Ranjit Mullick
with grand-nephews, Arijit and Ritwik
Born	(1944-09-28) 28 September 1944 (age 67) Kolkata, India
Residence	Bhabanipur
Years active	1970–present
Spouse	Deepa Mullick
Children	Koyel Mullick

Ranjit Mullick (Bengali: রঞ্জিত মল্লিক b. 1944^[1]) is a prominent Bengali film actor. He has worked in movies like Interview, Shatru, Mouchak (1975)

Early Life[link]

Ranjit Mullick was born on September 28, 1944 in a Bengali family of Bhowanipore. His nickname is Ranju.^[2] He studied at the Asutosh College and later at the Shyamaprasad College of the University of Calcutta^[3].

Career[link]

He started his career with acclaimed Bengali director Mrinal Sen's film Interview (1971). He received the International Best Actor Award from Karlovy Vary for his act in his debut film.

He become a popular romantic hero in the 1970s and featured in memorbale films like Mouchak, Devi Chaudharani, Raag Anuraag, Sayang Siddha.

Satyajit Ray cast him in his film Shakha Proshakha, where he played the role of a young man who was caught between values and tradition.

Then came Shatru, the 1980 blockbuster which transformed him from a romantic hero to an angry action hero. His acting along with Bengali director Anjan Chowdhury's direction made Shatru a landmark movie in Bengali cinema.^{[citation needed]}

After the demise of Uttam Kumar, Ranjit Mullick held the Bengali film industry together till the emergence of Prosenjit. His daughter, Koyel Mullick is also a leading actress in the Bengali film industry.

Filmography[link]

• 008

• Janmadata 2008

• Premer Kahini 2008

• Shibaji 2008

• Chander Bari 2007

• Kaka No.1 2007

• Nabab Nandini 2007

• Abiswasi 2005

• Agnipath 2005

• Criminal 2005

• Dadar Adesh 2005

• Manik 2005

• Mayer Raja 2005

• Raju Uncle 2005

• Sangram 2005

• Tobu Bhalobasi 2005

• Tomake Selam 2005

• Akritagno 2004

• Dadu Number-1 2004

• Gerakal 2004

• Kuyasha 2004

• Paribar 2004

• Sindurer Bandhan 2004

• Surya 2004

• Swapne Dekha Rajkanya 2004

• Biswasghatak 2003

• Mayer Anchal 2003

• Mejdidi 2003

• Nater Guru 2003

• Rakta Bandhan 2003

• Sangee 2003

• Santrash 2003

• Sejo Bou 2003

• Sneher Protidan 2003

• Uddhar 2003

• Bangali Babu 2002

• Chandramollika 2002

• Chhelebela 2002

• Manush Amanush 2002

• Nishana 2002

• Sathi 2002

• Streer Maryada 2002

• Bidhatar Khela 2001

• Dadathakur 2001

• Pratibad 2001

• Rakhi Purnima 2001

• Sud Asal 2001

• Aamader Sansar 2000

• Mayna 2000

• Satruta 2000

• Shapath Nilam 2000

• Swashurbari Zindabad 2000

• Agnishikha 1999

• Daye Dayitya 1999

• Gunda 1999

• Jiban Niye Khela 1999

• Niyoti 1999

• Santan 1999

• Sindur Khela 1999

• Sundar Bou 1999

• Aamar Maa 1998

• Ami Sei Meye 1998

• Asal Nakal 1998

• Chowdhury Paribar 1998

• Jamai No.1 1998

• Ranakshetra 1998

• Sindurer Adhikar 1998

• Ajker Santan 1997

• Bidroho 1997

• Boro Bou 1997

• Lofar 1997

• Sriman Bhutnath 1997

• Mahan 1996

• Mukhyamantri 1996

• Naach Nagini Naach Re 1996

• Puja 1996

• Rabibar 1996

• Abirbhab 1995

• Antaratamo 1995

• Mejo Bou 1995

• Sangharsha 1995

• Sansar Sangram 1995

• Abbajan 1994

• Geet Sangeet 1994

• Tumi Je Aamar 1994

• Ghar Sansar 1993

• Iswar Parameswar 1993

• Maan Samman 1993

• Maya Mamata 1993

• Shraddhanjali 1993

• Ananya 1992

• Indrajit 1992

• Shakha Proshakha 1992

• Abhagini 1991

• Ahankar 1991

• Bidhilipi 1991

• Bidhir Bidhan 1991

• Bourani 1991

• Nabab 1991

• Najarbondi 1991

• Chakranta 1990

• Debata 1990

• Heerak Jayanti 1990

• Mahajan 1990

• Agnitrishna 1989

• Akrosh 1989

• Bondini 1989

• Judge Saheb 1989

• Mangaldeep 1989

• Shatarupa 1989

• Anjali 1988

• Chhoto Bou 1988

• Debi Baran 1988

• Kalankini Nayika 1988

• Anurodh 1987

• Bidrohi 1987

• Debika 1987

• Dolanchanpa 1987

• Gurudakshina 1987

• Mahamilan 1987

• Pratibha 1987

• Rudrabina 1987

• Sargam 1987

• Abhiman 1986

• Abhishap 1986

• Anuradha 1986

• Bouma 1986

• Mutkapran 1986

• Swargasukh 1986

• Ahuti 1985

• Sandhya Pradip 1985

• Bishabriksha 1984

• Lal Golap 1984

• Prayashchitta 1984

• Pujarini 1984

• Shatru 1984

• Pratidan 1983

• Bijoyini 1982

• Rajbadhu 1982

• Sankalpa 1982

• Shathe Shathyang 1982

• Uttar Meleni 1982

• Father 1981

• Kapalkundala 1981

• Ogo Badhu Sundari 1981

• Bhagyachakra 1980

• Dui Prithibi 1980

• Jiban Jerakam 1979

• Sreekanter Will 1979

• Lalkuthi 1978

• Moyna 1978

• Rajani 1978

• Tilottama 1978

• Ajasra Dhanyabad 1977

• Din Amader 1977

• Ei Prithibir Panthanibas 1977

• Hate Roilo Tin 1977

• Kabita 1977

• Mantramugdha 1977

• Nana Ranger Dinguli 1977

• Pratishruti 1977

• Proxy 1977

• Aparajita 1976

• Banhisikha 1976

• Dampati 1976

• Swikarakti 1976

• Mouchak 1975

• Rag Anurag 1975

• Swayamsiddha 1975

• Chhenra Tamsuk 1974

• Debi Chowdhurani 1974

• Parivartan 1973

• Calcutta 71 1972

• Picnic 1972

• Interview (1971 film) 1971

References[link]

External links[link]

Ranjit Mullick at the Internet Movie Database

Uttam Kumar (3 September 1926 – 24 July 1980) is one of the most famous names of Indian Bengali Cinema.^[1] Born Arun Kumar Chatterjee in 1926 at Ahiritola, North Calcutta he is widely known as Uttam Kumar and Mahanayak (The great hero). He remains as much of a cultural icon as he had been in his lifetime. A versatile actor, director, producer, singer and music director, his multifaceted talent earned him much acclaim and adulation.^[2]

Early life and family[link]

Uttam Kumar was born in Kolkata in the home of his maternal uncle at Ahiritola, while his ancestral house is on Girish Mukherjee Road, Bhowanipore, Kolkata. After his schooling in South Suburban School (Main), he went for higher studies in Goenka College of Commerce and Business Administration, a college affiliated to the University of Calcutta. He could not, however, complete his studies and started working at the Kolkata Port as a clerk. During this period, he acted in amateur theatre groups. His prodigious joint family had its own theatre group, the Suhrid Samaj, which staged many amateur shows.

Uttam Kumar was the eldest of three sons (Arun, Barun and Tarun) of Satkari Chatterjee and Chapala Debi. The youngest, whose screen name was Tarun Kumar, acted in several Bengali films and grew to become an actor of considerable repute, in screen and on stage. There are several films in which Uttam Kumar and Tarun Kumar starred together like Saptapadi, Sonar Harin, Maya Mriga, Sesh Anka, Deya Neya, Jeeban-Mrityu, Dhanyi Meye,"Mon Niye" Sanyasi Raja, and Agniswar. Uttam Kumar married Gauri Debi [Chatterjee]. Their only son, Gautam, a businessman, died of cancer at the age of 53. His grandson, Gaurav is a Tollywood actor. Pulak Bandyopadhyay, a famous lyricist, was his uncle.Uttam kumar is generally perceived in Bengal as "Mahanayak' means the great actor.

Career[link]

Debut and breakthrough[link]

Uttam's first release was Drishtidan (The gift of sight) directed by Nitin Bose, though he worked in an earlier unreleased film called Mayador (Embrace of affection). He came into prominence in the film Basu Paribar and his breakthrough film was Agni Pariksha that began the roaring success of the all-time romantic pair of Uttam Kumar - Suchitra Sen; though they had first starred in Sharey Chuattor (74 and a half anna). Altogether, this pair starred in about 30 films between 1954 and 1974-75.

Coming in the wake of the Indian Partition of 1947, and unprecedented mass migration from the then East Pakistan to Kolkata (then known as Calcutta), the Uttam-Suchitra pair gave expression to the yearnings of a new, transformed city. They played out on screen the new desires of a young audience trying to come to terms with industrial modernity and a new form of urban existence. The stylized, black-and-white romanticism of landmark Uttam-Suchitra films of the 1950s like "Agni Pariksha", "Shapmochan",Sagarika (1956), Shilpi (1956), or Harano Sur, Indrani, Sabar Uparey, Surjyo Toron reflected a novel, youthful urban desire to break free from the confines of the feudal joint family and set up a nucleated, private space for the couple in love. In contrast to the earlier phase of Bengali cinema mostly dominated by the dramatised style of the New Theaters' films (in the 1940s), the Uttam-Suchitra films were marked by a more naturalistic acting style, a bit dramatic-stylized, soft-focus black-and-white cinematography with chiaroscuro effects, and a more popular and modern form of music that broke away more decisively from earlier dependence on classical types . These features were put in place by a new generation of cinematographers like Dinen Gupta and Ajoy Kar, a fresh batch of directors (Kar himself,Sudhir Mukherjee, Naresh Mitra, Sushil Majumdar, the combines of Jatrik and Agradoot) and musicians like Nachiketa Ghosh, Rabin Chattopadhyay, Anupam Ghatak, Hemanta Mukherjee Anil Bagchi, Sudhin Dasgupta and Salil Chowdhury, along with lyricists like Gauriprasanna Majumdar, Pranab Roy, Pulak Bandopadhyay. A number of them hailed from the left wing Indian People's Theater Association (IPTA) movement.

Uttam Kumar was especially adored for his effortless naturalism in front of the camera and a distinctively urbane charisma that broke free from the prototypical Bengali screen hero of the past. He went on to form successful screen pairs with many leading ladies like Supriya Choudhuri, Sabitri Chatterjee, Madhabi Mukherjee, Sharmila Tagore, Anjana Bhaumick, Aparna Sen and Sumitra Mukherjee; apart from Sandhyarani in the 50s, Arundhati Debi and Mala Sinha in the 60s and Kaberi Bose and Tanuja in the 60s and 70s. Often hailed as the one-man industry, he dominated Bengali cinema for three decades until his death. This near-total reign was somewhat slightly disturbed during the politically turbulent era of the late sixties up to the emergency, when Uttam Kumar's regular, politically passive or relatively conservative romantic film persona sometimes found it difficult to fit into the narratives of unrest that came to the fore.

Never quite satisfied with his undisputed matinée idol status, Uttam Kumar started experimenting with character roles early in his career, as evidenced by films like Khokababur Pratyabartan, (1960), Mayamriga, (1960) or Thana Theke Aschi (1965) and Bicharak. In Marutirtha Hinglaj (1959), he essayed a mentally disturbed character. In Kuhak he was a murderous thief, while in Sesh Anka, he was a suave businessman who had murdered his wife and was romantically engaged to the daughter of a social elite and rich nobleman. In Aparichita (1969) he also played the role of a villain. Such departures were unusual in relation to set formats of stardom in Indian popular cinematic cultures, where deviating from established 'star images' were often considered to be risky. However, this brought Uttam Kumar early recognition as a genuine actor of substance apart from a box office superstar and stood him in good stead later, especially in his collaborations with Satyajit Ray in Nayak (1966) and Chiriyakhana. A perfectionist, Uttam Kumar performed on stage for a full year, opposite Sabitri Chatterjee in Star Theatre in the play "Shyamali" [On screen, he played opposite Kaberi Bose]to hone up his skill as an actor.

Stardom and legacy[link]

Apart from Bengali, Uttam Kumar also acted in some Hindi films such as Chhoti Si Mulaqat (along with Vyjayanthimala), Amanush,Anand Ashram, Dooriyaan (with Sharmila Tagore), and Kitaabwith Vidya Sinha. But his towering contribution was to Bengali cinema and the Bengali film industry on the whole.

Perhaps his most lauded appearances was in Satyajit Ray's Nayak (The Hero). It is now widely accepted that Ray wrote the script with Uttam in mind. Many people feel the film bears resemblance to Uttam Kumar's own life — the sense of anxiety and restlessness mirrored Uttam's insecurities about his phenomenal success and abiding fear that his superstardom might not last. Uttam made the role of Arindam (Mukherjee) his own and Ray later confessed that if Uttam had refused the film, he would have abandoned it. He worked with Ray the following year in Chiriyakhana (1967).^[3]

When the Indian government instituted the National Film Awards for National Film Award for Best Actor and National Film Award for Best Actress in 1967, Uttam Kumar was the first-ever recipient of the Best Actor Award for his performances in Anthony Firangee and Chiriyakhana in 1967.

He explored new avenues of film-making by trying his hand at production, singing, composing music, screenplay writing and directing. The success of his Bengali films as producer — Harano Sur, Saptapadi, Bhrantibilash, Jotugriha (1964), Grihadah — won great acclaim.^[4] Later, Uttam directed much-lauded films such as Sudhu Ekti Bochhor and Bon Palashir Padaboli. He composed music for the film Kaal Tumi Aleya in which Hemanta Mukherjee and Asha Bhonsle sang to his tune.

He came out with an autobiography Amaar Ami in 1979-80. He had a phenomenal fan base which continues even to this day.^[5] Reruns of his films on television decades after his death are still eagerly watched. Uttam Kumar’s time is considered by most as the golden era of Bengali cinema.

Filmography[link]

Late journalist Rintu Mukherjee, in his Khanojonma Uttam, explained the incredible bankability of this star. From 1947 to 1980, both in Bengali and Hindi, Uttam Kumar acted in 202 films. Among them 39 were blockbusters, 57 were superhits, 57 made profits above the average and the rest flopped.

Awards[link]

• B.F.J.A Best Actor Award for Hrod (1955)
• Recognition from the Government of India for Harano Sur (1957)
• B.F.J.A Best Actor award for Saptapadi (1961). Uttam Kumar received the award from the legendary film-maker Debaki Bose.
• B.F.J.A Best Actor award for Nayak (1966). Attended the Berlin Film Festival as a distinguished guest.
• The very first recipient of the National Film Awards in the Best Actor category for both Chiriyakhana and Antony Firingee (1967).
• B.F.J.A Best Actor award for Grihadha (1967).
• B.F.J.A Best Actor award for Ekhane Pinjar (1971).
• Best Actor award from 'Prosad' magazine for Stri (1973). He received the award from Kanan Devi.
• B.F.J.A Best Actor award for Amanush (1974).
• Best Actor Filmfare Award Nomination for Amanush (1975).
• He received the Best Actor award for the same film from the Government of West Bengal on January 26, 1975. The price was worth 5000 rupees.
• B.F.J.A Best Actor award for Bahnisikha (1976).
• Best Actor award both from the Prosad magazine and Sanonskritik Sanbadik Sanostha for Anand Ashram (1977).

Uttam-Suchitra[link]

The on-screen chemistry between Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen has always been much adored and admired.They looked like really beautiful couples. Some of Uttam's famous films co-starring Suchitra Sen include "Share Chuattor", "Agni Pariksha", "Shilpi", Saptapadi (Seven Steps),^[6][7] Pathe Holo Deri (Delay on the road), Harano Sur (Lost Music), Chaowa Paowa (Wish and Achievement), Bipasha, Jiban Trishna (Thirst for Life), Sagarika, Trijama, Indrani, Sabar Upare, Surjyo Toron, Rajlakshmi O Sreekanto, "Ekti Raat", "Grihadaha" [also starring Sabitri Chatterjee], Kamallata, Har Mana Har, Alo Amar Alo.^[8][9]

Uttam-Supriya[link]

Shonar Harin (1959) saw Supriya Devi (who would win great accolades for her performance in Ritwik Ghatak's Meghe Dhaka Tara the following year) play the lead opposite Uttam Kumar. As they began to act in more films together, the two got involved off-screen as well. In 1963, Uttam left his family home in Girish Park and stayed with Supriya for the next 17 years till his death. They starred together in several other films like Uttarayan, Chirodiner, Agni Sanskar", "Suno Baranari", "Kal Tumi Aleya", "Lal Pathor", "Andha Ateet", "Sudhu Ekti Bochhor", "Mon Niye", "Bilambita Loy", "Bhola Maira", "Sanyasi Raja, "Bon Palashir Padabali" etc.^[10]

Death[link]

A workaholic, he was rumored to have said that his preferred demise would be on the floor of a studio, doing what he loved best: acting. While filming Ogo Bodhu Shundori in 1980, he suffered a heart attack. Uttam Kumar was admitted to the Belleveue Clinic. The doctors did their best for 16 hours but he died that night on July 24, 1980 at the age of 53. As his hearse wound its way across Bhowanipur and finally to the Keoratala Burning Ghat, traffic in Kolkata came to a halt as thousands flocked the streets to pay their respects and have a last glimpse of the legend.^[11][12]

Quotes[link]

• "I prefer following my own ways of acting, like the ways we talk, get angry,that kind of natural spontaneous acting. More of portraying a character."
• "Sometimes I got scared. So much of accolade... Would they last for long? And that is why I was not ready to get carried away in the waves of admiration. I desire for more work."
• "I never fear work. Rather I derive pleasure out of work."
• "Films, Shilpi Sansad, then there was the world of my own, my privacy: I was confused. As if my every moment has been sold..."
• "Whenever I set to work, one after the other, death news hit me. Again I eased myself by realizing that death is the only truth."

Tributes and appreciations[link]

There is a theatre (Uttam Mancha) named after him in Kolkata. A life-size statue has been erected near Tollygunj metro station which has recently been renamed after the iconic actor by the Central Railway Ministry.^[13] Besides, Shilpi Sansad, the actor's pet project of safegurading the artistes especially the poor and the old, is active still. Celebrating the 83rd birth anniversary of Uttam Kumar, the Department of Posts in 2009, released a series of new postal stamps featuring the actor on them.The Department of Posts also released a brochure on the Uttam Kumar Stamp release with a note that says 'Uttam Kumar – The Legend of Indian Cinema'.^[14]

Distinguished names paying homage to Uttam[link]

• Satyajit Ray

"It is the demise of a leading light of the Bengali film industry...There isn't - there won't be another hero like him."

• Tapan Sinha

"I personally felt that the acting of Uttam Kumar could be compared to the best actor of any country. His great attribute is his diligence...Many are born with talent, but the talent gets eclipsed due to the lack of diligence. Uttam Kumar has both of them. Perhaps, that is the reason why he still sparkles."

• Suchitra Sen

"Uttam is my friend. In a word, he is a great,great artist. But still sometimes i feel as if he is not properly exploited."

• Vyjayanthimala

"Uttam Kumar was the most gifted actor I ever worked with. His first Hindi film, Chhoti Si Mulaqat, was opposite me in 1967...Uttam Kumar was thoroughly professional, cooperative and lip-synced perfectly, especially on "Aye Chand" and "Tujhe Dekha". He lip-synched songs rendered by Hemant Kumar, Manna Dey and Mohammed Rafi as if he was singing them. I was criticised for Chhoti Si Mulaqat but Uttam Kumar never criticised me"^[15]

• Shakti Samanta

"Uttam was a great human being...it can easily be underscored -- actor of his class is a rare kind"

• Madhabi Mukherjee

"...slowly Uttam Kumar got popular. And a fairy tale was born. I was never bothered to know the individual self of the romantic hero of this fairy tale. I would never want to. What if the dream gets shattered! Let the beautiful spell be alive! Long live Uttam Kumar -- The evergreen romantic hero."

• Kanan Devi

"It feels good to see all praising one. Uttam is one such person...He never had any pose or pretension...God gave him everything but a friend."

• Samaresh Basu

"Uttam Kumar, the numero uno hero of Bengal, the most loving."

• Bimal Mitra

"Sri Uttam Kumar is not merely the actor, I regard him as the creator of character. May be as the creator of character, he has achieved such stupendous popularity."

• Ashutosh Mukhopadhyay

"He is the hero and life of many of my fictions."

• Ashapoorna Devi

"Uttam! An extraordinary artist! The artistic self of Uttam Kumar never dies down! Oh God give him Uttam health, Uttam strength, Uttam longevity" (in Sanskrit and in Bengali, 'Uttam' means 'Good')

• Mithun Chakraborty

"Uttam Kumar is my guru. From my childhood, I am a diehard Uttam fan"

• Soumitra Chatterjee

"Many think that I have always been a sharp critic of Uttam Kumar's acting. This is not true. I have rarely seen actor of his stature. I have been fan of his acting, his admirer."

• Rajesh Khanna

"I have seen so many dhuti, kurta-clad Bengalis both on screen and in reality. But Uttam Kumar as the Bengali babu is unique. What I believe is that there is no one who can ever represent the Bengali community like Uttamda did."

• Shatrughan Sinha

"Usually, what we find is that the good-looking guys lack substance, or the reverse. But Uttam Kumar had the both...I have always respected that man...when I was at Pune Film Institute, we used to argue on Dilip Kumar-Uttam Kumar-Raj Kapoor."

• Shashi Kapoor

"My first real meet with Uttam Kumar was in Calcutta and the occasion was the release of Jis Desh Men Ganga Behti Hai. Hemen Ganguly happened to be the distributor of that film. He used to be the 'common friend' of elder brother (Raj Kapoor) and Uttam Kumar. It was my pleasure to see the two greats together. I was awestruck by the royal gaits of the both...I like Uttam Kumar like any common Bengali."

• Hindustan Standard (on Uttam Kumar's directorial debut)

"In Uttam Kumar, we have found a director who shows his brilliance on diverse levels."

Respects[link]

The Tollygunge metro station of Kolkata Metro was renamed as "Mahanayak Uttam Kumar" and decorated the station by movie pictures of Uttam Kumar by Indian Railways.

Kolkata Film Festival 2011 has a special screening of the Mahanayak's "Nayak" and a documentary on him.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Uttam Kumar at the Internet Movie Database
• Biography, filmography at Calcuttaweb