Tarun Kumar Chatterjee

Tarun Kumar was born on 24 February 1931 in Kolkata. He was the youngest brother of actor Uttam Kumar. Tarun Kumar passed his Matriculation from South Suburban School. Although he joined Ashutosh College, he could not continue his studies. In his professional life, he used to work in Maclyod Company, Metro Cinema and then at Burn Company for few days. In 1962, he married fellow actress Subrata Chattopadhyay (18 July 1940 - 25 February 2004) and had a daughter.[1] Tarun Kumar was also known by his nickname 'Buro' among film industry people. His grandson Sourav Banerjee is also an actor.[2]

Kumar acted in over 500 films since making his debut with Hrod in 1954. In Jhinder Bandi, he played the rival, Udit, the brother of Shankar played by Uttam Kumar. In Se Chupi Chupi Aase and Sonar Harin, he played the antagonist. However, in most Uttam Kumar starred films, he either played the role of a friend in Saptapadi, Chhadmabesi, Jeeban Mrityu, Deya Neya to name a few or that of an associate or well-wisher in films like Raja Saja, Dhanyi Meye, Mon Niye, Sanyasi Raja, Kayahiner Kahini and Brajabuli. Tarun Kumar's acting skill may well be underrated by the tall shadow of his elder brother, Uttam Kumar but probably he was one of the finest character actors ever worked in Bengali film industry, who performed with equal ease in all types of roles irrespective of comic (e.g. Haat Baralei Bandhu, Basanta Bilaap, Mouchak and Personal Assistant), negative (e.g. Joradighir Choudhuri Paribaar, Dui Purush and Kalankita Nayak) and intense (e.g. Sonar Khancha and Stree etc.) characters, including cameo (e.g. Sesh Anka and Rajkanya). He received the President's award for his performance in the film Dadathakur in 1966. Apart from films he acted on quite a few professional theatres. His play Nahabat, in which he had one of the main roles, ran for about seven years.[3]

He was chiefly instrumental to establish the Uttam Mancha, an auditorium in South Kolkata, named after his elder brother, the iconic Uttam Kumar whom he loved and adored. Presently, this hall is under the supervision of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation.

Tarun Kumar died on 27 October 2003 at the age of 72.[4]