Uttam Kumar - Thinking beyond Mahanayak part 1

I was thinking about bengali films today. I was trying to watch “DANOB” a movie by Victor Banerjee, Tapas Pal, Rituparna and etc! I could not watch it more than 15 mins. Then tried to first forward it. Finally decided to quit!
Here comes the same thought to my mind that come to every single bengali mind! “There has not been any actor like Uttam Kumar in Bengali Cinema and there won’t be any in future.”
So, I decided to write something about the present known actors of Bengali Movies. I started thinking the same way you will do! I thought about Prosenjeet , Tapas Pal and Finally thought I might write few words about Jeet too! Then I thoght lets see why we can not think beyond Uttam Kumar when it comes to bengali movies? I started thinking about other actors who played as “hero” in multiple films during Uttam Kumar’s career. Here is some that I came up with. I am sure the list should be longer and you are encouraged to add names to the list!

Names of some other Heros in Uttam Kumar’s time! (Thinking beyond Uttam Kumar?)

• Soumitra Chatterjee
• Biswajeet Chaterjee
• Shubhendu Chatterjee
• Asit Boron
• Bikash Roy (He played as NAYAK in multiple movies)
• Bosonto Chowdhury
• Anil Chatterjee
• Dilip Mukherjee
• Dipankar
• Ranjeet Mallik
• YOU ADD MORE HERE!!

So, now think one more time before you lament about scarce “HEROS” in bengali movie! You may not know all of them, but you certainly won’t disapprove Soumitra to be another actor of similar talents to Uttam Kumar. More I am thinking, I am feeling like doing more research on Bengali films. I accept that present day main stream bengali films are trash (truely). No single city people goes to the theater to watch a romance movie by Prasenjeet (tell me if I am wrong!). We can tell why! Don’t we?

Difference between Old and New Bengali Movies:

Okie, Lets get back our attention to Uttam Kumar again! Check out the list of movies (probably still incomplete as he has reportedly worked on more than 250 films). Tell us how many have you seen. How many did you like. Also, tell us if there is any single Uttam movie that you did not like!

I will continue this article whenever I get time. You can COMMENT and help me give some direction!!

List of movies by Uttam Kumar

1. Mera Karam Mera Dharam (1987)
2. Desh Premee (1982) (as Late Uttam Kumar)
3. Kalankini Kankabati (1981)
4. Ogu Bodhu Sundari (1981)
5. Surya Sakhi (1981)
6. Debdas (1979)
7. Dooriyaan (1979)
8. Sreekanter Will (1979)
9. Dui Purush (1978)
10. Kitaab (1977)
11. Anand Ashram (1977/I)
12. Seyi Chokh (1976)
13. Amanush (1975/I)
14. Amanush (1975/II)
15. Sanyasi Raja (1975)
16. Jadi Jantem (1974)
17. Jadu Bansha (1974)
18. Bon Palashir Padabali (1973)
19. Kaya Hiner Kahini (1973)
20. Sonar Khancha (1973)
21. Har Mana Har (1972)
22. Stree (1972)
23. Alo Amar Alo (1971)
24. Chhadmabeshi (1971)
25. Dhanyee Meye (1971)
26. Nishipadma (1970)
27. Kalankita Nayak (1970)
28. Manjari Opera (1970)
29. Kamallata (1969)
30. Aparachita (1969)
31. Chiradiner (1969)
32. Chowringhee (1968)
33. Kokhono Megh (1968)
34. Teen Adhaya (1968)
35. Grihadaha (1967)
36. Antony Firingee (1967)
37. Chhotisi Mulaqat (1967)
38. Chiriyakhana (1967)
39. Nayika Sangbad (1967)
40. Kal Tumi Aleya (1966)
41. Nayak (1966)
42. Shudhu Ekti Bachhar (1966)
43. Rajdrohi (1966)
44. Surya Tapa (1965)
45. Jotugriha (1964)
46. Lal Patthar (1964)
47. Momer Alo (1964)
48. Shesh Anka (1963)
49. Surya Sikha (1963)
50. Uttarayan (1963)
51. Kanna (1962)
52. Dui Bhai (1961)
53. Saptapadi (1961)
54. Sathi Hara (1961)
55. Haat Baraley Bandhu (1960)
56. Kuhak (1960)
57. Maya Mriga (1960)
58. Raja-Saja (1960)
59. Suno Baranari (1960)
60. Gali Theke Rajpath (1959)
61. Khelaghar (1959)
62. Marutirtha Hinglaj (1959)
63. Joutuk (1958)
64. Rajlakshmi O Srikanta (1958)
65. Daktar Babu (1958)
66. Indrani (1958)
67. Manmoyee Girls’ School (1958)
68. Surya Toran (1958)
69. Bardidi (1957)
70. Chandranath (1957)
71. Harano Sur (1957)
72. Pathey Holo Deri (1957)
73. Prithibi Amare Chaay (1957)
74. Punar Milan (1957)
75. Surer Parashey (1957)
76. Raat Bhore (1956)
77. Chirakumar Sabha (1956)
78. Ekti Raat (1956)
79. Laksha-Hira (1956)
80. Nabajanma (1956)
81. Putrabadhu (1956)
82. Sagarika (1956)
83. Saheb Bibi Golam (1956)
84. Shankar Narayan Bank (1956)
85. Shilpi (1956)
86. Shyamali (1956)
87. Trijama (1956)
88. Debatra (1955)
89. Raikamal (1955)
90. Kankabatir Ghat (1955)
91. Sabar Uparey (1955)
92. Shap Mochan (1955)
93. Upahar (1955)
94. Agni Pariksha (1954)
95. Annapurnar Mandir (1954)
96. Anupama (1954)
97. Bidhilipi (1954)
98. Bokul (1954)
99. Bratacharini (1954)
100. Champadangar Bou (1954)
101. Grihapravesh (1954)
102. Kalyani (1954)
103. Mantra Shakti (1954)
104. Maraner Pare (1954)
105. Moner Mayur (1954)
106. Ora Thakey Odharey (1954)
107. Sadanander Mela (1954)
108. Bou Thakuranir Hath (1953)
109. Lakh Taka (1953)
110. Nabin Yatra (1953)
111. Sharey Chuattar (1953)
112. Kar Papey (1952)
113. Basu Paribar (1952)
114. Sanjibani (1952)
115. Nastaneer (1951)
116. Ore Jatri (1951)
117. Sahajatri (1951)
118. Maryada (1950)
119. Kamana (1949)
120. Drishtidan (1948)