Friday, 4 March 2016

Dr.Rajkumar, Kannada actor


Dr. Rajkumar, the Kannada icon
Native name
ಮುತ್ತುರಾಜು
Born
SinganalluruPuttaswamaiahMutthuraju
24 April 1929
Gajanur, Madras Presidency, British India
Died
12 April 2006 (aged 76)
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
Other names
Raj kumar, Annavru, Dr Raj
Occupation
Actor, singer
Years active
1954–2006
Height
5 ft 7 in (170 cm)
Movement
Spouse

Parvathamma rajkumar
children
Poornima
Awards
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.
  He died of cardiac arrest at his residence in Bangalore on 12 April 2006.
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
Main article: Gokak agitation
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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