Uttam Kumar

Arun Kumar Chatterjee (3 September 1926 – 24 July 1980), known professionally as Uttam Kumar, was a yesteryear Indian actor, director, producer, screenwriter, composer, and playback singer who predominantly worked in Bengali cinema. A cultural icon of Bengal and widely regarded as one of the greatest and most successful actors in the history of Indian cinema, Kumar dominated Bengali cinema from the 1950s throughout the 1970s, being referred to as "Mahanayak". His accolades include five National Awards and four Filmfare Awards.

In a career spanning over five decades, Kumar worked in 211 films until his death in 1980. After several years of acting in plays, he made his film debut in the 1948 film Drishtidan in a supporting role. The film was produced by M. P. Productions. By the early 1950s, he moved to lead roles and had his first box office hit with Basu Paribar (1952), following a series of unsuccessful ventures. He first gained popularity with Sharey Chuattor (1953), in which he starred opposite his frequent co-star Suchitra Sen. He consistently starred in top-grossing films from the mid-1950s to the 1960s such as Champadangar Bou, Agni Pariksha, Shap Mochan, Sabar Uparey, Sagarika, Ekti Raat, Harano Sur, Pathey Holo Deri, Indrani, Maya Mriga, Saptapadi, Bipasha, Bhranti Bilash, Deya Neya, Kokhono Megh, as well as some of his most acclaimed performances include Upahar, Raat Bhore, Saheb Bibi Golam, Shyamali, Marutirtha Hinglaj, Bicharak, Abak Prithibi, Kuhak, Khokababur Pratyabartan, Jhinder Bondi, Sesh Anka, Uttarayan, Jatugriha, Nayak, Chowringhee, Chiriyakhana and Antony Firingee. He achieved further superstardom and appreciation in the 1970s, for starring in several successful ventures with different genres, including Nishi Padma, Rajkumari, Bilambita Loy, Dhanyee Meye, Chhadmabeshi, Stree, Mem Saheb, Andha Atit, Bon Palashir Padabali, Amanush, Sanyasi Raja, Agnishwar, Mouchak, Bagh Bondi Khela, Sabyasachi, Ananda Ashram, Bandie, Nishan, Dhanraj Tamang, Brojobuli, Pankhiraj, Dui Prithibi, Ogo Bodhu Shundori and Kalankini Kankabati.

Apart from acting, Kumar showed his versatility in other fields, including as a director and screenwriter of films such as Sudhu Ekti Bachhar, Bon Palashir Padabali and Kalankini Kankabati, as a composer in Kal Tumi Aleya and Sabyasachi, and as a singer in Nabajanma.

Kumar was the first recipient of the National Award in the Best Actor category for his work in Antony Firingee and Chiriyakhana. He is the namesake of Mahanayak Uttam Kumar metro station in Tollygunge and the Mahanayak Samman Award given by the Government of West Bengal.