Uttam Kumar at 100: Rare photos, magazines and memorabilia showcased in Kolkata
Kolkata/IBNS: A rare archive of memorabilia documenting the life and career of legendary Bengali actor Uttam Kumar opened at Nandan in Kolkata on Thursday as part of the West Bengal government's ‘Shatabarsha Mahanayak’ celebrations marking his birth centenary.
Titled “A Tribute – Uttam Kumar Birth Centenary”, the exhibition has been curated by Hyderabad-based collector and Uttam Kumar admirer Indranil Chowdhuri. It brings together 215 Uttam Kumar booklets, more than 75 magazine covers featuring the actor, CDs and DVDs, original photographs and books published on his life and work.
The collection, being displayed in Kolkata for the first time, offers a glimpse into Uttam Kumar's career and the scale of his popularity. It had previously been exhibited only once, in Hyderabad, ahead of the actor's centenary year.
Uttam Kumar, who was born on September 3, 1926, acted in more than 200 films and remains one of the most influential figures in Bengali cinema. His celebrated pairing with Suchitra Sen produced several enduring films, while his performances across romance, drama, tragedy and socially rooted narratives established a lasting cultural legacy.
Photo: PR Team
Chowdhuri said the collection began with his childhood admiration for Uttam Kumar and gradually developed into a serious collecting pursuit.
“Uttam Kumar has been a part of my memories since childhood, and collecting these pieces has been my way of holding on to that connection,” he said.
The exhibition is part of the state government's ‘Shatabarsha Mahanayak’ celebrations and seeks to present Uttam Kumar's cinematic journey through photographs, publications and memorabilia, allowing audiences to revisit the actor's legacy through a privately assembled archive.
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