Kolkata, Sept. 3 -- The Mahanayak turned 100 on Thursday, and Bengal marked the occasion with a four-day celebration befitting its most enduring screen icon, Uttam Kumar.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari led the tributes, offering floral homage at the actor's statue outside Mahanayak Uttam Kumar Metro Station.

In a gesture that befits the occasion, Adhikari stepped aside and asked veteran actor Ranjit Mallick to lay the first garland.

Adhikari said Bengal, which once led the country's film industry, had lost ground but hoped it would reclaim the top spot. He assured that the government would not interfere in its functioning.

Thanking PM Modi for paying tribute to Uttam Kumar on 'Mann Ki Baat', Adhikari said: "Before I could post about Mahanayak, the PM had paid tribute to him early in the morning."

The CM credited the Bengali film fraternity, particularly Prosenjit Chatterjee and Mithun Chakraborty, for taking an active role in the centenary celebrations.

The event was attended by actors Jeet, Dev and Rituparna Sengupta, who also wore a saree dedicated to Uttam Kumar, along with BJP MLAs and ministers. Adhikari also announced that the government would renovate all buildings constructed in Uttam Kumar's honour.

Later in the day, the celebrations moved to a grand procession through Nandan, Rabindra Sadan and adjoining areas. Adhikari was seen walking hand-in-hand with veteran actors Mithun and Biswajit Chakraborty. The CM later joined Tollywood celebrities for a cake-cutting ceremony marking the birth anniversary of Bengal's Mahanayak. Adhikari also inaugurated an exhibition on the actor.

On Friday, the CM will attend the 'bhumi puja' of the proposed Uttam Kumar Film Centre at Eco Park, New Town at 11 am. Adhikari said Rs 25 crore has been proposed for the film centre.

Meanwhile, Mithun urged the CM to provide a 30 per cent subsidy to filmmakers from outside Bengal who come to shoot in the state.

Adhikari said he would ensure that all necessary facilities are extended to Tollywood to help the industry move forward.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.