behind the camera. He made his film debut in 1966 with "Kal Tumi Aleya," which had songs sung by Asha Bhosle and Hemanta Kumar. He made his directorial debut around this time with "Sudhu Ekti Bochor." He also starred in romance movies like "Shankhyabela" and "Rajdrohi."

The renowned biographical film "Anthony Firingee" which was based on the life of Portuguese folk poet Hensman Anthony, starring Kumar in 1967. He became the first actor from India to win the National Award for Best Actor for this movie. Grihadaha, for which he received his fourth BFJA Best Actor Award, "Jiban Mrityu," "Nayika Sangbad," and "Chiriyakhana," in which he reprised his role as Byomkesh Bakshi, are among the other noteworthy movies from this era. At this period, Kumar demonstrated his acting talent by concentrating on character-driven parts.

He starred in beloved films in 1968, including "Chowrangee," "Kokhono Megh," and "Tin Adhyay." Works like "Mon Niye," "Kamallata," "Aparichito," and "Sabarmati" (1969), "Nishi Padma" and "Kalankita Nayak" (1970), and well-known comedies like "Dhanni Meye" and "Chhadmabeshi" (1971) were among those released in the years that followed. He won his fifth BFJA Best Actor Award for his role in "Ekhane Pinjar."

With his roles in "Stree" and "Memsaheb," in 1972, Kumar won his sixth BFJA Best Actor Award. The popular movie "Roudra Chaya" and his directing debut "Bon Palashir Padaboli" were released in 1973. The next year, he starred in Shakti Samanta's color picture "Amanush," which was a double feature in Bengali and Hindi. With this movie smashing box office records, Kumar won his first Filmfare Award and his seventh BFJA Best Actor Award. Throughout Kumar's storied career, "Amanush" stands out as the most financially successful movie. Kumar acted in several popular films in 1975, such as "Mouchak," "Agnishwar," "Sanyashi Raja," and "Ami Se O Sakha." He made his final film collaboration with Suchitra Sen in "Priyo Bandhobi" and played a villain in "Bagh Bondi Khela."

Through his efforts in this decade, Uttam Kumar cemented his place in Bengali cinema history as a great actor, director, and composer. His versatility in roles and genres kept viewers enthralled, cementing his status as a legendary figure in the business.

1976-1980's

Despite a few hit movies, Uttam Kumar's career declined in the last years of his career, from 1976 to the 1980s. He won his eighth and last BFJA Best Actor Award in 1976 for his role in "Banhisikha," setting a record at the time. He made an appearance in another double-version movie the next year, "Ananda Ashram," which was helmed by Shakti Samanta. "Dhanraj Tamang" became a smashing blockbuster in 1978, and Kumar won the Filmfare Award East Category's Best Actor Award. While several of Kumar's films suffered commercial difficulties in between these successes, the 1979 film "Sunayani" was also a hit.

With the publication of "June Dui Prithibi" in 1980, Kumar experienced a brief period of decline before finding success again. Both critically and economically, the movie was well-received. Remarkably, this was the final movie he had in theaters during his lifetime. A few of his films were released posthumously after his passing. In 1981, "Ogo Badhu Sundori" ran for 26 weeks at the box office and was a huge hit. Other successful posthumous releases were "Kalankini Kankabati," which was directed by Kumar himself, and "Protisodh." A successful 1982 Hindi film called "Desh Premee" starring Uttam Kumar in a major part was also released. His final Hindi movie, "Mere Karam Mere Dharam," which came out in 1987, had a little part that he played.

Even though he had difficulties in the final years of his career, Uttam Kumar's reputation and significance persisted with his posthumous releases. They hit movies, which helped to cement his enduring imprint on Indian cinema.

Producing and Directing

Along with being a great actor, Uttam Kumar also made important contributions to the cinema business as a producer and director. He made one Hindi film and six Bengali films in total; all of his Bengali ventures were commercially successful. "Harano Sur" (1957) and "Saptapadi," the first two movies he produced, were made under the Alochayas Production label. Ajoy Kar directed both movies, which were honored with the esteemed National Film Award. He renamed his production company Uttam Kumar Films Private L.T.D. in 1963. Bhranti Bilash was the first movie made under this new banner. "Uttar Falguni," "Jatugriha," and "Grihadaha," which were all nominated for National Awards, were the next three. Kumar expanded his filmography into Hindi movies in addition to his Bengali works.