The Chief Minister of West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, honoured the late Bengali actor Uttam Kumar by unveiling his statue to commemorate the actor's death anniversary on Friday.
The ceremony was attended by actress Rituparna Ghosh, several ministers, and members of Uttam Kumar’s family. Following the unveiling, CM Adhikari visited the actor’s residence in Bhawanipur. The event also featured a musical tribute to celebrate Uttam Kumar’s contributions to Bengali cinema.
CM Suvendu Adhikari announced that the birth centenary of Uttam Kumar will be observed from September 3 to September 6 this year, with various programmes and events planned.
West Bengal Finance Minister Swapan Dasgupta remembered Uttam Kumar as an “institution” of Bengali cinema and supported the birth centenary celebrations. Speaking to the media, he said, “Uttam Kumar was not only an actor; he was an institution. His popularity is unmatched till now. So everyone who watches Bengali cinema has a special place for him in their hearts. Hence, his birth anniversary will mark 100 years this year. A special event should be organised for it.”
Actress Rituparna Ghosh called the birth centenary celebrations a “proud” moment for Bengali cinema. She stated, “I think it’s absolutely remarkable and phenomenal that our CM has taken such steps to commemorate Mahanayak Uttam Kumar. It is a matter of pride for us.”
During his visit to the Bhawanipur residence, CM Suvendu Adhikari viewed photographs and accolades of Uttam Kumar.
Uttam Kumar, known as “Mahanayak,” was a dominant figure in Bengali cinema and also acted in several Hindi films, including “Chhoti Si Mulaqat,” “Amanush,” “Anand Ashram,” “Dooriyaan,” “Bandie,” and “Kitaab.” He was renowned for films such as Nayak, Saptapadi, Anthony Firingee, Agni Pariksha, and Harano Sur.
Throughout his career, Uttam Kumar received numerous awards, including the Indian National Film Award for Best Actor. He passed away in Kolkata on July 24, 1980, at the age of 53.

