As Lucknow gears up for Durga Puja, the historic Bengali Club & Youngmen’s Association is weaving a rare blend of devotion and cinema into its 112th Shree Shree Durga Puja with a special tribute to the Mahanayak, Uttam Kumar, on his birth centenary.From October 16 to 20, the pandal will echo with old songs from Uttam Kumar’s iconic films, while cut-outs and visual installations of the legendary actor will line the premises, recreating moments from his most loved roles. “The idea is to let devotees and film lovers alike walk through a living archive of Bengali cinema even as they offer prayers to Ma Durga. Out of Bengal also, Uttam Kumar has a huge fan base,” says Arun Kumar Banerjee, President of the club, adding, “In Bengal, such big events are already happening in celebrations of 100 years of Uttam Kumar, so we wanted Lucknow to be part of that too. His work in films like Saptapadi, Amanush, Debdas, Nayak, Anand Ashram or Anupama, has been appreciated across generations and across the country and abroad. This year we want to pay tribute to the great artiste in our own way.”This year, the organisers have also planned a series of special attractions to heighten the festive experience. A dedicated dance troupe from Kolkata will perform on all the puja days bringing authentic Bengali choreography to the Lucknow stage. On October 20, the traditional and much-awaited Dhunuchi Dance will be presented as a marquee Durga Puja attraction, promising a visually stunning finale to the celebrations.
