Bangla Hunt,Pallab Ghosh
July 24th holds very special mention for all the Uttam Kumar fans. A solemn day, on this day in 1980, Mahanayak Uttam Kumar left this world. 39-years have passed but still today, the present generation which on an average show their reluctance to recall the contributions of yesteryear actors not only remember Moha Guru (as he is fondly called) but even at various place organize special programmes in his honour. FM channels, TV channels would air special progrmmes to observe his death anniversary. Many events (government and private ) are held across Kolkata in memory of Mahanayak Uttam Kumar. Uttam Kumar, a name, an enigma is much more than an actor for average Bengali cine lover who simply loves to watch the old movies of Mahanayak still today. The charisma of Uttam Kumar is such that people still today would sit in front of their TV sets to watch the old classics.
Great Master Satyajit Ray who had made two films with the actor ‘Nayak’ and ‘Chidiyakhana’. Satyajit Ray had scripted Nayak exclusively for Uttam babu. Ray had himself said this during the Uttam Shorone on All India Radio (AIR) while remembering Uttam babu after his death in 1980. It was during this programme, Satyajit Ray had said that the romantic pair of Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen which reached the peak of popularity was unthinkable and rare. He said not just in Mumbai film world but even very few in Hollywood shared such an enigma. Satyajit Ray also said that while working with Uttam babu, he has noticed him doing so many ‘details’ which were not in the script but at the same time would enhance the character.
The man Uttam Kumar was very lonely and loved to keep his personal matters confined to his heart. Perhaps this is the reason when he lost a huge sum of money after ‘Choti Si Mulakat’ flopped and he did not receive any cooperation from his wife Gouri Debi, Uttam babu did not discuss the details but came close to Supriya Debi who helped him with both financially and emotionally. Many often mistake his relationship with Suchitra as his love. They may have loved each other but it was nothing more than a platonic relationship. He would call Suchitra Rama and Suchitra would call Uttam but both maintained the dignity of relationship. When Uttam babu died Suchitra had gone to his residence to pay her respects with a rose in her hand which explains the depth of their relationship.
Uttam Kumar ios know to be someone who would have gone out of his way to help the needy and if someone would knock his door to seek help then hardly he would return them without extending a helping hand. I came across an old person at the Technical Studios in Tollygunge in Kolkata a few years back.
It so happened that I stopped for tea at one of the tea stall situated near the studio where I met this gentleman (deliberately not naming him). During a casual conversation, he said that he had seen Uttam babu and I could not resist but decided to squeeze him to know more about Uttam babu. The gentleman was a technician when Uttam babu was at his peak in the film industry. He said Uttam babu would always maintain a distance as he believed that fans should not get to see their screen idols whom they consider as demi-Gods. I asked him to share something that would explain the person Uttam babu. He shares an instance, the touching story that brought tears to his eyes. It was during his daughter’s marriage and he had gathered the courage to ask for some help from ‘dada’ (Uttam babu was fondly called). Uttam babu gave him the money. Months later when the gentleman had managed to gather the amount and went to return to him, he said “onek boro hoye gechish na, ota raakh” (you have become very big man, keep it with you) and this man began crying, tears rolled from his eyes. He told me “dada r baan haat jantona daan haat taka diyechey, eram uni oneke diyechen, uni shotti kar r Mohanayak chilen” (dada’s left hand would not know his right hand gave money, he was like this, not just me but he helped so many people. Dada was a true Mahanayak).
Uttam Kumar will always be alive in the hearts of millions who simply love and adore Mahanayak. Even after 39-years of his demise, people would love to identify their favourite Mahanayak with their personal lives – Some identify him as a brother, son, lover even son-in-law for some, such is his charisma, an enigma that still continues.
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