Prosenjit Chatterjee on Uttam Kumar’s Centenary: ‘He Was the First Matinee Idol’

For Prosenjit Chatterjee, Uttam Kumar is more than a cinematic icon — he is the “God of acting.” As the Bengali superstar’s centenary celebrations take place across West Bengal, Chatterjee reflects on the legacy of the man he considers Indian cinema’s first true matinee idol, his groundbreaking approach to acting and the influence he continues to have on generations of performers.

Uttam Kumar was not just a superstar, he was also a remarkably accomplished actor. How do you view his legacy?

I feel that at that point, when he was emerging as a star-actor, there was Satyajit Ray’s “Pather Panchali.” It was when the language of cinema was changing. He is one of those actors who started changing the acting style. His acting pattern was very much like that o Hollywood actors. He introduced acting at a very different level, like that of Balraj Sahni. I believe his acting style remains remarkably contemporary even today. With every film, he wanted to evolve and grow as an actor. What often happens with superstars is that they become focused primarily on protecting their stardom. Of course, within the romantic-hero space, Uttam Kumar was unparalleled. But I’m talking about those rare actors who are willing to take risks and constantly challenge themselves, and Uttam Babu was certainly one of them.
If you look at a film like “Bicharak,” where he played a judge, and the audience eventually discovers that he has killed his wife, or “Jadu Bangsha,” where he delivered a fabulous performance, you can see the range he was capable of. And, of course, there is Satyajit Ray’s “Nayak,” which, for me, remains one of his finest films. It is difficult to pick just a few because films like “Agnishwar” also showcased his willingness to experiment and take on unconventional roles. Unfortunately, he left us very early, he was only 53. But the body of work he had gifted to Indian cinema is a masterclass.

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Prosenjit Chatterjee on Uttam Kumar’s Centenary: ‘He Was the First Matinee Idol’

You had the opportunity to play Uttam Kumar on screen.

Yes, I had an opportunity to play Uttam Babu in “Dui Prithibi,” where I played the younger version of his character. For me and for all the Bengalis all over the world, he’s the first matinee idol. He is the ultimate, the God of acting.

You are preparing your own tribute to Uttam Kumar. What can the audiences expect from it?

We are making a documentary focused entirely on his acting method. We want to take it to a national audience, bringing together experts, actors, journalists and technicians to discuss and analyze his craft. The idea is for students of cinema to watch and study the documentary and understand how Uttam Kumar continually evolved as an actor, changed his approach to performance, and remained ahead of his time. He experimented with a style of acting that people had not seen before. We often speak about his stardom, but he was far more than just a star.

Would it be right to say Uttam Kumar influenced your acting style?

I am hugely influenced by Mahanayak Uttam Kumar. This is his centenary year, and we are celebrating it throughout the year. It is wonderful to see everyone coming together on one platform to celebrate Mahanayak Uttam Kumar. While he belonged to Bengal, he was also recognized and respected nationally in a very significant way.