Latest news with #UttamKumar
India.com
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Who is this actor, whose 29 out of 30 films are hits, known as Mahanayak, drove himself to hospital when he faced..., he was...
Before he became a legend, there was a time when a young actor from Kolkata struggled to make a mark in the world of cinema. Despite his good looks and natural talent, his first few films were massive flops. He was mocked by the press, labelled 'flop master general,' and many believed he lacked the spark needed for stardom. But destiny had other plans for this actor who would later rule the hearts of millions. Who was this legendary actor? This story is about none other than Late Uttam Kumar, the iconic star of Bengali cinema who earned the title of Mahanayak. Born as Arun Kumar Chatterjee, he started his film journey in the early 1940s. For the first seven to eight years, none of his films succeeded. But Uttam did not give up. He worked on improving his craft, learning from his mistakes, and staying focused. His turning point came with the 1952 film Basu Paribar, and then with Agni Pariksha (1954), which became massive hit and changed his life. With which actress did Uttam Kumar give back-to-back hits? One of the biggest reasons behind Uttam Kumar's success was his chemistry with Suchitra Sen. Their on-screen pair became iconic and remains unmatched in Bengali cinema. They delivered 29 hit films together, including Harano Sur, Saptapadi, and Shilpi. Their romantic dramas were not only commercially successful but emotionally rich, earning them a loyal fan base. Uttam wasn't just a romantic hero. He was a brilliant actor who could perform in intense dramas, comedies, and thrillers. His talent caught the attention of legendary filmmaker Late Satyajit Ray, who cast him in Nayak (1966), a film that showcased the emotional journey of a superstar. Uttam's performance in this film earned him critical acclaim even outside Bengal and made him a national icon. Despite his stardom, Uttam Kumar remained grounded. He had a passion for theatre and often returned to the stage. He was also involved in singing, producing, and directing. However, his personal life was filled with ups and downs, including a failed marriage and health issues. When Uttam Kumar drove himself to hospital On 23 July 1980, Uttam Kumar suffered chest pain during the shooting of the film Ogo Bodhu Shundori. He drove himself to the hospital. Despite treatment, he passed away the next day on 24 July 1980 at the age of 53. The city of Kolkata came to a standstill during his funeral. His contribution to cinema was so immense that the Tollygunge Film Studio in Kolkata was later named Uttam Mancha in his honour.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Mamata Banerjee Calls For "Another Bhasha Andolan" Amid Bengali Language Row
Kolkata (West Bengal): Amid a controversy over the Bengali language, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called for another Bhasha Andolan (language movement) and alleged that people are being harassed for speaking Bengali in many places. Addressing the 'Maha Nayak Samman' Awards on Thursday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "Another Bhasha Andolan is needed to awaken everyone. People are being harassed for speaking Bengali in many places. Bengali is the fifth most spoken language in the world, and the second most spoken in Asia. Around 30 crore people speak Bengali, and today, Bengali speakers are being sent to jail." Calling for wider public engagement, she urged for programmes to be held across all levels to raise awareness. "I cannot accept this, and I believe you cannot either. People cannot be detained just for speaking Bengali. We cannot tolerate this. Programmes must be organised on this issue at all levels. This issue is not just mine; it belongs to everyone. Bengal is everything to us. We must protect this land," she added. Chief Minister Banerjee hailed her mother tongue and said, "We all speak our mother tongue. Children speak 'Maa' for the first time in their mother tongue. However, a language war has been declared over the Bengali language." Taking a dig at West Bengal's film industry, Tollywood, Ms Banerjee criticised the lack of Bengali content in music. "These days, where is Bengali in our songs? It is all just loud and flashy music. We already have Bollywood for that. South Indian films are also popular. But Tollywood should have more Bengali songs, not just music," she said. Clarifying her stance, Ms Banerjee said she was not opposed to other languages, but stressed the importance of preserving Bengali. "I am not asking anyone to disrespect other languages. But that does not mean we lose our own. We should feel proud of our language. We are proud of all languages, but we cannot do anything by leaving Bengali aside. Let all languages grow in harmony and unity. We have to make Bengal's culture more developed, enriched, widespread, and vibrant. Civilisation is the backbone of a nation," the Chief Minister added. Meanwhile, the row over the Bengali language surfaced after Ms Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress raised the issue during the 'Shahid Dibas' (Martyrs' Day) celebrations on July 21. At the same award ceremony, Ms Banerjee also paid tribute to legendary actor Uttam Kumar. "It has been 45 years, but we can never forget Uttam Kumar. He was so good at lip-syncing. We started this recognition in 2012. He is still very close to our hearts, and I still believe he is the nation's pride, a symbol of our culture and character, the great Mahanayak Uttam Kumar. We remember him on his death anniversary. I truly regret never having met him," she said. "I had met Suchitra Sen before her passing, even though she had not met anyone for 20 years. But she wanted to meet me, and I went immediately to see her. I also knew Supriya for a long time. I know Sharmila and Tanuja too. I met many of them at the KIFF, but I could never meet Uttam Kumar, and this absence keeps coming back to me again and again," she added.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Centre waging language war against people of Bengal: CM Mamata Banerjee
KOLKATA: CM Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused the BJP-led Centre of unleashing 'a language war and linguistic terrorism' on Bengal and its people. Banerjee used the 45th death anniversary of Bengal's biggest matinee idol, Uttam Kumar , to repeat her call for a 'Bhasha Andolan' and rip apart BJP-governed states where hundreds of Bengali migrant labourers were being detained or pushed into Bangladesh on suspicion of being Bangladeshis. 'A kind of linguistic terrorism has been declared against the Bengali language, the fifth most spoken in the world. Around 30 crore people speak Bengali but Bengali speakers are being sent to jail. I cannot accept this and I believe you cannot either,' she said. 'There should be zero tolerance for people being detained just for speaking Bengali. This issue is not mine alone, it is everyone's. Bengal is everything for us. We must protect this land,' she added. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Banerjee later posted on X about the latest reports of Bengalis being hounded in Haryana's Gurugram . 'Have been receiving reports of detentions of and atrocities on Bengali-speaking people. West Bengal Police is receiving these reports from Haryana Police in the name of requests for identity searches,' she said, adding there were 'increasing reports from other states like Rajasthan of illegal pushbacks' of Indian citizens having 'all proper documents to Bangladesh dir-ectly!!' 'Hapless, poor Bengali workers' were being tortured, she posted, adding she was 'shocked to see these terrible atrocities in double-engine' states. 'What do you want to prove?' she asked BJP . Banerjee, speaking at the Mahanayak Samman award ceremony earlier on Thursday, exhorted the audience to watch 'all kinds of films... but not neglect Bengali cinema' and highlighted the melodious quality of Bengali songs from the golden era. 'There is a sweetness, a richness of language and melody, in Bengali music that will never fade,' she said, commenting on the recent trend of not using Bengali songs in Bengali television serials. 'Where is Bengali in our songs? It is all just loud and flashy music. We already have Bollywood for that. South Indian films, too, are popular. But Tollywood should have more Bengali songs, not just music. I am not asking anyone to disrespect other languages. But that does not mean we lose our own (culture). We are proud of all languages but we cannot achieve anything by forgetting Bengali. Let all languages grow in harmony and unity,' she said, adding that the next edition of the Kolkata International Film Festival would give greater importance to Bengali films. Banerjee recalled watching movies with her mother in the single-screen theatres of Bhowanipore and mentioned that her only regret was not having met Uttam Kumar. 'It has been 45 years but we can never forget him. I believe he is the nation's pride, a symbol of our culture and character. I met Suchitra Sen before her passing. I also knew Supriya-di for a long time. I know Sharmila-di and Tanuja-di too,' she said after conferring the Mahanayak Samman awards to make-up artist Somnath Kundu, production designer Ananda Addhya, actor Gargee Roy Chowdhury and singers Iman Chakraborty and Rupankar Bagchi. Veteran director Goutam Ghose, who turned 75 on Thursday, received the Mahanayak Shreshtha Samman. 'We started this recognition in 2012. Twenty-five people received the Mahanayak Award till 2024. We have honoured 41 personalities from the film industry as Barsha Shera, 147 people have been given the Bishesh Chalachitra Award and 22 have received the Lifetime Achievement Award in cinema,' Banerjee said, lauding actor Prosenjit Chatterjee for creating a new exhibition model where viewing rooms would be arranged for 40–50 people across 100 locations in Bengal. Banerjee then stressed the importance of artistes' and technicians' health. 'We have a health insurance scheme of Rs 5 lakh for 4,800 artistes; around 20,000 people benefit from this scheme if we include their families. The state's Film Workers' Welfare Fund helps needy artistes and technicians,' she said, adding that she would inaugurate the Sangeet Academy soon.
Indian Express
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Promote Bangla through films and TV series, Mamata tells Tollywood
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday called for promoting the use of Bengali in film and TV productions in the state. Speaking at the 'Mahanayak Samman' award ceremony, held on the death anniversary of matinee idol Uttam Kumar, the chief minister said, 'Sob bhasai bhalo, sob gaan bhaalo (every language is good, every song is good), but we must make serious effort in promoting our mother tongue and make the younger generation respectful towards our culture.' 'Give space to films made in other languages, but please give priority to Bengali works,' she added. She also announced special medical insurance schemes for the Tollygunge artists. 'We have a health insurance scheme of Rs 5 lakh for artists and 4,800 people are covered under this scheme. If we include their families, around 20,000 people are benefiting. Through the Film Workers' Welfare Fund, our government provides help for the marriage of daughters of struggling artists and technicians, as well as support in times of death. I was asked to include the film sector in BGBS, and we have done that. Cultural activities shall also be included.' Remembering Uttam Kumar, she said: 'It has been 45 years, but we can never forget Uttam Kumar. He was so good at lip-syncing.' Ace director Goutam Ghosh was conferred the 'Mahanayak Srestha Samman' for his body of work spanning decades. Singers Rupankar Bagchi, Iman Chakraborty, Gargi Roychoudhury, production designer Ananda Adhya, and makeup artist Somnath Kundu were also conferred the 'Mahanayak Samman' for their contributions in their respective fields. 'Giving this small recognition to Goutamda (Goutam Ghosh), an iconic director, on our part was overdue. Also, we are privileged to honour other personalities who have made the state proud,' the chief minister said. Several prominent film personalities from Bengal, including Prosenjit Chatterjee and Dev, were among those present on the occasion. With PTI Inputs
Hindustan Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
CM Mamata Banerjee advocates promoting Bengali in films, TV serials
Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday advocated the need to promote and cultivate the use of Bengali in film and TV productions in the state. CM Mamata Banerjee advocates promoting Bengali in films, TV serials Speaking at the 'Mahanayak Samman' award function on the death anniversary of matinee idol Uttam Kumar, the Banerjee said, "Sob bhasai bhalo, sob gaan bhaalo , but we must make serious effort in promoting our mother tongue and make the younger generation respectful towards our culture." She said, "Amidst the beautiful mosaic of different cultures in this country and the underlying message of unity in diversity, every state must cherish and protect its own spoken language and heritage. In West Bengal, we must protect our language and culture while being respectful to other languages." Asking everyone to give it a thought, the CM said, "My request to those who produce serials — not to confine themselves within Hindi while using songs in their episodes, but also use Bengali tracks. They have their wide reach all over the country. Can't we use the talent of our people who pen amazing lyrics in Bengali, who add tunes to such lyrics? We take pride in our culture, which has so much sweetness and emotion." Banerjee called upon the makers of TV soaps not to spread messages that promote violence, suicide, and other harmful themes in their "works for the sake of extending episodes indefinitely for TRP ratings," warning that such content can have an adverse effect on children. "I am not saying it has become the practice for everyone, as there are many others who tread a different path. Why can't we dish out content which talks about simple things, simple joys and pleasures in life, spread positive vibes instead of toxicity?" she added. "Give space to films made in other languages, but please give priority to Bengali works," she urged. The CM spoke about the joys of listening to the golden age of Bengali songs — by icons like Hemanta Mukhopadhyay, Shyamal Mitra, Sandhya Mukhopadhyay, Nirmala Mishra, among others. Paying tributes to the matinee idol, she said, "We have neither been able to forget Uttam Kumar after 45 years nor will we be able to in the future. He remains the evergreen matinee idol forever." Banerjee said Uttam Kumar had effortlessly lip-synced to the timeless playbacks in his films, and it is difficult to match his level among the next generation of actors. Ace director Goutam Ghosh was conferred the 'Mahanayak Srestha Samman' for his rich body of work spanning decades. Singers Rupankar Bagchi, Iman Chakraborty, Gargi Roychoudhury, production designer Ananda Adhya, and makeup artist Somnath Kundu were also conferred the 'Mahanayak Samman' for their contributions in their respective fields. "Giving this small recognition to Goutamda , an iconic director, on our part was overdue. Also, we are privileged to honour other personalities who have made the state proud," Banerjee said. Several prominent film personalities from Bengal, including Prosenjit Chatterjee and Dev, were among those present on the occasion. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
