Barun Kumar Das, The Bengal News, Kolkata : A remarkable journey through the life, legacy and cinematic history of Bengal’s evergreen Mahanayak, Uttam Kumar, has come alive at the special exhibition “Uttam – The Mahanayak”, being held at the Jamini Roy Gallery of ICCR, Kolkata, from August 20 to 24, 2026.
Organised on the occasion of the birth centenary of Uttam Kumar, the exhibition brings together an extraordinary collection of film posters, advertisements, records, magazines, booklets, film stills, lobby cards, song books and several other rare memorabilia associated with the legendary actor.
The exhibition is being presented by Shyam Sundar Co Jewellers, in association with Khukumoni and Deb Chakraborty, and organised by Theism Events. The exhibition remains open from 3 pm to 8 pm, except on the opening day.
Uttam Kumar is not merely a name in Bengali cinema. He is a brand, an emotion and an inseparable part of Bengal’s cultural consciousness. Even a century after his birth, his popularity remains undiminished. For generations of Bengalis and cinema lovers, Uttam Kumar continues to be their own person – an icon, a Mahanayak and, for many, a guru.
The opening ceremony witnessed the presence of several prominent personalities, including Rupak Saha, Managing Director of Shyam Sundar Co Jewellers; Partha Saha, founder of Thizom Events; Mahua Chatterjee, daughter-in-law of Uttam Kumar; noted actress Debashree Roy; singers Antara Chowdhury and Saikat Mitra; music director Debojyoti Mishra; and Kaushik Chakraborty of the Bengali band Prithibi, among others. A treasure trove of Uttam Kumar memorabilia under one roof, the exhibition presents an impressive archive of Uttam Kumar’s promotional and cinematic memorabilia, painstakingly collected over two decades by noted film poster collector Mr. Sudipta Chanda. The collection includes more than a hundred rare film posters, nearly a hundred booklets, records, song books, film stills, lobby cards, advertisements published in newspapers and magazines, rare photographs and several other pieces of memorabilia that offer a fascinating glimpse into the era of Uttam Kumar.
Among the highlights are two different sizes and designs of posters of “Chhoti Si Mulaqat”, the Hindi film produced by Uttam Kumar; a large Mumbai print of the Hindi version of “Amanush”; two different large-format posters of “Dooriyaan”; and large two-sheet posters of “Bandi” and “Bahnishikha”.
The exhibition also features rare posters of films such as “Jatra Holo Shuru,” “Punarmilan,” “Putrabodhu” and “Priya Bandhabi,” including calendar-date posters. A particularly interesting exhibit is the poster of “Bandi” written in Odia script.
Other rare posters on display include those of “Bratacharini,” “Ora Thake Odhare,” “Chandranath,” “Triyama” and “Annapurnar Mandir,” among many others.
The booklet collection is equally fascinating. Nearly a hundred rare booklets are on display, including memorabilia related to “Mantrashakti,” “Sanjibani,” “Hrid,” “Bakul,” “Shankar Narayan Bank,” “Debatra,” “Basu Paribar” and “Nabin Jatra.”
Adding another musical dimension to the exhibition are records featuring Uttam Kumar’s own voice, alongside records of several films in which he acted. Visitors can also explore rare song books, film advertisements, newspaper and magazine reports, articles on Uttam Kumar’s songs and writings on his legendary screen pairing with Suchitra Sen.
Among the other rare exhibits are the letterhead of “Nishan,” photographs from different events, film stills, lobby cards and advertisements of unreleased films.
Two decades of preserving cinematic history for collector Mr. Sudipta Chanda, the exhibition is the culmination of a passion that began during his school years.
A former student of Bhawanipur Mitra Institution, Chand developed an early fascination with film posters. While still a student, he began collecting them and later organised a special exhibition at his school during Saraswati Puja.
His work received appreciation from several eminent personalities over the years, including legendary sarod player Pandit Buddhadev Dasgupta and noted music director and instrumentalist V. Balsara. Former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and former West Bengal Chief Minister Siddhartha Shankar Ray also sent messages appreciating his work.
Over the past two decades, Mr. Sudipta Chanda has independently pursued his passion for collecting and preserving film posters and other forms of cinematic publicity material, while regularly organising exhibitions and publishing calendars.
His exhibitions have explored a wide range of personalities and themes from Indian popular culture – from Amitabh Bachchan, Rahul Dev Burman and Kishore Kumar to legendary Bengali composers, Suchitra Sen and Soumitra Chattopadhyay. His film poster exhibitions have also travelled beyond Kolkata, including to Tripura, where they received appreciation.
Chand graduated in Commerce from Heramba Chandra College (South City College, Day Section) and later completed a postgraduate degree in Public Relations from Jadavpur University. He also holds a diploma in Rabindra Sangeet from Surangama.
A passionate follower of music, Mr. Sudipta Chanda spent many years in music journalism, with his writings on music being published in The Statesman and The Daily Statesman. He also created the Amit Kumar Fan Club and founded his own music PR agency, The Dreamers. The agency organised the Mountain Music Festival. His writings have also appeared in publications such as Sandesh and Ultorath.
For his contribution to the field, Mr. Sudipta Chanda has received recognition from platforms including the Public Relations Society of India and TEDx. “Collection is also a form of preservation”
Speaking about the exhibition, Sudipta Chanda said that his journey has essentially been an attempt to preserve a love that has continued for two decades.
“For nearly two decades, I have carefully nurtured a love and passion. I am primarily known as a film poster collector. I believe that future generations, particularly those who study or take an interest in cinema, will be able to understand a particular period of our history by seeing these materials.”
He further emphasised that collecting alone is not enough; preservation and public access are equally important.
According to Mr. Sudipta Chanda, exhibitions of this kind can help people become more aware of cultural history and encourage younger generations to take an interest in the glorious past of Bengali cinema.
And perhaps that is what makes “Uttam – The Mahanayak” more than just an exhibition. It is a journey back in time – a rare opportunity to encounter Uttam Kumar not merely through his films, but through the posters that once adorned cinema halls, the records that carried his songs, the booklets that promoted his films and the photographs and printed memories that documented an extraordinary era.
At a time when much of cinema’s physical history is gradually disappearing, this collection stands as a reminder that preserving memories can also mean preserving an entire cultural legacy.
“Uttam – The Mahanayak” is, in that sense, a celebration not only of Uttam Kumar’s birth centenary, but also of the enduring love between the Mahanayak and generations of his audience.
