West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Thursday, 3 September expressed delight that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had paid tribute to legendary Bengali actor Uttam Kumar on social media ahead of him, marking the icon's 100th birth anniversary. The remarks came at a public function in Kolkata where Adhikari garlanded a statue of the celebrated silver screen star.

What CM Adhikari Said

'I was elated to see the Prime Minister making a social media post remembering Uttam Kumar early this morning. I am even more elated that the Prime Minister issued this social media statement even before I could issue a similar social media statement on the same occasion,' Adhikari said at the event.

He also noted that Modi had devoted five minutes of his 30-minute 'Mann Ki Baat' address the previous Sunday to highlighting the achievements of the legendary actor — an unusual degree of national attention for a regional cultural figure.

PM Modi's Tribute Post

In his social media statement issued early on Thursday morning, Prime Minister Modi described Uttam Kumar as 'a legend whose timeless performances connect with people across generations.' The post, shared in both English and Bengali, read: 'Tributes on his birth centenary. Also sharing what I spoke about him during #MannKiBaat last Sunday.'

Notably, a sitting Prime Minister publicly amplifying a Bengali cultural icon — and doing so bilingually — carries clear political resonance in a state where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been working to deepen its cultural footprint.

Adhikari's Pledge on Cultural Autonomy

The Chief Minister used the occasion to draw a pointed contrast with his predecessor. He assured those present — including prominent personalities from Bengal's film and cultural sector — that his government would extend full cooperation to the creative community without administrative interference or political influence.

'I assure that there will be no administrative interference. I also assure that there will be no attempts of politically influencing such activities,' Adhikari said. Political observers noted the remark as an implicit reference to former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who was widely seen as hands-on — critics would say intrusive — in film and cultural affairs during her tenure.

Centenary Celebrations Across West Bengal

The 100th birth anniversary of Uttam Kumar is being commemorated with a four-day mega festival from 3 to 6 September in West Bengal, alongside a series of year-long events. Guided heritage walks are being organised through historical locations in Kolkata connected to the actor's life and career.

The Department of Posts is releasing a special commemorative stamp and postal cover to mark the occasion. With both the Centre and the state government visibly invested in the centenary, the celebrations signal a rare moment of cultural convergence in an otherwise fiercely contested political landscape.