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Dr. Rajkumar, the Kannada icon
Singanalluru Puttaswamayya Muthuraju (24April 1929–12April 2006), known mononymously by his
screen name Rajkumar and nicknamed Dr Raj,was an Indian actor and
singer in the Kannada Cinema. Widely acclaimed as one of the
finest actor in the history of Indian Cinema, he is
considered a cultural icon, and holds a Matinée idol status
in the Kannada diaspora among whom he is popularly adulated as Devataa
Manushya (Godman), Bangarada Manushya (Golden Man), Karnataka
Rathna (Jewel of Karnataka State), Vara Nata (Gifted Actor), Rajanna
(Brother Raj), Nata Saarvabhouma (Emperor of Actors) Gaana
Gandharva (Singer in the Court of Gods), Annavru (Beloved Elder
Brother), Rasikara Raja (King of Romantic People), Vishwa Maanava (Universal
Man) and much more.
Rajkumar
entered the film industry after his long stint as a dramatist with Gubbi Veeranna's Gubbi
Drama Company, which he joined at the age of eight, and got his first break
as a lead in the year 1954 film Bedara Kannappa, and went on to work in over 220 films, in the year 2000 super hit Shabdavedhi being
the last acted movie Well known for his highly disciplined and
simple lifestyle in both personal and professional fronts, Rajkumar was also an
avid Yoga, Pranayama and Carnatic music
performer. He is also credited for being the only Indian Super Star who
stayed away from acting the vicious acts of drinking, smoking and uttering
swear words in all the roles he performed in his long spanning career of close
to 50 years.
On 30 July 2000, Veerappan
the notorious forest thief , kidnapped Rajkumar and three others from DoddaGajanur, a village near the Tamil
Nadu-Karnataka border, where the film star was attending a housewarming
ceremony. Public outcry and violence ensued in Bangalore as well as other parts of
Karnataka resulting in nationwide sensation. A bandh / strike occurred on 22
September in Bangalore. Karnataka's Chief Minister, SM Krishna sought the help of Tamil Nadu`s KarunaNidhi Government
visiting Chennai. Negotiations were conducted and R. Gopal, an editor of the Tamil magazine Nakkeeran, was involved in
several rounds of talks and videotaped discussions with Veerappan. Veerappan demanded justice for Tamil Nadu in
the Cauvery Water dispute, as well as making Tamil the second official language of Karnataka
and the release of certain Tamil extremists jailed in Tamil Nadu. Rajkumar was
held for 108 days and finally released without harm in November 2000.
In his film career, Rajkumar received eleven Karnataka State Film Awards, ten South Filmfare Awards, two National Film Awards and a National Film Award for Best Playback Singer. He received the NTR National Award in 2002. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Mysore, and is a recipient of the Padma Bhushan in 1983 and
the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1995 for the lifetime
contribution to Indian Cinema.
Early life
Rajkumar was born on 24 April 1929 at Gajanur (Talavadi block), Madras Presidency now Tamil Nadu, whereas it was on the occasion
celebrated Rama Navami festival. His father was
Puttaswamayya and mother was Lakshmamma, who were impoverished theatre artists
at Singanallur. His father was good at playing
roles like Kamsa, Ravana and Hiranyakashipu. He left his
school when he was 8, who was later discovered by film producers and played tiny
roles till he was 25 then he played his first lead in a feature film.
Originally, he was named Mutturaja, after the Muthaththii Raya (a
name for the Hindu deity Hanuman), which is a temple deity
located in Muthathi, a settlement on the banks of
river Kaveri in
present-day Karnataka.
Film career
Rajkumar started his career with his father in a
troupe led by Gubbi Veeranna. First he appeared in Sri
Srinivasa Kalyana in 1952, as one of the seven Saptarishi (sages). It was an insignificant role, he
remembered the scene was over before he recognized himself in the scene. In
1953, he was spotted by film director H. L. N. Simha who was on lookout for
well-built, pleasant-faced Bedara Kannappa. Simha eventually signed him
for the film and christened him "Rajkumar".
He acted only in Kannada apart
from Sri
Kalahastiswara Mahatyam in Telugu, a remake of Bedara Kannappa. He acted in 206 movies, excluding his guest
appearance. He owned production company called Vajreshwari Production
under banner Dakshayani Combines. Bhaagyada Baagilu was his 100th
film, Devataa Manushya was 200th film, and Shabdavedhi was last film.
His character depictions ranged from love to double
and triple roles', from action and mythological characters to portrayals of
contemporary social causes in spanning over five decades. Rajkumar along with his contemporaries Udaya Kumar and Kalyan Kumar were
"Kumara Thrayaru" of the Kannada cinema.
He made historical movies like Ranadheera Kanteerava, Kaviratna Kalidasa. He made movies from Kannada novels and made
movies against perceived social evils like Shabdavedhi on drug abuse. He
acted with heroines of southern cinema such as Jayanti (36 films), Pandaribai (18
films), Leelavathi (28 films), Bharati (28 films), Kalpana (19 films), Aarathi (13
films), B. Saroja Devi (10 films), Harini (11 films), Madhavi (6 films), Manjula (7 films), Jayamala (6
films), Lakshmi (5 films), Geetha (5 films), Saritha (5
films), Jayaprada (4 films). Bollywood actress Rekha made her debut in Operation
Jackpotnalli CID 999 with him. He acted for south Indian directors from B.R. Pantulu and Puttanna Kanagal to Shankar Nag and T. S. Nagabharana. Chi. Udaya Shankar has written dialogues and songs
for his 85 movies.
Rajkumar is the first Indian artist to enact a role
of James Bond in Jedara Bale Later, in Operation Jackpotnalli CID 999, Goadalli
CID 999, and Operation Diamond Racket where he played roles
chronicling the adventures of Prakash aka Agent CID 999, a James
Bondesque superspy. Much of these films was made from the directors pair of
Dorai and Bhagwan who began making spy flicks relatively later in their career,
including Operation Diamond Racket.
As Singer
Rajkumar sang for many Kannada movies. He won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 1992 for the song
"Naadamaya" from the movie Jeevana Chaitra A
classical song in Thodi Raga.
He was trained Indian classical music in Gubbi Veeranna's drama
troupe. He performed a song in Mahishasura Mardini (this was picturised
on actor Narasimharaju). However, he did not become a
full-fledged singer till his song "Yare Koogadali" from Sampathige
Sawal in 1974. Prior to this, Rajkumar's songs were mostly sung by P. B. Srinivas. After
which, he sang in most of his movies and in many private albums, which were
mainly devotional albums. His song renditions ranged from pure classical to
disco and fast numbers to pathos. His fans of the days of black-and-white
movies in the 1960s and 1970s, believe he was actually P. B. Srinivas, who did
the playback singing for most of Rajkumar's movies, until Rajkumar himself
started to sing. P. B. Srinivas continued singing for him in many of the movies
in which Rajkumar starred in multiple roles.
His songs about Kannadigas, Kannada
language and culture, such as "Jenina Holeyo" from Chalisuva
Modagalu, "Maanavanagi Huttidmele" from Jeevana chaitra
and "Huttidhare kannada
naadal huttabeku" from the film Aakasmika. He sang a
complete English song called "If You Come Today" in one of his Bond films – Operation Diamond Racket in 1978.
This song became an internet meme in India following Rajkumar's
demise in 2006.
In later years, he lent his voice to few actors and
sang background solos. He provided playback to great Singer S.
P. Balasubrahmanyam in the film Mudhina mava was a
rare occasion. He sang Kalidasa shlokas like
"Maanikya Veena" and ghazal based
songs like "Sadaa Kannale", "Kanneera Dhaare" and
"Yaava Kaviyu". In addition, he sang devotional songs of Hanuman and Raghavendra.
Kannada language movement
Although Rajkumar rejected numerous offers to
don the political mantle, he was able to influence the State's political
fortunes without ever being officially in politics. However, his apolitical
outlook did not prevent him from protecting and espousing the cause of Kannada
and Karnataka. He had time and again advocated the cause of seeking primacy to
Kannada, and hence was asked to lead a movement about making Kannada a
compulsory language for primary education based on the "Gokak
report," popularly known as Gokak varadhi. He became actively
involved in the movement and soon became the force behind the Gokak movement. He took
a rally from Belagavi to Bangalore and gave
speeches about the importance of Kannada. Millions of people gathered only to
have a glimpse of Rajkumar and listen to his speech. The movement became such a
rage that the government relented and made Kannada a compulsory language of
education in Karnataka.
Personality
Rajkumar was best regarded for being a highly
disciplined man in both his personal and professional lives. He practised Carnatic music for an
hour each in the morning and in the evening. His punctuality is another noted
aspect. Waking up every morning at 4 am, he performed Yoga and Pranayama, which
is said to be the reason behind his physical and mental fitness. His Yoga
performances can be seen in the first clips of his film Kaamana Billu. Rajkumar
is the first actor of the world cinema who had
mastered Yoga.
He was the epitome of good character in most of his
films. He shunned smoking and drinking both on screen and off. To avoid setting
a precedent among his fans, he made sure that the roles he accepted did not
require him to smoke or drink or utter swear words, and extended this decision
to real life. His dress code always consisted of simple white dhoti and
shirt. He spent most of his vacations in his hometown, Gajanur, near the forest area where he
was later abducted.
He estimated producers as "Anna Daataru"
(food providers) and adored fans as "Abhimaani
Devarugalu"(Fan Gods). He was a devotee of Raghavendra Swami.- MD Yashavanth kumar
Dr. Raj in Action - video
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Friday 4 March 2016
Dr.Rajkumar, Kannada actor
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