MY FIRST AND LAST MEETING WITH THE GREAT UTTAM KUMAR….

Utpal Chatterjee : Kolkata, 24th. July 2024. This happened a month and a half before he left us all.(Today,incidentally,happens to be his 44th death anniversary!)British Airways was flying him and Supriya Devi to the U.S..And the then Deputy Chief of the International Airline,Mr.Jyotish Ganguly,whom I knew very well, had invited me to a send-off Dinner for the great star.Dressed in a flaming red top,he arrived at the Ballygunge Circular Road Address. After introductions,he smiled the friendliest smile and chose to sit next to me.There were a few film journalists whose presence seemed to make him wary. Instead of wishing him “Bon Voyage”,they chose to ask the usual avoidable questions.The patient Star smiled them away and started a quiet conversation with me.The seasoned “critics” got the indication,finished their drinks,had their dinner and gradually made their exit.Uttam Kumar heaved a sigh of relief and seemed to feel free.It was getting late and I told Mr.Ganguly that I had better leave as well.The host just would not let me go.I tried to reason explaining I had asked for my office car to leave long ago.”So what?”asked the Star.”Am I and my car not here?” “There you are.Do you have any answer to that?”asked Mr.Ganguly.Frankly,I had none.Uttam Kumar asked for a fresh round of drinks.We really had a most absorbing “adda” like long lost friends when,in fact,we were meeting for the first time.Yes,we got along like a house on fire.He got a great deal out of me and I learnt so much about him.We were so happy that he agreed to sing.( Incidentally,he was a “professional” singer and,in the early stage of his career,he was even a private singing tutor).Yes,it was just not a memorable dinner but a memorable meeting with one of the most accomplished and successful actors ever.Yes,he dropped me home.We promised we would stay in regular touch after his return.That,alas,was not to be.In a matter of days,he had that fatal heart attack.And,irony of ironies,I was to cover his post death news.The real irony?The lovable man,who lay dead before me at the cremation ghat,and I had promised “we would remain in regular touch”