Bengaluru, 24 November (H.S.) : Dr Rajkumar was one of the finest actor singer in the annals of Indian cinema. His movies had great messages for his followers.
In his entire career of over fifty long years his movies were not only appreciated by the cine lovers but also inspired hundreds of citizens.
During the initial years of his career he essyed roles that were historical.
Around 1970s he began to don the roles of socially relevant movies. Popular novels were adapted on screen. Writers like Sayisute, MK Indira, Triveni were very popular authors of that period.
In shaping up the screen image of Dr Rajkumar it is worth noting that his wife Parvathamma Rajkumar played a vital role. An avid reader of Kannada novels, Parvathamma Rajkumar ensured that the best of the novels were chosen for cinematic expression.
Movies like Ravichandra, Naa Ninna Mareyalare, Dari Tappida Maga were great efforts in life changing messages for the fans. The messages are relevant even today.
It is worth noting that many fans changed their attitude to life inspired by his movies. Bangarada Manushya inspired urban educated youth to to take up agriculture as a profession.
Love theme based movies like Yeradu Kanasu made a huge impact on jinxed lovers.
A conversation with Mrs Rekha S, former beauty queen of a premier college for Women in Bangalore validates the impact of Dr Rajkumar's movies.
....I was born in Maharashtra and was a true blue fan of Dr Rajkumar. My father was transferred to Bangalore and hence we shifted to Bangalore she says as we begin the conversation.
I was a very good student and picked up Kannada pretty fast. It's also true that each Dr Rajkumar movie I watched my love for the language grew by leaps and bounds. The diction, pronounciation and sweet ness of Kannada had a long lasting impact on me. Soon I began to love most of the characters he essayed in his movies.
Since I was winner of many Beauty Pegents in Bangalore circles, I was very successful and popular in my peer circle .
That meant I had lot of admirers too and boys would make a bee line to make friends with me...
...As a matter of fact I was in love with a boy who was a very promising Kannada Poet in Bangalore and we had decided to get married...
...But Life has it's own terms. My father and mother chose a wealthy, affluent groom for me and I was forced to the relationship against all my resistance. I was devastated but had no other option...
...Soon I was on the family way and was blessed with a son. As a woman I was just managing to get away from the past and lead my life...
...It was a difficult phase of my life till I watched the movie Yeradu Kanasu. The movie changed my attitude to life. It had a great message of how one should let go the past, accept life as it comes and live in the present moment. It was also a message that one can not have legs in two different boats at the same time. The message was moment of Buddha's awakening in my personal life and that's precisely the time I came to terms in my life...
...Decades later, I am proud to say that today my son is a data science engineer in USA, I am a fitness coach, m ountaineer, Director in my Husband's Multi location Pan India Business Enterprise and a Life coach.
And I can say that in this journey of life I have not only adopted the messages of Dr Rajkumar movies but also lead by example. That's the legacy of our beloved Dr Rajkumar, she says in conclusion.
Well, Life imitates art and Art imitates life is a popular adage. And it's so very true in the case of Cinema and Dr Rajkumar.
There are thousands of cases of cine lovers changing their life course by watching his movies and leading a meaningful life. Thus Dr Rajkumar' legacy continues to this millennial world .
No wonder Dr Rajkumar continues to spread the messages of life for ever.
Hindusthan Samachar / Manjunath Chavan
