Prabir Dey gets candid about his Uttam Kumar documentary-feature film

After producing and directing many hit television serials, documentaries, commercials and corporate films, Prabir Roy is all geared up for directing a documentary-feature on ‘Mahanayak’ Uttam Kumar. Titled ‘Jete Nahi Dibo’, the film is a tribute to the Bengali matinee idol. Popular actor Sujan Mukherjee plays the titular role in this documentary-feature. The cast also includes Mallika Sinha Roy, Piu Paul, Ujjaini Banerjee, Dulal Lahiri, Swastika Dutta, Sudip Sarkar and others in pivotal roles.

While speaking about his most ambitious project so far, director Prabir Roy said, “No other actor in the Bengali film industry enjoyed the same fan following and stature like Uttam Kumar. He almost single-handedly carried the industry. Uttam Kumar was literally a star in the Hollywood sense of the term. But the actor deserved more than what he received. I am trying to highlight all these issues in the film. Initially, I thought of many actors, but when Sujan did the look test, I knew he is the ideal choice. It will have many rare images and video clippings of Uttam Kumar. There is only one song in the film, ‘Nir Choto Khoti Nei’.”

In an illustrious career of almost 30 years, Uttam Kumar appeared in a staggering 211 movies, some of them even hit the screens after his demise. The ‘Mahanayak’ of Bengali cinema died in 1980 following a heart attack while shooting for ‘Ogo Bodhu Sundori’.