West Bengal CM pledges non-interference in Bengali film industry affairs

Government pledges non-interference as Tollywood marks icon's centenary

The West Bengal government will not interfere in the affairs of the Bengali film industry, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari assured on Thursday while launching birth centenary celebrations for late actor Uttam Kumar. "There will be no politics. I want everything to be transparent. There is talent and I want that talent to receive proper nourishment," he told one of the largest gatherings to mark the event at Tollygunge.

Promise follows years of criticism

The assurance comes against a backdrop of accusations during the previous Trinamool Congress government's tenure of "politicising" the Bengali film industry. Adhikari's remarks at the event, held beside one of the tallest statues of Uttam Kumar in the city, sought to draw a line between state support and political meddling.

The Chief Minister said the Bengali film industry in its heyday was among the country's best and announced that institutions named after the actor would be renovated as part of the centenary programme.

Four-day tribute across Kolkata

The government is holding a four-day celebration for the actor popularly known as the 'Mahanayak' of Bengali cinema. Uttam Kumar was born on September 3, 1926 in north Kolkata and died aged 53 on July 24, 1980.

Roads from the actor's home to Tollygunge were filled with murals, cut-outs and cultural events honouring his contributions. Old single-screen cinema halls were also decorated, and walls outside the Tollygunge metro station, also known as the Mahanayak Uttam Kumar station, were painted with graffiti highlighting his famous films and dialogues.

Top artistes including actor-turned-Trinamool Congress MP Dev (Deepak Adhikari), actors Prosenjit Chatterjee, Rituparna Sengupta and Jeet, and director Haranath Chakraborty attended the launch.

Film centre, stamp and festival

Adhikari will lay the foundation stone for the Uttam Kumar Film Centre in New Town on Friday, and India Post will launch a special postage stamp commemorating the actor. The Uttam Kumar Film Festival will kick off at Nandan with Nayak, Satyajit Ray's celebrated 1966 movie starring Uttam Kumar.

The Chief Minister also noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid tribute to the actor in a social media post, writing: "Mahanayak Uttam Kumar... a legend whose timeless performances connect with people across generations. Tributes on his birth centenary". Modi had spoken about the late actor in his 'Mann Ki Baat' radio programme on August 30.

Source: The Hindu