Happy Birthday, Mahanayak!
Remembering Uttam Kumar, the fairytale hero that Bengalis could never get enough of.
Uttam Kumar was the fairytale hero that Bengalis could never get enough of. Even three decades after his death, he remains the ultimate star, and the moniker ‘Mahanayak’ has been coined exclusively for him.
On his birthday, here are five gems from his mythical filmography.
Antony Firingee (1967)
In this biopic, Uttam Kumar plays Anthony Firingee, the legend of Portuguese origin from the early 19th century who not only mastered the Bengali language, but also became one of the most renowned poets of Bengal. More than 100 films old in the game, he brought the experience of his craft, the willingness of body language, and the subtleties of gestures to the role. Helped by Manna Dey’s mellifluous songs, Kumar brings the poet alive with all his aches and joys, and the despair of his love becomes yours by the end of the film.
Nayak (1966)
This underrated film has Uttam Kumar as Arindam Mukherjee, a star, on a train journey to Delhi to collect an award, who unravels himself in front of a young journalist. When Satyajit Ray was writing Nayak, he could only think of Kumar for the titular role. Though Ray’s favourite Soumitra Chatterjee had a substantial following, it was no match for Kumar’s 360 degree popularity in Bengal. The decision to cast Kumar led to harsh criticism, especially by Mrinal Sen, for ‘selling out’ to a matinee idol. But when you watch it, you know the casting is pitch perfect. In this investigation of the inner world of a star, Kumar’s real life stardom is in perfect sync with the flamboyance of his character, bringing out the pleasure and pain of being on a pedestal.
Saptapadi (1961)
This list would be incomplete without Ajoy Kar’s Saptapadi, the pièce de résistance of Uttam Kumar-Suchitra Sen, the golden pair of Bengali cinema. This romantic tale of lovers from different religions is not flawless, but works supremely because of the irresistible chemistry between the two legendary stars. Be it the songs, the dialogues or the characters, everything about the film has attained an idolatry status in the collective consciousness of Bengal. Which is why Shoojit Sircar had Bhashkor (Amitabh) and Piku (Deepika) humming ‘Ei poth Jodi na shesh hoi’ in Piku (2015), the most recognised song from the film to show the innate Bangaliana.
Chiriyakhana (1967)
In this crime thriller, Uttam Kumar plays Byomkesh Bakshi, the fictional detective created by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay. Under Ray’s supervision, Kumar uses his sophisticated mannerisms to create a decorous detective, distinctly different from detectives in Western films. He respects the words he utters, has a careful observation of the peculiarities around him, and exudes an elegant sexual charm, something that Sushant Singh Rajput couldn’t quite carry off in the Dibakar Banerjee film.
Sharey Chuattor (1953)
For the fifth film, we have too many films to choose from. We love Harano Sur (1957), Sabar Uparey (1955), Thana Theke Aschi (1965), Jhinder Bandi (1961), Chhadmabeshi (1971), Nishi Padma (1970) and a few more. But we would rather go for Sharey Chuattor, the genteel comedy that introduced us to Uttam-Suchitra as THE screen couple. Both the actors at the infancy of their stardom here are part of a larger ensemble put together to elicit laughter. You can see a young Kumar, and notice the hint of quiet splendour that’s about to hit Bengalis like a tsunami, this young man who knows how to put heart into the laughs.
(The writer is a journalist and a screenwriter who believes in the insanity of words, in print or otherwise. Follow him on Twitter: @RanjibMazumder)
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