Kolkata’s streets pulsed with nostalgia Thursday as West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stood before a towering statue of screen legend Uttam Kumar, making a promise that echoed through Tollygunge’s film community: no more politics in Tollywood.

Key facts

  • Uttam Kumar was born September 3, 1926, died July 24, 1980
  • Four-day celebration includes film festival, center foundation
  • Prime Minister Modi paid tribute via social media and radio

A Pledge for Transparency

Addressing one of the largest gatherings ever assembled to honor the actor known as 'Mahanayak,' Adhikari struck a conciliatory tone. "I assure you that the State government will not interfere in anything," he declared, his words met with applause. "There will be no politics. I want everything to be transparent."

The statement carried weight. During the previous Trinamool Congress government, numerous artists and the party itself faced accusations of politicizing Bengal's cinematic heartland.

A City in Celebration

Kolkata had transformed into an open-air gallery honoring its beloved star. Roads from Kumar's childhood home in north Kolkata to Tollygunge shimmered with murals, cut-outs, and cultural performances. Single-screen cinema halls, those temples of a bygone era, received special decorations. Even the walls outside Tollygunge metro station—officially renamed Mahanayak Uttam Kumar Station—bloomed with graffiti showcasing his famous films and dialogues.

"I assure you that the State government will not interfere in anything. There will be no politics. I want everything to be transparent. There is talent and I want that talent to receive proper nourishment."

Centenary Events and National Recognition

The celebration extends beyond symbolism. Adhikari will lay the foundation stone Friday for the Uttam Kumar Film Centre in New Town. India Post launches a special commemorative stamp, while the Uttam Kumar Film Festival kicks off at Nandan with Satyajit Ray's 1966 classic "Nayak," starring Kumar himself.

Renovations are planned for institutions bearing the actor's name, part of an effort to recapture what Adhikari called the industry's heyday as "one of the best in the country."

The tribute resonated beyond Bengal. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had spoken about Kumar in his August 30 'Mann Ki Baat' radio address, posted on social media: "Mahanayak Uttam Kumar... a legend whose timeless performances connect with people across generations. Tributes on his birth centenary."

Among those watching Adhikari's pledge were actor-turned-Trinamool Congress MP Dev (Deepak Adhikari), actors Prosenjit Chatterjee, Rituparna Sengupta, Jeet, and director Haranath Chakraborty—all hoping the promise marks a new chapter for Bengali cinema.