Alternate Best Actor 1991: Utpal Dutt in Agantuk

Utpal Dutt did not receive an Oscar nomination for portraying the titular character in Agantuk. 

Agantuk follows a husband and wife, as they receive the wife's long lost uncle, who they aren't sure if he's genuinely her uncle or a stranger there to steal her inheritance. 

As a final send off for Satyajit Ray, this is a very modest, but potent film where essentially we are doing variation on the idea of what exactly bridges the gap between family and strangers. This is personified by Utpal Dutt's titular character, who is the uncle/stranger, who comes into their lives, and creates seeming upheaval as they can't quite be sure if he's the truth or not. Dutt's performance then is essential to creating this mystery of sorts to the film, as the man who could be or could not be who he says he is. Dutt's performance is remarkable in the way he carries himself with this quiet dignity that also is that of an enigma. Dutt importantly plays the part with this sense of knowing in his eyes, about the suspicions of the family, even if he doesn't exactly let on either to completely ease their suspicions. What the man does do though is immediately begin to reveal his great ability for storytelling. Dutt is wonderful in the delivery of his first story with this delivery but also a way of almost looking into the memory as something he is experiencing in the moment. It is difficult to not get caught up with the story yourself as Dutt articulates the memory so authentically as this undisputed truth, that is also filled with a particular style and character that helps to define the man. 

Where the man seems to be less of a mystery is in his interactions with his nephew. Where Dutt brings such an enormous amount of warmth in his performance. There's such a generosity of spirit that seems to exude off of the man as he speaks to his nephew. Dutt is just lovely in these moments in creating the bond, which again he implements through his stories and even just a teaching lesson when he speaks to his nephew and friends about celestial bodies. Dutt suddenly makes the stranger the most wonderful teacher, where he delivers with this exact sense of knowledge, but more importantly the moments he accentuates creates this intrigue. Dutt very much gives a performance as the stranger giving the performance, where he makes the learning not only fun, but creates the sense of connection between uncle and nephew through this experience. And we see this consistently where Dutt brings such a sense of life in each of these interactions. Where Dutt's performance isn't that he shows the nephew brightly shining from the manner of his supposed uncle, but also via Dutt's performance where he brings this particularly important sense of the appreciation the stranger gets from every moment he can entertain and connect to his supposed nephew. 

Still unconvinced, particularly by the husband, we see a series of pseudo interrogators brought in by him to try to decipher the stranger's intention. And these scenes are wonderful "interrogations", where the first one, the man just seems charmed by this man who has these stories from all around the world. And it is easy to find this completely convincing because it is hard not to be charmed by Dutt yourself as he details his view of Calcutta as civilized, or just explaining how the homeless present themselves in New York, it is hard not to get drawn into his calm way of sharing his experiences. But even when barely remembering Pele, which would cause one to think perhaps he's lying about being in South America, Dutt even then is entirely winning in his joking way of noting his complete ignorance of football past a certain geographic area. Dutt disarms with such ease that it becomes impossible to seemingly disbelieve him as just a wonderful man with much history, at least as he runs circles around the first interrogator. The last interrogator is far more intense and far more intended on trying to uncover this man as some liar than reveal a definite truth. And here is where Dutt once again excels here though now with more conflict as the man doesn't just listen to him, but rather constantly challenges him with far more incisiveness than just telling him that someone should know about Pele. A conversation that isn't as much about just who he is, but also the very nature of his philosophy where he has appreciation for traditional cultures as much as he is a man of modern cultures as well. 

Dutt is magnificent in the monologue explaining this appreciation is amazing work, as there is such articulate passion he brings, that so clearly and concisely reasons the man's worldview that while still in conflict, feels just beautifully spoken in every word. When speaking for example on the difference between using a gun to brutally murder many against cannibalism, Dutt's wrapping of the terms of barbarism is almost music in the ease in which he speaks this difficult contrast, and again shows such honest emotion in revealing the very real passions within the man. And what all this reveals is this isn't really a film about a mystery of whether or not the man is this uncle, rather it is merely the story of the discovery of all this man of the world has to offer, and just presenting his unique perspective of the world, while also connecting with who are his family still after all this time. Dutt, who sadly passed away not much later than Ray himself, is essential to the success of this film. Because it is more or less, a series of conversations, nearly monologues in rooms, and the film is a success. One being the words are written brilliantly by Ray as he is able to explore so much with this conceit, but as important is Dutt's flawless delivery of every one of these. Every single one that creates not only a sense of who this "stranger" is, but even more so he makes every story, every philosophical thought, every warm connection with the family, absolutely captivating, pointed, or poignant within his performance. Dutt delivers a truly great performance which does more than make the most of the concept, it gives its essential life, in creating a most fascinating portrait of a most idiosyncratic man.