West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today paid tributes to legendary Bengali matinee idol Mahanayak Uttam Kumar on his 45th death anniversary.
” I pay my heartfelt tribute to Mahanayak Uttam Kumar on his death anniversary, the chief minister said on her X handle while paying her glowing tributes to the evergreen actor, who died at age of 54 in 1980.
Uttam Kumar, born Arun Kumar Chattopadhyay on September 3, 1926, and widely revered as Mahanayak (Great Hero), was a celebrated film actor, producer, director, screenwriter, composer, and playback singer who predominantly worked in Bengali cinema. His illustrious career spanned over three decades, from the late 1940s until his untimely death in 1980.
He is regarded as one of the greatest actors in the history of Indian cinema and remains the most popular and successful film star in Bengal. Uttam Kumar appeared in over 200 films, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of millions.
“Uttam Kumar, the eternal matinee idol of Bengalis, still lives in all our hearts. Even though 45 years have passed since his death, our affection for him has not diminished in the slightest,” Banerjee said.
“I am proud that, in tribute to Uttam Kumar’s unique contribution to cinema and Bengali consciousness, our government introduced the Mahanayak Samman Puraskar in 2012 to honour distinguished actors and actresses.”
She further added, “When I was the Railway Minister, the Tollygunge Metro Railway Station was renamed Mahanayak Uttam Kumar. ‘Uttam Mancha’, a cultural auditorium named after him, is also being renovated. Uttam Kumar is the hero of Bengali dreams — an eternal symbol of love and admiration. On his death anniversary, I once again pay my respects to him.”
