Remembering Utpal Dutt On His 93rd Birth Anniversary, the actor whose acting still brings a smile to our face

Utpal Dutt is a big name in Bengali theater and cinema; even after 29 years, he has passed away. He did most comic roles in his long list of Hindi films, but in Amitabh Bachchan’s first film Saat Hindustani he was also a Hindustani or a lead actor.

Born on 9th March 1929 in Barisal, British India (Now in Bangladesh) to  Girijaranjan Dutta. He did his initial studies at St. Edment school, Shillong, and matriculation from St. Xaviers Collegiate School, Kolkata. He completed his graduation from St. Xaviers College, Calcutta University.

He was interested in stage drama from his school days and formed a theatre group called Little Theatre Group in 1949.

Before entirely immersing itself in highly political and radical theatre, this group enacted several English, Shakespearean, and Brecht pieces during a time now known as the “Epic Theatre” period.

His group played, such as Kallol (1965), Manusher Adhikar, Louha Manob (1964), Tiner Toloar, and Maha-Bidroha, were an effective medium for the presentation of his Marxist views.

Utpal Dutt in Movies

He started his movie career with the Bengali movie Michael Madhusudhan released in 1950 directed by Madhu Bose and was based on Bengali poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt.

Bhuban Shome was one of the major works of Indian Parallel Cinema in the 1970s. The movie had Utpal Dutt in the main role and was directed by Mrinal Sen. He received the National Award for Best Actor in the year 1970 for his performance in this film.

From 1969 to 1979 he appeared in many Hindi and Bengali movies like Bombay Talkie, Guddi, Ek Adhuri Kahani, Mere Jeevan Saathi, Sabse Bada Sukh, Amanush, Julie, etc.

But in Hindi cinema, he got a lot of prestige and work from Gol Maal directed by Hrishikesh Mukherjee. Hrishikesh Mukherjee made neither art films nor commercial formula pictures.

In contrast to Utpal Dutt’s image in Golmaal, Bhavani Shankar’s role as one such character was related to the days. From Hero Amol Palekar to Dina Pathak, all the actors’ comedic performances are an example even today. But Utpal Dutt was so hilarious, remaining serious, and he received the Best Comedian Filmfare Award.

How “Achha” was spoken, even if today someone copies it, the audience understands that he is copying Utpal Dutt. In Hindi films, he would have been given lighthearted roles then. Who would have thought that this actor of the entertainment world started his career in English theater? One of the reasons for this was that Utpal Dutt graduated with English as the main subject.

India’s famous English theater artist, Geoffrey Kendall, was so impressed that he included Dutt in his group. From 1947 to 1953, Utpal Dutt was his companion wherever he did his plays in India.

In 1958 daughter of Geoffery Kendal, Jenifer Kendall got married to Sashi Kapoor. But Utpal Dutt should not be identified by any such reference but by his contribution to theater and films.

If you see him in the role of Bhavani Shankar, a bizarre courtesan in Golmaal, then it seems that in real life, he will be the same and in Shaukeen, the stingers who keep a single account of the money seemed equally natural.

His comic timing would hardly have been used by any other director more than Hrishikesh Mukherjee. Like Golmaal, his partner in “Naram Garam” was also Amol Palekar, and for “Naram Garam”, he received the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian. Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s Rang Birangi also gained the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian once again for Utpal Dutt.

Along with such a prize, he met the most important Hindi cinema criteria: the Box office. Not only did Utpal Dutt prove himself to be the best in a comedy role whenever he was cast in negative roles, but he also did the villain roles with equal ease.

He also acted in the 1990s detective serial Byomkesh Bakshi( in Episode No-3, Seemant Heera).

Utpal Dutt Marriage and Children

He got married to Shobha Sen, a Bengali theatre and film actress, in 1960. And the couple has a daughter named Dr. Bishnupriya Dutt, currently employed in JNU, Delhi.

On August 19th,1993, Utpal Dutt died due to a heart attack.

Utpal Dutt Movies and TV shows

Sl No	Movie Name	Year
1	Michael Madhusudhan	1950
2	Vidyasagar	1950
3	Vikram Urvashi	1954
4	Rani Rasmani	1955
5	Subhalagna	1956
6	Harano Sur	1957
7	Saptapadi	1961
8	Rakta Palash	1962
9	Shesh Anka	1963
10	Surya Sikha	1963
11	Momer Alo	1964
12	Shakespeare-Wallah	1965
13	Chowringhee	1968
14	The Guru	1969
15	Bhuvan Shome	1969
16	Saat Hindustani	1969
17	Bombay Talkie	1970
18	Kalankita Nayak	1970
19	Calcutta 71	1971
20	Guddi	1971
21	Khunjey Berai	1971
22	Ek Adhuri Kahani	1972
23	Mere Jeevan Saathi	1972
24	Sabse Bada Sukh	1972
25	Honeymoon	1973
26	Marjina Abdulla	1973
27	Shriman Prithviraj	1973
28	Asati	1974
29	Chorus	1974
30	Mr. Romeo	1974
31	Jukti, Takko Aar Gappo	1974
32	Thagini	1974
33	Amanush	1975
34	Julie	1975
35	Anari	1975
36	Palanka	1975
37	Jana Aranya	1976
38	Datta	1976
39	Do Anjaane	1976
40	Santan	1976
41	Sei Chokh	1976
42	Shaque	1976
43	Kotwal Saab	1977
44	Yehi Hai Zindagi	1977
45	Immaan Dharam	1977
46	Anand Ashram	1977
47	Anurodh	1977
48	Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaaye	1977
49	Farishta Ya Qatil	1977
50	Kissa Kursi Ka	1977
51	Priyatama	1977
52	Swami	1977
53	Atithee	1978
54	Striker	1978
55	Safed Haathi	1978
56	Dhanraj Tamang	1978
57	Joi Baba Felunath	1978
58	Toote Khilone	1978
59	Kartavya	1979
60	Gol Maal	1979
61	The Great Gambler	1979
62	Jhor	1979
63	Prem Vivah	1979
64	Agreement	1980
65	Hirak Rajar Deshe	1980
66	Paka Dekha	1980
67	Apne Paraye	1980
68	Ram Balram	1980
69	Agni Pareeksha	1981
70	Naram Garam	1981
71	Barsaat Ki Ek Raat	1981
72	Chaalchitra	1981
73	Meghmukti	1981
74	Subarna Golak	1981
75	Shaukeen	1981
76	Baisakhi Megh	1981
77	Rajbadhu	1982
78	Raaste Pyar Ke	1982
79	Hamari Bahu Alka	1982
80	Angoor	1982
81	Achha Bura	1983
82	Rang Birangi	1983
83	Duti Pata	1983
84	Kissi Se Na Kehna	1983
85	Pasand Apni Apni	1983
86	Shubh Kaamna	1983
87	Love Marriage	1984
88	John Jani Janardhan	1984
89	Lakhon Ki Baat	1984
90	Inquilaab	1984
91	Paar	1984
92	Yeh Desh	1984
93	Saaheb	1985
94	Harishchandra Shaibya	1985
95	Mera Damad	1985
96	Aar Paar	1985
97	Anyay Abichar	1985
98	Ulta Seedha	1985
99	Aap Ke Saath	1986
100	Baat Ban Jaye	1986
101	Kirayadar	1986
102	Main Balwan	1986
103	Pathbhola	1986
104	Sadaa Suhagan	1986
105	Kissa Kathmandu Ka	1986–1987
106	Pyar Ke Kabil	1987
107	Aaj Ka Robin Hood	1987
108	Asha o Bhalobasha	1988
109	Mahaveera	1988
110	La Nuit Bengali	1988
111	Bahurani	1989
112	Jawani Zindabad	1990
113	Mera Pati Sirf Mera Hai	1990
114	Agantuk	1991
115	Jaan Pechaan	1991
116	Path-o-Prasad	1991
117	Byomkesh Bakshi	1993
118	Padma Nadir Majhi	1993
119	Misti Madhur	1993
120	Ajana Path	1994