Remembering the Mahanayak on his birthday
It was the end of the fifties and the beginning of the sixties when the onscreen duo Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen ruled over the film industry of the Indian Subcontinent. Born as Arun Kumar Chatterjee in Ahiritola, North Kolkata, he was called 'Uttam' by his maternal grandmother and later became the Mahanayak of Bengali silver screen. Today marks his birth centenary.
Radiating the flavour of exquisite Bengali lifestyle, the undisputed king first shared the screen with Suchitra Sen Nirmal Dey's Sharey Chuattor (1953). Their chemistry paired with Suchitra Sen's poise and breath-taking smile alongside Uttam Kumar's spellbinding screen presence, charismatic charm and stunning smile captivated the movie-goers in just an instant! The duo went on to give numerous other superhits in the later years, including Agni Pariksha (1954), Shap Mochon (1955), Shagorika (1956), Harano Sur (1957), Shaptopodi (1961), Bipasha (1962) and Grihadaho (1967), among many others.
The superstar became a legend with Satyajit Ray's Nayak (1966). Said to be based on the star himself, Ray managed to capture his acting brilliance without a doubt and this gave him the title of 'Mahanayak', the epic hero on Bengali cinema. Based on the superstar himself, Ray crafted the Arindam Mukherjee mirroring his anxieties and insecurities. The following year, the Ray-Kumer duo again returned to the theatres with yet another masterpiece, Chiriyakhana (1967).
He was the first recipient for Best Actor in the 1967 National Awards instituted by the Indian Government for his performances in Chiriyakhana (1967) and Anthony Firangee (1967). Melodies like Tumi Je Amar, the love song from the film Harano Sur (1957), manages to enrapture the minds of love-birds even today.
Rumours say that the actor, being a workaholic, once expressed how he wished his demise to be on the floor of a studio while doing what he loves best—acting. With his words turning into reality, the star passed away on July 24, 1980, succumbing to massive heart attack while shooting for Ogo Bodhu Shundori (1980).
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