Prime Minister Narendra Modi and CM Suvendu Adhikari (file picture)
CM Adhikari said, “It was deeply heartening and a matter of immense pride for all of West Bengal to hear our Prime Minister pay a glowing tribute to the Mahanayak of Indian and Bengali cinema, the legendary Uttam Kumar, on the landmark occasion of his 100th birth centenary which will be celebrated on Sept 3.
Kolkata/New Delhi: After Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to Bengal icon Uttam Kumar ahead of the actor’s 100th birth anniversary celebrations on his Sunday ‘ Mann Ki Baat ’ radio programme, CM Suvendu Adhikari expressed his gratitude to the PM calling Modi’s tribute “a matter of immense pride” for all of Bengal. In Mann Ki Baat, Modi said Uttam Kumar had become “deeply embedded in people’s hearts” through his acting. Recalling that film lovers believe Satyajit Ray wrote the entire script of Nayak with the ‘Mahanayak’ in mind, Modi cited Ray’s assessment that the actor combined “remarkable emotional depth” with dignity. He said Uttam Kumar was known for his “natural ease” and philanthropy and “worked very hard” to bring his characters alive. “Mahanayak Uttam Kumar cheerodin maanusher hridaye raj korben (will forever reign in people’s hearts),” he said in Bengali. “PM Modi ji beautifully highlighted the unmatched cinematic genius, charisma and indelible artistic legacy of Uttam Kumar, whose timeless performances continue to define the cultural soul of Bengali cinema and inspire generations of storytellers and film lovers across the world,” Adhikari said. “On behalf of the people of West Bengal, I express our sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji for celebrating the immortal legacy of our beloved Mahanayak on this national platform,” he added.
Modi recalled passing Uttam Kumar’s house during a Kolkata roadshow, when someone gifted him the star’s photograph.