Utpal Dutt was a prominent actor and director, based in Kolkata. He started off as a theater actor and remained active in stage acting even while he had entered main stream movies. He was a strong conformist of Marxism and in his early plays he did not hesitate to express his opinions through the many theaters. His acting career spanned over four decades.
Utpal Dutt Theater
His contribution to the Indian theater is important. In 1947, the Little Theater Group was founded by him and this group enacted many English plays. Many of Shakespeare's plays had been performed by the Utpal Dutt theater group. His theaters have been hailed as 'epic theater'. The theater scripts on which he worked chiefly dealt with socio-political issues in Bengal. Three of the Utpal Dutt theaters, which had gained much critical acclamation, include Kallol, Manusher Adhikar and Tiner Toloar. His theater group eventually evolved to become a production company and produced Bengali movies.
Utpal Dutt as Movie Actor
Utpal Dutt had acted in Hindi and Bengali films. Though he was a versatile actor who could play any role with conviction, in Hindi films he gained his reputation as a comic actor. The comic roles of Dutt in films, such as Golmaal and Guddi are unforgettable. In Bengali too, he played some wonderful comic characters. Sriman Prithviraj is an exemplary movie in this respect. He could balance his comic roles with the serious counterparts. In Mrinal Sen's film, Bhuvan Shome, Utpal Dutt played the role of a bureaucrat and loner.
The following is a list of some of the Films in which Utpal Dutt acted:
- Michael Madhusudhan
- Mera Damad
- Guddi
- Aar Par
- Angoor
- Barsaat Ki Ek Raat
- Laakhon ki baat
- Shaque
- inquilab
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- Bhuvan Shome
- Padma Nadir Majhi
- Agantuk
- Shakespeare-Wallah
- Jaan Pechaan
- Julie
- Path-o-Prasad
- Jawani Zindabad
- Bahurani
- Kartavya
- Gol Maal
- The Great Gambler
- Jhor
- Sada Suhagan
- Prem Vivah
- Atithee
- Joi Baba Felunath
- Lal Kothi
- Toote Khilone
- Kotwal Saab
- Yehi Hai Zindagi
- Immaan Dharam
- The Wandering Company
- Anand Ashram
- Ulta Seedha
- Anurodh
- Dulhan Wahi Jo Piya Man Bhaaye
- Farishta Ya Qatil
- Kissa Kursi Ka
- Priyatama
- Safed Haathi
- Swami
Films Directed by Utpal Dutt
- Jhor (1979)
- Maa (1983)
- Baisakhi Megh (1981)
- Megh (1961)
- Ghoom Bhangar Gaan (1965)
- Inquilab Ke Baad (1984)
Utpal Dutt was born in Barihsapur, Meghalaya but completed his graduation from Kolkata. He was a student of the St. Xavier's College where he studied English Honors. He married Shobha Sen and is survived by a daughter and four grand children. He had won the Filmfare Comedian Award twice once in 1980 and again 1982 for his outstanding performance in Naram Garam and Golmaal respectively.
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