A Medley of Memories

Tarun Goswami

On 24 July, 1980, a funeral procession was passing under the railway bridge on S. P. Mukherjee Road near Rabindra Sarobar metro station and a Budge Budge bound local train stopped overhead. The vendors on board started throwing flower petals on the open hearse of the most popular silver screen idol, Uttam Kumar – reminisced film director Arabinda Mukherjee who had directed many of the films acted by Tollywood’s greatest matinee idol. He, an eyewitness of the scene said: “This has never happened anywhere in the world. Uttam was a real star and will remain a star for many years to come.”

Four decades after his death, Uttam Kumar has remained the icon of Bengal and his films are still popular. A week-long retrospective organised annually by Shilpi Samsad registers quite a high footfall. His pull is not limited by geographical boundaries. An exhibition of a collection of Uttam Kumar’s film-posters, lobby cards, synopsis booklets and cover of the musical records of films in which he acted, also draws the same enthusiasm everywhere, from Delhi to Detroit.  Rudrajit Mukherjee, residing at Shasthitala Road, off Narkeldanga Main Road can vouch for this since he has built up a priceless collection on Uttam Kumar over the years.

Mukherjee has collected more than 200 synopsis booklets. Earlier, when a film was released, a synopsis of the plot, detailed credits of cast and crew were distributed at the cinema halls free of cost as a part of the film’s publicity drive. He also has in his collection 60 lobby cards and 96 posters of the 203 films acted by Uttam Kumar. Film buffs, particularly those who were admirers of Uttam Kumar would be excited to see the lobby cards of rare films like Sadanander Mela or Kayahiner Kahini. Lobby cards of Suno Baranari, Chodmobeshi, Nabarag, Saptapadi, Bipasha and Khelaghar – films where he romanced with the leading ladies in his typical, heart stopping style – are all a part of Mukherjee’s collection.

“Uttam Kumar fascinated me from my childhood. My aunt and uncles knew him as they were brought up together and preserved lobby cards and other items of the films acted by him. Later on, I added some more and made efforts to build up a proper collection,” said Mukherjee. He has a Dwarkin organ in his collection belonging to his aunt. Uttam Kumar, who learnt music at the same school as his aunt, often visited their house, played the organ and sang songs. “Of course that was when people knew him as Arun Kumar Chatterjee, before he achieved success as Uttam Kumar,” Mukherjee added. Not many people know that the actor was a good singer with a great sense of music. Before joining films he earned his livelihood as a music teacher and that was how he met his future wife Gauri Devi whom he taught music. A latai (spool) with which his uncles, Uttam Kumar and his brother, Tarun Kumar flew kites with other boys at their ancestral house on Girish Mukherjee Road are also in his possession.

Mukherjee began collecting posters of Uttam Kumar’s films while looking for posters of films directed by Satyajit Ray, over a decade ago.  Some of the coloured posters of films like Agni Pariksha, Nayak, Agnishwar remind the viewers of the hit films which still touch a chord. Agni Pariksha was released in the 1950s and established Suchitra-Uttam as a popular romantic pair. The collection of record covers of music of the films, Uttam Kumar acted in is also awesome.  One travels back to the good old days of 1960s when he sees the record cover of Chhoti Si Mulaqat. The film had brought pain to Tollywood’s numero uno and he had a heart attack after the film flopped at box office. The song, Chhotisi mulaqat pyaar ban gayi, became a popular song and Uttam Kumar had learnt to dance twist for this film.

The record cover of Ogo Badhu Sundari, Uttam’s last film is also part of his collection. The actor fell ill during the shoot and died of a massive heart attack at the age of 54.  The songs sung by Kishore Kumar that include Ami ekjon shantosisto potninistho bhadrolok or Ei to jibon are still popular and often features on shows in FM channels.

Ray’s Nayak had a scene where Uttam Kumar as a budding actor, voices his aspiration and confidence and thumps the table saying: “I shall go to the top, the top, the top,” and truly even after four decades of his death he still remains the biggest crowd puller among Bengali actors.