Kolkata’s Durga Puja pandals are marking Uttam Kumar’s birth centenary by transforming temporary festive structures into cinema halls, film archives and immersive tributes to the Bengali screen icon. Across south, east, north and central Kolkata, organisers are using vintage posters, lobby cards, songs, dialogues and recreated film scenes to connect visitors with the actor’s legacy.
At Samaj Sebi Sangha on Lake View Road, the 81st edition of the puja carries the theme “Mahapujoy Mahanayok”. Its pandal recreates the visual atmosphere of the 1960s and 1970s, presenting what organisers describe as the “Uttam era” through period-inspired installations. The aim is to introduce younger visitors to Uttam Kumar while giving older admirers a journey through memories of his films.
“Our pandal decoration upholds the iconic roles played by Uttam Kumar. Our installations, designed to bridge generations, introduce young visitors to a foundational cultural icon like him,” said Arijit Maitra, general secretary of Samaj Sebi Sangha.
In Kankurgachhi, east Kolkata, Mitali Sangha has designed its pandal as a cinema hall from Uttam Kumar’s time. Posters, lobby cards, film booklets and photographs fill the space, while songs associated with Hemanta Mukherjee, Manna Dey and Kishore Kumar play in the background. The puja, in its 90th year, is themed “Ekai Eksho” and references films including Harano Sur, Saptapadi, Antony Firingee, Agniswar, Sabyasachi and Bagh Bandi Khela.
Bhowanipore, an area associated with Uttam Kumar’s life and career, has two separate tributes. Rupchand Mukherjee Lane Sarbojanin Durgotsab is presenting “Uttamayan”, a cultural journey through the actor’s career and legacy. The location is near Bijoli cinema, where several of his films were released, and close to his former residence. Panditiya Sandhya Sangha, marking its 74th year, is presenting “Shatarupe Uttam” through a 1960s-70s movie-theatre design.
At Panditiya Sandhya Sangha, a retro motorcycle installation recalls the celebrated Saptapadi sequence featuring Uttam Kumar and Suchitra Sen. The pandal also presents screen partnerships with Suchitra Sen, Madhavi Mukherjee, Supriya Chowdhury and Sabitri Chatterjee. A 3.1 audio installation offers an instrumental medley of 10 songs from 10 of the actor’s notable films.
North Kolkata’s Tala has joined the tribute circuit with Sarkar Bagan Sammilita Sangha’s “Sabar Uporey”, named after the 1955 Uttam-Suchitra film. The 109-year-old puja combines images of old Kolkata with characters played by Uttam Kumar. An installation of vintage radio sets, centred on a photograph of the actor, welcomes visitors from the entrance lane.
At Rammohan Sammilani near Amherst Street, the pandal traces Uttam Kumar’s movement from student life and theatre to cinema. Its installations present the early phase of a career that included a period when he was labelled a “flop master” before becoming known as Bengali cinema’s Mahanayak. Laser-cut panels carry dialogues and songs from his films.
Together, the pandals are extending Kolkata’s festive public spaces into temporary cultural archives. Visitors moving through the city’s puja circuit encounter not only Durga Puja decoration but also cinema memorabilia, sound installations and reconstructed images of an earlier Kolkata. The organisers’ programming places Uttam Kumar’s birth centenary at the centre of this year’s visual and cultural experience.
