In a passionate appeal to the entertainment industry, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged television and film creators to embrace Bengali language and culture more actively in their content. Her comments came during the Mahanayak Samman event held to honour the legacy of legendary actor Uttam Kumar on his death anniversary.
Speaking at the event, Banerjee said, “Every language and every song is beautiful, but we must make a serious effort to promote our own language and inspire respect for our culture among the younger generation.”
The Chief Minister expressed concern over the increasing negativity in Bengali serials, noting how some shows focus on dark themes like suicide or excessive drama purely for ratings. While she avoided naming any specific titles, her message was clear: quality content shouldn’t come at the cost of mental well-being or cultural roots. “Why not create content that reflects simple joys and positive emotions instead of toxicity?” she asked.
She also reminded the audience of Uttam Kumar’s unmatched charm and how, even after 45 years, his memory remains fresh in people’s hearts. “Even after 45 years, we haven’t been able to forget him, nor will we ever. He remains evergreen,” Banerjee said.
Filmmaker Goutam Ghosh was honoured with the ‘Mahanayak Srestha Samman’ while actor Gargi Roychoudhury, singer Iman Chakraborty, and others received the ‘Mahanayak Samman’. The event also saw the presence of stars like Dev and Prosenjit Chatterjee.