Paging the Mahanayak

🖊️Samap Chatterjee

The International Kolkata Book Fair has always been about the vast and diverse culture of Bengal, but this year’s fair has taken one step further with a special stall dedicated solely to the late Uttam Kumar, the most celebrated figure in Bengali cinema.

Located among the other booths, this stall is a revered place for people who are devoted fans of the legendary Mahanayak’s work. With an impressive collection of memorabilia relating to the best era of Bengali Cinema, this stall has on display some memorable vintage film posters such as Saptapadi, Harano Sur and Nayak, along with other memorabilia that evoke an air of nostalgia due to their fading colours over time. The exhibit also includes original photographs taken during the actual filming of these movies, original lobby cards created for advertising purposes, as well as many other personal belongings owned by the individual who represented the idealised view of romantic & heroic behaviour of a generation.

In an unusual location for this tribute, a book fair, it reflects the larger cultural impact that Uttam Kumar had during his life and career. He was much more than just a "Film Star." He became one of the many literary characters created and portrayed through his talent. Uttam Kumar's innate ways to take on the character of a literary figure were so rich, nuanced, and complex in their portrayal that no one else could match the depth and sensitivity with which he played these roles in the films. 

In addition to these activities, there are also both first edition books concerning Uttam Kumar's life, biographies written by people of his time and a book of essays on his craft available at the stall. Visitors will find magazines from the 1950s and 1960s, and copies of photographs, these are treasures for both long-time collectors and new frequenters of the stall.
This stall offers those younger generations who may only know him through their parents' nostalgia a way to connect physically with the cultural history of Bengal. Elderly patrons are drawn to the photographs and recall standing in line waiting to see his newest movie when they were younger.

In a world where everything is digitised, this physical stall that is dedicated to Uttam Kumar at the International Kolkata Book Fair indicates how much we still want to acknowledge and honour the contributions made by these stars of our past in forming a large portion of our identity today. It is not merely a stall but rather a reminder that the impact certain stars have on our lives and culture will never be diminished or fade away completely.