Harano Sur: Uttam Kumar at 100
This piece commemorates the centenary of Bengali cinema icon Uttam Kumar. It examines his legacy and the complex relationship between the actor and the public's perception of him.
Why it matters
Uttam Kumar remains a foundational figure in Indian cinema, and his centenary highlights the intersection of regional cultural identity and film history.
Synopsis: At a hundred, Uttam Kumar, the Mahanayak or great hero of Bengali cinema, is the most agreed-upon man in Bengal. The agreement conceals a long negotiation, in which Bengal accepted certain things about him, refused others outright, and has still not accepted the one obligation that matters.The centenary arrived on schedule on September 3 and with better than usual paraphernalia: statues garlanded at Tollygunge, the home of the Bengali film industry, and at Ahiritola, the north Kolkata street where he was born; a twenty-foot cutout outside the iconic single-screen Bijoli cinema; a padayatra with artistes; LED vans doing the rounds; an exhibition of booklets and behind-the-scenes stills at Nandan, the state-run film centre; and a commemorative stamp and cover from the Department of Posts.And, beyond the day itself, the apparatus of a year: a foundation stone in New Town for a film centre on three acres; a twenty-member advisory…
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