Uttam Kumar filmography

Uttam Kumar debuted as Arun Kumar Chatterjee, in the 1948 film Drishtidaan directed by Nitin Bose. The next year he appeared as a leading hero Uttam Chatterjee in the film Kamona 1949 which was also unsuccessful. In 1951 film Sahajatri he kept his name permanently as Uttam Kumar. But he gave back to back seven flop films and was stated as flop master general.^[1][2]

His first success was the 1952 film Basu Paribar directed by Nirmal Dey. Next year along with ttsame director, he worked with Suchitra Sen for the first time in Sharey Chuattor. The film became blockbuster and established him. He got his break in the 1954 film Agnipariksha of Agradoot's direction. He also playbacked in his film Nabajanma (1956). He produced six very successful Bengali films from where he received four National Film Award. He also got success as director and composer. He directed three hit films like Sudhu Ekti Bachor, Bon Polashir Padabali and Kalankini Kankabati and composed superhit Kal Tumi Aleya.

In 1966, he collaborated with the Oscar-winning director Satyajit Ray on Nayak, which contributed to his wider recognition. The film is regarded as one of the notable works of his career and of Bengali cinema. He appeared in 203 released films. His final leading role was in Plot No. 5 (1981), released posthumously, in which he portrayed a serial killer confined to a wheelchair.^[1] The film also featured actors including Amjad Khan, Amol Palekar, Vidya Sinha, and Sriram Lagoo. He received the BFJA Best Actor Award eight times. He was also among the early recipients of the National Film Award for Best Actor, which he won for his performances in Antony Firingee and Chiriyakhana (1967).^[3][4][5]