Amazing Uttam Kumar in Jibon Mrityu.

Amazing Uttam Kumar in Jibon Mrityu.

Uttam Kumar was amazing in the film Jibon Mrityu. The film had been released in 1967. It was directed by Hiren Nag, who learned direction from renowned director Ajoy Kar.

In Jibon Mrityu, Uttam Kumar played the role of Ashok Mukherjee, who was branch manager Citizen’s Bank. He established himself after his father died, and was brought up by mother Aparna Debi. He loved Supriya Debi, who was the daughter of Prashad Mukherjee. Her father’s business was in doldrums and he appointed N. Biswanathan as legal advisor to address his debts. But the debts grew, and he died out of frustration.

Uttam Kumar was all-rounder during his college days. Besides being brilliant, he was great singer, and he gave able lips in Manna Dey’s song “kono katha na bole” composed by Gopen Mullick. His friend Tarun Kumar relied on him to pass the examination. He loved Subrata Chatterji who never married him.

Uttam Kumar rose to fame. His office-mates conspired against him, namely Dipak Mukherjee, Prashanto Kumar and Bankim Ghosh. Dipak Mukherjee, made a duplicate key of the Bank’s locker, he stole all the money and shared it with Bankim Ghosh and Prashanto Kumar. Uttam Kumar was charged for stealing the money from the bank and sentenced to 7 years imprisonment. N. Biswanathan was provided money to prevent him from taking the brief of Uttam Kumar.

His mother died after Uttam Kumar went to jail. After coming out of prison, he went to forest of Ratangarh to find Tarun Kumar. But he was transferred. He stayed in the house of Kamal Mitra. He prevented the nephews of Kamal Mitra from stealing his will, so Kamal Mitra provided him money to take revenge against the conspirators.

Uttam Kumar came back to Kolkata in the new name of Santaprasad Singh, wearing a Punjabi Turban. He advised Bankim Ghosh to open liquor business in addition to rice business. He gave money after mortgaging the rice mill. Bankim Ghosh was caught by the police and imprisoned.

He asked Prashanto Kumar to burn his factory to stop trade union demands and get insurance money. The trade union leader was advised by Uttam Kumar to surrender before the police to prove innocence. Prashanto Kumar was also arrested. He ruined Dipak Mukherjee and N. Biswanathan by instigating to buy shares in bogus company, which failed and they suffered huge financial services.

Uttam Kumar proved once again in Jibon Mrityu that he was one-man industry. The film was remade in hindi with the title Jiban Mrityu where Dharmender played the role of Uttam Kumar.

Uttam Kumar and Anil Chatterji complimented each other in Agnisangskar.

Uttam Kumar and Anil Chatterji complimented each other in Agisangskar.

Director Agradoot played a pivotal role in the early success of Uttam Kumar in films like Agniparikkha, Sabar Opore in the mid-50s. From that time onwards the main director of Agradoot Bibhuti Laha tried to make realistic films with Uttam Kumar.

In Agnisangskar, Uttam Kumar was the Chief Engineer of the industrial firm owned by Anil Chatterji. Just because Anil Chatterji had partial amount of insanity, his mother Chaya Debi ran the firm with the responsible officers. As the manager Bikash Roy ill-treated the workers, she made Uttam Kumar, the manager. She also asked Supriya Debi to go to the industry and check the working regularly, as she herself was ill. Supriya Debi admired the working of Uttam Kumar and fell in love with him.

Supriya Debi had no relationship with Chaya Debi, but was brought by her with the aim of making her daughter-in-law. In the meantime Uttam Kumar was given the responsibility of bringing back Anil Chatterji from Kolkata, as never liked the native place. Anil Chatterji came back and got involved with Supriya Debi. But she was not interested to marry Anil Chatterji, she asked Uttam Kumar to leave the job. After Uttam Kumar got settled elsewhere Supriya Debi got entangled marriage according to hindu rites.

At that time Anil Chatterji called Uttam Kumar in his native place and after communication left him. He committed suicide and implicated Uttam Kumar for his death. All the evidence went against Uttam Kumar and he was awarded death penalty. At that time the diary of Anil Chatterji was recovered and due to insistence other Board Members of the company like Chabi Biswas, the Judge stopped the sentence and Uttam Kumar was released.
While Uttam Kumar was effortless in his romantic performance, Anil Chatterji showed his range in playing the mentally deranged character. Anil Chatterji already gathered fame by playing brilliant characters in Ghatak’s Meghe Dhaka Tara, Tapan Sinha’s Nirjan Saikate, Satyajit Ray’s Mahanagar. In this film he balanced the romantic appeal of Uttam Kumar with his aggressive acting. The film became successful and attracted the attention of educated viewers. Hemant Kumar’s music was impressive with Sandhya Mukherjee’s song “tomar duarkhani” becoming hit. The film should be preserved