Kolkata: On Lenin Sarani stands ‘Shilpi Sansad’, an organisation founded by Uttam Kumar in 1968 to support needy workers of Tollywood. At its gate, hangs a KMC board, cautioning people that it’s a ‘dangerous building’. Uttam fans have long been demanding a heritage status for the house, which was once a gathering place for the Tollywood’s elite. On the 45th death anniversary of the matinee idol on July 24, Shilpi Sansad officials reiterated the heritage tag demand as well as a 10-day retrospective of Uttam Kumar films at Nandan. On entering 81, Lenin Sarani, a red staircase, with green walls by the side, leads to the first floor that houses a room of a man, who arrived in the city from the Sunderbans to study homeopathy the very year Uttam Kumar died. “I didn’t see him at Shilpi Sansad but have heard countless stories of his visits here,” said Sushanta Mondal, who keeps the keys for the office before the members arrive in the evening. Shilpi Sansad secretary Sadhan Bagchi used to be the youngest member of the organisation until Uttam died. “Though the building looks derelict from outside, it gives a different vibe inside,” Bagchi said. The room’s red floor has alpana painted on it and the walls have photos of Bengali cinema icons. Sunlight beams on a cupboard full of books; trophies rest on top of it.Back in the ’70s, it was a familiar address. “When political differences led to Uttam leaving Obhinetro Sangho and forming Shilpi Sansad, the idea was to continue its work in a more organised manner. A section of the industry believed they had one collective to seek help in bad times,” said Sayandeb Chowdhury, who teaches at Krea University. He wrote a book on Uttam Kumar. The organisation is also a symbol of how a star could use his charm and power to help the industry’s foot soldiers. “It was here that Mahanayak formalised plans to make his stage debut to raise funds for Shilpi Sansad. His first play was ‘Alibaba’. Here we had meetings of our 25-member working committee. We firmed up plans for fundraisers,” Bagchi added. “Uttam headlined all the fundraisers, knowing people would turn up because of him. But the money raised was for the industry and not for his personal purpose. This building deserves a heritage tag,” Chowdhury added.
