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A hundred years of Uttam Kumar. contribution of Mahanayak Uttam Kumar to Bengali cin

শতবর্ষে'

মহানায়ক

A CENTURY OF STARDOM

A Century of Stardom

Department of Information and Cultural Affairs

The contribution of Mahanayak Uttam Kumar to Bengali cinema and the cultural
life of Bengal is immeasurable. To commemorate his birth centenary and
introduce his artistic legacy to a new generation, the Department of
Information and Cultural Affairs, Government of West Bengal, is organising
Shotoborshe Mahanayak' across Kolkata from 3 to 6 September 2026. The four-day
celebration will pay tribute to the Mahanayak's extraordinary artistic persona,
cinematic legacy and enduring influence through film screenings, discussions,
exhibitions, seminars, cultural presentations and musical

tributes.

3 September 2026-"Remembering the Mahanayak

The celebrations will commence with floral tributes at the statues of Mahanayak
Uttam Kumar at Ahiritola and Tollygunge. A 20-foot cut-out of the Mahanayak
will also be unveiled in front of Bijoli Cinema, celebrating one of the most
iconic figures in the history of Bengali cinema.

At 6:00 pm, a special tribute walk will begin from the Nandan complex and
proceed towards Ektara Mancha, passing through the Academy of Fine Arts, St.
Paul's Cathedral and Birla Planetarium. In the presence of the Hon'ble Chief
Minister, eminent personalities from Bengali cinema and television, film
critics, folk artistes and cultural patrons will participate in the procession.
The walk will take the memory of the Mahanayak beyond the confines of cinema
halls and into the heart of the city, bringing his legacy closer to the people
of Kolkata. A special commemorative exhibition will be inaugurated at
Gaganendra Shilpa Pradarshashala, showcasing both celebrated and lesser-known
facets of Uttam Kumar's life and career. Nandan IV will simultaneously host an
exhibition of publications devoted to the Mahanayak. The first day will
culminate at Ektara Mancha with the lighting of lamps, the cutting of a special
centenary cake and an address by the Hon'ble Chief Minister.

4 September 2026-"The Legacy Continues"

https://studio.youtube.com/video/OzbfiULUHF4/edit

The second day will mark one of the most significant milestones of the
centenary celebrations with the laying of the foundation stone of the Uttam
Kumar Film Centre in New Town by the Hon'ble Chief Minister. At the same time,
a special Uttam Kumar Retrospective will commence at Nandan I, Nandan II and
Radha Studio. The retrospective will open with Satyajit Ray's Nayak, a landmark
film that remains deeply associated with Uttam Kumar's artistic legacy.
Rabindra Sadan will host a special felicitation ceremony honouring veteran
artistes. The programme will also feature the release of a special
commemorative cover and postage stamp by India Post, an intimate 'Adda' of
Veteran Actors and Actresses, and a screening of the documentary 'MAHANAYAK: A
SUPERSTAR JOURNEY'.

5 September 2026-"The Actor Through Many Eyes"

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On 5 September, Sisir Mancha will host two special discussions 'Nayikader
Chokhe Uttam Kumar' and 'Abhineta Uttam Kumar'. Through the perspectives of his
contemporaries as well as artistes of the new generation, these discussions
will explore Uttam Kumar's acting, artistic journey, personality and lasting
contribution to Bengali cinema. Simultaneously, screenings of his iconic films
will continue at different auditoriums of the Nandan complex, allowing
audiences to rediscover the Mahanayak on the big screen.

6 September 2026- "A Musical Tribute"

The four-day celebration will condude at Rabindra Sadan with a gala music and
dance presentation titled 'A Musical Tribute to Uttam Kumar'. Conceived by
Debojyoti Mishra and Indradip Dasgupta and featuring distinguished artistes,
the presentation will revisit the timeless legacy of the Mahanayak through
contemporary musical expressions and the creative sensibilities of a new
generation.

"Uttam Kumar in the City"

The birth centenary celebrations are envisioned not merely as a series of
programmes within auditoriums, but as a city-wide cultural celebration.
Kolkata's wider cultural landscape is being transformed to bring the presence
and memory of Uttam Kumar into the everyday life of the city. Metro stations,
trams, hoardings, lamp-posts and bus stands across different parts of Kolkata
are being adorned with images of the Mahanayak. Extensive city-wide branding,
including LED vans and tableaux, will carry the spirit of 'Shotoborshe
Mahanayak' to different corners of the city. His birthplace, ancestral home,
places associated with his memory and film studios are also being decorated and
illuminated as part of this tribute.

A Legacy for Generations

'Shotoborshe Mahanayak' is more than a commemorative celebration.

It is a collective cultural endeavour to revisit, with reverence and affection,
one of the most illustrious chapters in the history of Bengali cinema - the
life, work and legacy of Mahanayak Uttam Kumar. Through films, music,
conversations, exhibitions and the participation of people across Kolkata, the
celebration seeks not only to remember a legend but also to introduce his
timeless artistry to future generations.

A hundred years of Uttam Kumar.

A legacy that lives on.