Bengaluru, 24 April (H.S): Legendary Kannada actor-singer Dr Rajkumar remains to be a hero and a cultural icon over the years. The Kannada film industry acquired national importance due to its selfless service to the Kannada Film Industry. It is befitting that the state is celebrating the 96th birth anniversary of the legend. Department of Information and Public Relations Government of Karnataka pays rich tributes to the son of the soil remarked Trilok Chandra, Secretary-Culture, Government of Karnataka in his address.
My association with M/ s Vajreshwari Combines is four decades old. Being a professional theatre artist I had participated in a play at Madras when SP Vardaraj, younger brother of Dr Rajkumar spotted me. He ensured that I soon got into some of the finest roles of my cine career. Acting in the role of Bhoja Raja in the cult classic movie Kaviratna Kalidasa in 1982 is very dear to me on two counts. One was the role of Bhoja Raja and the second one was the discovery of Rajkumar's magnanimity. During the shooting at AVM Studios, Rajkumar ensured that I was introduced to the legendary Telugu film superstar NT Ramarao in glowing terms. Rajkumar then was a demi-God to cine lovers and yet had the large heart to go that extra mile to accommodate a rank newcomer like me and introduce me to the Telugu film superstar said Kannada films veteran actor Srinivasa Murthy in his presidential address.
The fact that Dr Rajkumar scaled heights of success and fame didn't deter him from remaining the simple human being that he was. Detached from the glamour world his social conduct instilled him as the role model of crores of Kannadigas. A man who belonged to each one's home either through his roles as an actor or a mellifluous singer Dr Rajkumar is omni present in Karnataka 24/ 7. It is befitting that the Government of Karnataka draws up a plan of action to celebrate his birth centenary due on 24/04/2029. It's my earnest desire that a biopic on the life and times of the legend would be the ideal act of posterity to the Kannada language and history of Karnataka. The fact that Hindi film superstar Amitabh Bachchan took some time off to watch the stupendous performance of Dr Rajkumar in the role of antagonist as Hiranya Kashipu in the mythological Bhakta Prahlada shot at AVM Studio in Madras. Beyond doubt he was in awe of the histrionics of the thespian observed P Sheshadri, the ace Kannada film director and a nine-time national award winner for his phenomenal work.
My father was beyond success and failures in both his personal and professional life. Post the debacle of my maiden movie Chiranjeevi Sudhakara I was disappointed. But he advised me not to take the failure to heart but to continue with my work. After the spectacular success of Nanjundi Kalyana, and Gajapathi Garvabhanga he reminded me again to be grounded. In both cases, it was the master of a class in the philosophy of life. Life is an Open University. We have to keep ourselves open to the lessons of life. Each incident enriches our understanding of the journey of life. Every time we had a conversation I would discover the eternal Muthuraju in him. And I love him as Muthuraju than Dr Rajkumar. I take this opportunity to thank all the stakeholders, cine lovers, and eminent writers in the order of Dr Baraguru Ramachandrppa and Rukkoji Rao to have graced the occasion said Raghavendra Rajkumar.
A musical program by team KR Entertainers enthralled the packed house at Ravindra Kala Kshetra, the venue of the 96th Birthday celebrations of Dr Rajkumar
Hindusthan Samachar/R Manjunath Chavan
