#UttamKumar #ThisDayInHistory
Uttam Kumar was a Phenomenon. He was the ruler of the hearts of millions of Bengalis. This iconic actor mesmerised us for decades. Today in 1980, he breathed his last. Till today his popularity and his charisma wins hands down.
Once labelled as a Flop Master after series of films that were cropper starting from Mayador in 1947, till the Basu Paribar hit the theatres. Story changed radically. Shaare Chuattor & Agniporikha gave his career a stellar push. He became an Idol.
Uttam Kumar was preceded by stallwarts like Pramathesh Barua, Chhabi Biswas, Kamal Mitra etc. Instead of being daunted by them, Uttam Kumar used his gentle ordinariness to change the high theatrical showbiz into a natural effortless performance. it became his signature
His average looks, his gait, mannerisms, smile all were smashing hit like his performance among Bengalis. That average look became a magnet of adulation, his gait was imitated widely, his smile was idolised and his romance captured the heart of millions
Such is his charm that people still believe none can carry off dhoti & Punjabi with as flair as the Mahanayak. The Charm & the smile would still lit up the souls & fantasies of generations of women. The kind of magic, power & hold he had over his fans are difficult to comprehend.
Uttam singing Ei path jodi na... and pillion-rider Suchitra cooing ‘tumi bolo’ into his ear has been the Bengali’s idea of romance for decades. He was himself a very soulful singer, listen to him singing a adhunik song here
Men imitated his style from head to toe. His smirk, the Uttam Hair cut, Uttam drawl became a craze in Bengal. Soumitra (Feluda) had said: "If Uttam Kumar committed a crime and then he gave that smile, I was ready to believe he was innocent."
From a pervert Jamindar ‘Madhab Dutta’ in Stree, dedicated doctor in Agnishwar, hardcore romantic in Saptapadi to a superstar Arindam Mukherjee in Nayak, Uttam Kumar has enthralled the Bengali Cine lovers for decades.
His untimely death unleashed an unprecedented public hysteria all over Bengal. while shooting for Ogo Bodhu Sundorim he suffered a massive heart attack, He was rushed to the Belle vue Clinic where doctors tried to resuscitate him for 16 hours.
However all their efforts failed. Uttam Kumar Died. As his hearse wound its way across Bhowanipur and finally to the Keoratala Mahasmashan, traffic in Kolkata came to a halt as thousands flocked the streets to pay their respects and have a last glimpse of the Icon
My favourite films of Uttam Kumar are: Harano Sur, Saptapadi, Agnipariksha, Indrani, Chadmabeshi, Khoka Babur Pratyabartan, Chiriyakhana, Mouchak, Shaare Chuattar, Shap Mochan, Chowringhee, Sagarika, Bagh Bondi Khela, Jhinder Bondi, Bhranti Bilash, Pothey Holo Deri, Rajkumari, +
Agnishwar, Deya Neya, Thana theke aschi, Marutirtha Hinglaj etc.
Sadly apart from a couple of National Film Awards and a few BAFNA awards his contribution to the bengali cinema was ignored both by the state & the Central Govt till date.
My Blog post on Uttam Kumar's 38th Death Anniversary …nderingthoughtsofaqueen.wordpress.com/2018/07/24/rem…
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.