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Uttam Kumar’s 100th birth anniversary was celebrated across Kolkata with grand tributes to the legendary Bengali actor. From giant cut-outs and exhibitions to tributes by film personalities and PM Narendra Modi, the city honoured the Mahanayak’s enduring legacy. Kumar, who starred in 211 films, remains an icon whose performances continue to connect with generations.

On his 100th birth anniversary, Kolkata gave Uttam Kumar a celebration worth his legendary stature. Called Mahanayak (The Great Hero), Kumar was the leading light of Bengali cinema from the 1950s to the 1970s, in a career that spanned over five decades. Born on September 3, 1926, Uttam Kumar, whose original name was Arun Kumar Chattopadhyay, died on July 24, 1980.

On the actor’s birth centenary, his face was seen across several prominent landmarks across Kolkata, in the form of gigantic cut-outs and posters. West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari paid tribute to Kumar in Tollygunge and announced that the state would mark his birth centenary with a year-long calendar of events. Several film personalities visited the actor’s Bhowanipore residence, with actress Rituparna Sengupta wearing a specially designed saree featuring iconic scenes from Kumar’s hit films.

Prosenjit Chatterjee, who had portrayed Kumar in a 2016 TV series called Mahanayak, based on the life of the actor, was also present, while Raima Sen shared a tribute to him on her Instagram, a photo of Kumar with her grandmother Suchitra Sen from a movie. At Nandan, the film and cultural center located in the heart of Kolkata, an exhibition of film booklets, original behind-the-scenes stills, advertisements, magazines, and DVDs related to the iconic actor is on display.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi too paid a rich tribute to Kumar, saying his timeless performances connect with people across generations. “Mahanayak Uttam Kumar… A legend whose timeless performances connect with people across generations. Tributes on his birth centenary,” Modi said in a post on X. The PM had also shared part of his August 30 radio address ‘Mann Ki Baat’ where he described Kumar as a versatile actor who became deeply embedded in people’s hearts through his performances.