A poster shows Uttam Kumar and Sharmila Tagore from Satyajit Ray's classic Nayak, in Kolkata on Friday. (Partha Paul)West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari laid the foundation stone of the Uttam Kumar Film Centre near Eco Park in the New Town area in Kolkata on Friday as part of its year-long celebrations marking the birth centenary of Bengali film legend Uttam Kumar.The state government has allocated Rs 25 crore for the project, which will have two theatres with a seating capacity of 750 each and another with 1,000 seats. The Centre will also house laboratories and studios for animation and visual effects, besides facilities for film post-production.Actors Ranjit Mallick, Prosenjit Chatterjee, and Jisshu Sengupta, film director Harnath Chakraborty, along with BJP MLAs Rupa Ganguly, Rudranil Ghosh and veteran actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty were present at the event.After laying the foundation stone, they also paid tribute to the late actor.“The work on the film centre will begin soon. From time to time, people from the film industry will review the progress,” Adhikari said.On Thursday, at the “Ek Tara” open-air stage at the Nandan theatre complex, the Chief Minister had inaugurated an event marking the birth centenary of Uttam Kumar.“The Bengali film industry used to lead the whole of India. Tollywood will outshine Bollywood. We must return to that position again. Let this be the pledge of this evening. The government will stand by you. Tell us what help you need, tell us where infrastructure needs to be provided. If budget allocation is needed, say so. If any clearance is required, if any law needs to be changed, say so. The government will help,” Adhikari said.Story continues below this adAdhikari also led a one-and-a-half-km tribute walk from the state-run cultural complex Nandan to the Gaganendra Shilpa Pradarshashala.We don’t have any differences. There is no narrow-mindedness. This film industry is vibrant and stands together. If required, we will pass legislation in the assembly to help the film industry in every way,” Adhikari said at the Gaganendra Shilpa Pradarshashala, where an exhibition on the cine star began, showcasing behind-the-scenes stills, advertisements, and magazines featuring him. The CM also announced that a state-of-the-art theatre complex bigger than the present Rabindra Sadan would be built to honour Kumar, and till September 6, film screenings, exhibitions, and guided heritage walks through locations tied to the actor’s life would be held, he added.Praising the artistes involved in the celebrations, the chief minister thanked Ranjit Mallick for his support and said Mithun Chakraborty would soon be appointed as a cultural adviser.“Ranjit Mallick was present at yesterday’s programme and has come today as well. I bow before him for his cooperation. Mahaguru is with us. We are going to make Mithun Chakraborty the cultural adviser,” he said.Story continues below this adReferring to Prosenjit Chatterjee’s involvement in the celebrations, Adhikari said, “Prosenjit Chatterjee has been the priest of the entire programme. He had come to me and said, ‘I have not come to ask you for anything. People have already recognised me. There is nothing new left for me to receive.’”He also thanked Jisshu Sengupta, who, according to Adhikari, took on the role of an organiser. Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on InstagramTags:Kolkata