Uttam Kumar

The day was observed at the actor's birthplace on the Girish Mukherjee Road in Kolkata. Goutam, the son of the Mahanayak, held the memorial ceremony. A programme was also held at the foot of Uttam's statue at the Talleygunj film industry. The Artists' Association has organised a weeklong film festival. Bangla Film Development Society organised an Uttam Padak (award) giving ceremony.

On Saturday, politician Mamata Banerjee will unveil a statue of Uttam Kumar at the Ladies' Park in Kolkata. An open stage will also be inaugurated the same day.

Besides, all the Bangla TV channels are screening movies of Uttam Kumar.

Uttam Kumar was "the" super star of Bengali cinema and probably the most popular Bengali film hero. He was born in 1926 at Calcutta. Uttam's original name was Arun Kumar Chatterjee. After passing his Matriculation examination from South Suburban School he got admitted into Goenka College, but could not complete his graduation. He then took a clerical job in Calcutta Port Commission, before joining the filmdom..

His first released movie was "Dristidaan" directed by Nitin Bose released in 1948. Prior to that he acted in "Mayador" which was never released. The first appearance with Suchitra Sen was in the comedy movie "Saarey Chuator" in 1953. The movie was a hit and from that time onwards, Uttam-Suchitra combination brought a different dimension in Bengali movies. His character in Satyajit Ray's movie "Nayak" was remarkable. He also starred in another Ray move "Chiriakhana." For a brief time he acted in professional theatre also. In 1955, he took part in the drama "Shyamali" in Star Theatre.

Uttam Kumar passed away on July 24, 1980. He was an artiste who single handedly carried the Bengali film Industry on his broad shoulders. Dhanraj Tamang, Sagina Mahato, Jatugriho, Khokababur Protaborton, Jhinder Bandi are some of his notable roles. He demonstrated his comic talent in Chhodobesi, a Bengali film which was remade in Hindi as Chupke Chupke by Hrishikesh Mukherjee.

Suchitra Sen, alongwith, Uttam Kumar, formed one of the most enduring romantic screen pairs in the history of cinema. At their best, the pair made the likes of Raj Kapoor-Nargis, Spencer Tracy-Katerine Hepburn pale in comparison. Such was the luminosity and chemistry between them onscreen. Together, the Uttam-Suchitra pair heralded the golden age of Bengali cinema.