Uttam Kumar is regarded as one of the legendary actors of Bengali cinema and was fondly called Mahanayak of Bengali cinema. He was born as Arun Kumar Chatterjee on 3rd September 1926. Kumar had a huge fan following which mainly concentrated in the regions of West Bengal, India, and Bangladesh.
He was a recipient of many awards over his lifetime, including National Film Award for Best Actor. Today is Uttam Kumar death anniversary and here are some of his iconic pictures. Uttam Kumar worked in a Satyajit Ray film, Naayak, which is considered as one of the classics.
1. Agni Pariksha
Released in 1954, the film was loved for its iconic pairing Suchitra Sen and Uttam Kumar. Directed by Agradoot, Agni Pariksha is the story of Tapasi (Suchitra Sen), a singer who has been married (forcefully) as a child to a corrupted village zamindar’s son Bulu, and the adorable relationship between her and Kiriti (Uttam Kumar).
2. Nayak
The film was directed by Satyajit Ray in 1966. The story revolves around a matinee idol on a 24-hour train journey from Kolkata to Delhi to receive a national award. However, he ends up revealing his mistakes, insecurities, and regrets to a young journalist, who realises that behind his arrogant facade lies a deeply troubled man as his life’s story is gradually revealed through seven flashbacks and two dreams.
3. Bicharak (1959)
The film was based on a story by Tarashankar Bandopadhya. Bicharak casts Uttam as a judge supremely confident of his ability to deliver justice, who comes face-to-face with an ethical crisis when asked to judge a case that has echoes from his past and a choice he had made. Even as he decides on the fate of the defendant, he has to confront his own moral culpability.
4. Saptapadi (1961) It features Uttam Kumar as a medical college student Krishnendu who falls in love with an Anglo-Indian, Rina Brown, and converts to Christianity, with tragic consequences. This is the film with the outstanding scene from Othello where Krishnendu and Rina realize that they are in love.
5. Grihadaha (1967)
The film is based on a novel by Sarat Chandra Chatterjee. The film is about Suresh and Mahim who are childhood friends, but there was a vast difference between their livelihood and religion. Mahim was a poor guy. While Suresh was very rich. Suresh a doctor whereas Mahim waited for his result of Law examination. In the moon times, Mahim coved, Achala, a Brahma girl, and their marriage got fixed by her father verbally. This did not influence Suresh, So he went to Achala's house to save his friend from a Brahma girl.
Image Source: exoticindiaart, youtube,cinestaan
