Uttam Kumar

Uttam Kumar Biography

Uttam Kumar was a very talented and popular hero of Bengali movies during the golden era of cinema. He has acted for a couple of Hindi movies as well. He is most known for the movies, he was paired opposite Suchitra Sen. As an actor, director, producer, singer and music director, his contribution to Bengal film industry still remain unparallel. His name is always remembered among the top actors of India till now.

Uttam Kumar was born in Kolkata on 3 September 1927. After his schooling in South Suburban School, he went for higher studies in Goenka College of Commerce and Business Administration. But he couldn’t complete his studies and employed under Calcutta Port Trust, as a clerk. During this period he became engaged in amateur drama group and it paved his way to cinema.

His first movie was Mayador that was never released. Uttam's first release was Drishtidan directed by Nitin Bose. His breakthrough film was Agni Pariksha and its roaring success was the start point of the all-time romantic pair of Uttam Kumar - Suchitra Sen. Together they have given many classic hits to Bengali. Through his acting skills, Uttam Kumar conquered everyone’s heart and his name was placed as the top hero of Bengali movies all time. He has worked for Satyajeet Ray’s movies – Chiriyakhana and Nayak.

He won best actor National awards for Chiryakhana and Antony Firingi in 1968, the year which started this award section. In 1961, his film Saptapadi won Certificate of Merit for Second Best Feature Film in Bengali in National category. In 1963, Uthar Falguni helped him to earn National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Bengali. He has won B.F.J.A Best Actor Award for Hrod (1955), Saptapadi (1961), Nayak (1966), Grihadha (1967), Ekhane Pinjar (1971), Bahnisikha (1976) and the Hindi movie - Amanush (1974), for which he won Filmfare nomination as well. He has also won Best Actor award both from the Prosad magazine and Sanonskritik Sanbadik Sanostha for Anand Ashram (1977).

He has worked for a few Bollywood movies of which Amanush, opposite Sharmila Tagore is named first. He has also done Dooriyan and Anand Ashram with Sharmila. Other movies are -  Chhoti Si Mulaqat and Kitab.  He died at a comparatively younger age when he has not completed his film journey yet!

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Updated: July 27, 2013