Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Bengal to celebrate Uttam Kumar birth centenary with year-long celebrations
Long ago, a very famous actor named Uttam Kumar made many movies in Bengal that people still love.
This year is his hundredth birthday, so the West Bengal government wants to celebrate him all year long.
They will have special walks in Kolkata places connected to him.
There will be a cake-cutting at midnight on his birthday.
Some of his best movies will be shown outside in open air for everyone.
There will also be an exhibition about his life and his movie career.
Movie actors and directors like Mithun Chakraborty and Prosenjit Chatterjee came to a meeting to help plan everything.
They also decided when the big film festival in Kolkata will happen.
All these events will help new generations learn about Uttam Kumar and enjoy his movies too.
The West Bengal government announced year-long celebrations for legendary actor Uttam Kumar's birth centenary.
The main centenary programme will be held from September 3 to 6.
A 20-member advisory board was formed with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari as its chief patron.
Planned events include heritage walks, a midnight cake-cutting ceremony, open-air film tributes, and an exhibition on his life.
The Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) will run from December 16 to 23, aligned with the national calendar.
- Who
- West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, along with Bengali film industry figures including Mithun Chakraborty, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Srijit Mukherji and others.
- What
- Year-long celebrations of legendary Bengali actor Uttam Kumar's birth centenary, plus the announcement of Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) dates.
- When
- Throughout the year, with the main programme held from September 3 to 6; KIFF will run from December 16 to 23.
- Where
- West Bengal, with events including heritage walks across Kolkata and a meeting at Nandan.
- Why
- To commemorate Uttam Kumar's contribution to Bengali cinema and take his legacy to a new generation.
- Event
- Uttam Kumar birth centenary celebrations
- Main programme dates
- September 3-6
- Location
- West Bengal, primarily Kolkata
- Advisory board
- 20-member board with Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari as chief patron
- KIFF dates
- December 16-23
- Planned activities
- Heritage walks, midnight cake-cutting, open-air film tributes, exhibition, symposiums and seminars
- Venue plans
- Modernisation of Uttam Mancha; proposal sent to HIDCO for an Uttam Kumar Film Centre