Lucknow: Nostalgia swept through Bengali Club on Saturday as members and film lovers marked the birth centenary year of legendary actor Uttam Kumar, paying tribute to the screen icon whose enduring legacy continues to resonate across generations.The club has dedicated a separate section for the actor during the ongoing Durga Puja celebrations. The pandal was adorned with posters and banners of his classics such as ‘Harano Sur’, ‘Saptapadi’, ‘Chiriakhana’, ‘Deya Neya’, ‘Chhadmabeshi’ and ‘Amanush’, drawing admirers from across the city.While posing for photographs alongside the displays, older members reminisced about watching his films in packed theatres.Younger admirers, introduced to his work by parents and grandparents, used the occasion to connect with Bengal’s cinematic heritage.Born as Arun Kumar Chatterjee in Kolkata, Uttam Kumar became the undisputed ‘Mahanayak’ of Bengali cinema, dominating the industry from the 1950s through the 1970s.Widely regarded as one of Indian cinema’s greatest actors, he appeared in more than 200 films before his death in 1980.For retired professor Paritosh Chakraborty (78), memories of Uttam Kumar are inseparable from those of his late mother, a theatre artiste and ardent admirer of the actor.Recalling visits to cinema halls in Durgapur during his childhood, he said, “The most remarkable aspect of his acting was that his dialogue delivery was very natural. It never seemed as if he was merely reading a script.”The celebration revived cherished memories among long-time admirers. Dr Reena Mitra (75) remembered watching Uttam Kumar’s films during her college days in Howrah. “His films were trendsetters. I had a huge crush on him. My favourite movie is ‘Shat Pake Bandha’,” she said.Enakshi Sinha (68) said her admiration for the actor grew after marriage as her husband was a devoted fan. “His acting and screen presence were so spontaneous and magnetic that every scene became mesmerising for the audience,” she said.Indrani Chatterjee (67), who grew up in Kharagpur, recalled watching his films with her sisters. “We loved his soft masculinity, simplicity and chocolate-boy image. His boyish charm won many hearts,” she said.Summing up the sentiment shared by many admirers, Chandrani Mukherjee (62) said: “During the 1960s, there was no comparison to him.”
