Uttam Kumar

Arun Kumar Chattopadhyay (3 September 1926 – 24 July 1980), known professionally as Uttam Kumar (), was an Indian actor, director, producer, screenwriter, composer and playback singer who predominantly worked in Bengali cinema. Widely regarded as one of the greatest and most successful actors in the history of Indian cinema, Kumar dominated Bengali cinema from the 1950s throughout the 1970s, being referred to as "Mahanayak" (Bengali for "The Great Hero"). His accolades include five National Awards and four Filmfare Awards.

In a career spanning over five decades, Kumar worked in 211 films, till his death in 1980. After a few years of acting in plays, he made his film debut in the 1948 film ''Drishtidan'' in a supporting role, produced by M. P. Productions. By the early 1950s, he had graduated to lead roles and had his first box office hit with ''Basu Paribar'' (1952), following a series of unsuccessful ventures. He first gained popularity with ''Sharey Chuattor'' (1953), where he starred opposite his frequent co-star Suchitra Sen. He consistently starred in top-grossing films from the mid-1950s to the 1960s, such as ''Champadangar Bou'', ''Agni Pariksha'', ''Shap Mochan'', ''Sabar Uparey'', ''Sagarika'', ''Ekti Raat'', ''Harano Sur'', ''Pathey Holo Deri'', ''Indrani'', ''Maya Mriga'', ''Saptapadi'', ''Bipasha'', ''Bhranti Bilash'', ''Deya Neya'', ''Kokhono Megh'', as well as some of his most acclaimed performances include ''Upahar'', ''Raat Bhore'', ''Saheb Bibi Golam'', ''Shyamali'', ''Marutirtha Hinglaj'', ''Bicharak'', ''Abak Prithibi'', ''Kuhak'', ''Khokababur Pratyabartan'', ''Jhinder Bondi'', ''Sesh Anka'', ''Uttarayan'', ''Jatugriha'', ''Nayak'', ''Chowringhee'', ''Chiriyakhana'' and ''Antony Firingee''. He achieved further superstardom and appreciation in the 1970s, for starring in several successful ventures with different genres, including ''Nishi Padma'', ''Rajkumari'', ''Bilambita Loy'', ''Dhanyee Meye'', ''Chhadmabeshi'', ''Stree'', ''Mem Saheb'', ''Andha Atit'', ''Bon Palashir Padabali'', ''Amanush'', ''Sanyasi Raja'', ''Agnishwar'', ''Mouchak'', ''Bagh Bondi Khela'', ''Sabyasachi'', ''Ananda Ashram'', ''Bandie'', ''Nishan'', ''Dhanraj Tamang'', ''Brojobuli'', ''Pankhiraj'', ''Dui Prithibi'', ''Ogo Bodhu Shundori'' and ''Kalankini Kankabati''. Apart from acting, Kumar showed his versatility in another fields, including as a director and screenwriter of films such as ''Sudhu Ekti Bachhar'', ''Bon Palashir Padabali'' and ''Kalankini Kankabati'', as a composer in ''Kal Tumi Aleya'' and ''Sabyasachi'', and as a singer in ''Nabajanma''.

Kumar was the first recipient of the National Award in the Best Actor category for his work in ''Antony Firingee'' and ''Chiriyakhana''. He is the namesake of Mahanayak Uttam Kumar metro station in Tollygunge and the Mahanayak Samman Award given by the Government of West Bengal. Provided by Wikipedia