West Bengal Government Commemorates Uttam Kumar's Centenary with Year-Long Celebrations

The West Bengal government has initiated a year-long celebration to honor the legendary actor Uttam Kumar on his birth centenary. A high-level advisory committee has been formed, led by Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari, with notable figures from the film industry included. The celebrations will feature a variety of events such as film festivals, special screenings, and cultural exhibitions, all aimed at commemorating Kumar's significant contributions to Bengali cinema. This initiative reflects the state's commitment to preserving and celebrating its rich cultural heritage.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 7, 2026, 22:59 IST

Formation of Advisory Committee for Celebrations

On August 7, Kolkata - The West Bengal government has established a high-level advisory committee to oversee year-long celebrations marking the centenary of legendary Bengali actor Uttam Kumar. Chief Minister Shubhendu Adhikari will serve as the chief patron of this committee, as stated in an official notification.

Key Appointments in the Committee

The committee will be co-chaired by renowned actor Mithun Chakraborty and the state's Minister of Information and Cultural Affairs, Purnima Chakraborty. Notably, filmmaker Sandip Ray has been appointed as the chairperson, while actor Prosenjit Chatterjee will take on the role of executive chairperson. A senior state official mentioned that Soumitra Mohan, the secretary of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department, will act as the member-secretary, coordinating the planning and execution of the year-long events.

Celebrating Uttam Kumar's Legacy

The committee will also include prominent figures from the Bengali film industry, such as actors Jeet, Dev, Abir Chatterjee, Jishu Sengupta, Rituparna Sengupta, Rudranil Ghosh, Rupa Ganguly, and Gaurav Chatterjee, along with notable filmmakers Srijit Mukherji and Kaushik Ganguly.

The state government plans to organize various events over the next year to honor Uttam Kumar's life and contributions. These will include film festivals, special screenings of his movies, seminars, exhibitions, the publication of memorial texts, and other cultural activities.