Utpal Dutt is an Indian actor, director, author and playwright. He began his acting career in Bengali theater and later made significant contributions to modern Indian theatre. Founded a theater troupe in 1949, known as the “small theater troupe” in history. During what is now known as the “epic theatre” period, the troupe performed many plays by English, Shakespeare and Brecht. Later, the troupe was devoted exclusively to plays of a political and revolutionary nature. His plays represented his Marxist ideology, which was reflected in plays like “Kallol” (1965), “Tini Toloar”, “Maha Bidroha”, etc. In a career spanning 40 years, Utpal Dutta starred in more than 100 Hindi and Bengali films.
Wiki/Biography
Utpal Dutt was born on Friday, March 29, 1929, in Barisal, Bengal Presidency, British India (now Bangladesh). He was 64 years old. He is famous as an actor in Bengali theatre. After founding the “Little Theater Company” in 1949, he was considered a revolutionary figure in modern Indian drama. The group became popular for performing many plays by English, Shakespeare and Brecht during a period now known as “epic theatre” before it became fully immersed in highly political and revolutionary drama. His plays were visual expressions of his Marxist ideology, which can be seen in many of his plays such as Kallol (1965), Manusher Adhikar, Louha Manob (1964), Tiner Toloar and Maha-Bidroha.
appearance
Height: 5′3″
Weight: 70kg
Hair Color: Salt and Pepper
Eye color: black
family
Parents and siblings
His father’s name is Girijaranjan Dutt.
wife and children
Utpal Dutt’s wife
In 1960, Utpal Dutt married theater and film actress Shobha Sen. Shobha Sen was born on September 23, 1923 in Bangladesh. She died of heart failure in Kolkata on August 13, 2017. Their only daughter Bishnupriya Dutt is Professor of Theater and Performance Studies at the School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.
Bishnupriya Dutt
Profession
Utpal Dutt not only had a successful career in acting but also had an equally stable career as a director, writer playwright and theater activist. He has been a revolutionary figure in Bengali theater and Indian cinema for more than four decades. Although Utpal Dutt was mainly active in Bengali theatre, his journey began in British theatre. From his teenage years, he developed a keen interest and skill in British drama, eventually establishing the “Shakespeare Company” in 1947. The company’s debut performance was a stunning performance of Shakespeare’s Richard III, starring Utpal Dutt as the king. Jeffrey Kendall and Laura Kendall (parents of actress Jennifer Kendall) were so impressed by Doute’s performance that they immediately hired him to work at their Shakespeare Company. After joining the troupe, Utpal Dutt went on two long tours with them in India and Pakistan, performing Shakespeare’s plays, first from 1947 to 1949 and second from 1953 to 1954 Year.
Utpal Dutt in Shakespeare’s Plays
His performance of Othello was also praised. In 1949, when the owners of Shakespeare Theater Company left India, Dutt decided to rename his group the Little Theater Company. The troupe then went on to perform plays by Ibsen, Bernard Shaw, Tagore, Gorky and Konstantin Simonov. The group was later formed to produce Bengali dramas and later evolved into a production company producing various Bengali films. In West Bengal, he also performs as part of Gananatya Sangha, which is active in rural areas. Utpal Dutt also published books on Shakespeare and revolutionary drama.
Towards Revolutionary Theatre, a novel by Utpal Dutt
He was also one of the founding members of the Indian People’s Theater Association (IPTA), known for socialist learning, but left the association after founding the troupe. While he was playing the role of Othello, renowned filmmaker Madhu Bose cast him in the lead role in his film Michael Madhusudhan; the film follows the Indian poet Michael Life of Michael Madhusudhan Dutt. Later, he wrote a play about Bengali poet Michael Madhusudan Dutt. He also gave memorable performances in many Bengali films directed by Satyajit Ray.
Bhavan Shankar, Utpal Dutt’s extraordinary role in the film Golmaal
His outstanding performance can be seen in many roles in Hindi films such as Mrinal Sen’s Bhuvan Shome (1969), Satyajit Rau’s Agantuk (1991) and one of the most popular comedy films of 1979 Hrishikesh Mukherjee Gol Maal. Dutt was praised for his extraordinary performances in the films Guddi, Gol Maal, Naram Garam and Rang Birangi.
Utpal Dutt’s role in ‘Agnatuk’ received critical acclaim
He is equally praised for managing a successful parallel career as an ultra-committed dramatic playwright and director in Bengali films and in zany comedy roles in Indian films. He is known for his significant contribution to the development of Bengali drama in the 20th century. Dutt is known as a staunch Marxist and an active follower of the Communist Party of India. His Revolutionary Drama has had a very powerful impact on contemporary Bengali drama. H was also imprisoned in 1965 after staging the classic play Kallol, about the mutiny of Indian sailors against other British men in the Arabian Sea.
I believe that any discussion about cinema in semi-colonial or newly independent countries must begin with the illiteracy, poverty and cultural hunger of the masses,” Utpal Dutt wrote in a 1979 article.
Utpal Dutt was a revolutionary figure in theatre.
He also directed several films such as Megh (1961), Psychological Thriller, Ghoom Bhangar Gaan (1965) and Inqualib Ke Baad (1984).
Awards and Achievements
- In 1970, Utpal Dutt won the National Film Award for Best Actor for the movie “Bhuvan Shome”.
- He won the Filmfare Award for Best Comedian in films such as “Gol Maal” (1980), “Naram Garam” (1982) and “Rang Birangi” (1984).
- He also won the Bangladesh Film Journalists Association’s Best Actor Award for the film “Agantuk”.
- Utpal Dutt was nominated for the Filmfare Best Supporting Actor Award for films like “Amanush”, “Gol Maal” and “Saaheb”.
die
Utpal Dutt died of a heart attack on August 19, 1993.Before his death, he was undergoing dialysis at SSKM Hospital in Kolkata.
Facts/Trivia
- Aamir Khan’s mother played the female lead in “Lagan” opposite Utpal Dutt.
- He also continued working as an English teacher at South Point School in Calcutta.
- Utpal Dutt began his career in English theater while studying at St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata
- Utpal Dutt’s first Hindi film was KA Abbas’s Saat Hindustani, not Guddi, which was also reportedly Amitabh Bachchan’s Debut novel.
Utpal Dutt and Amitabh Bachchan
Categories: Biography
Source: HIS Education