Rajkumar (actor)

Rajkumar started his career with his father in a troupe led by Gubbi Veeranna.[15] In 1953, he was spotted by film director H. L. N. Simha, who was on the lookout for well-built, pleasant-faced Bedara Kannappa.[4] Simha eventually signed him for the film and named him "Rajkumar".[15]

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 appearances.[16] He owned a production company called Sri Vajreshwari Combines under the banner Dakshayani Combines. Bhaagyada Baagilu was his 100th film,[17] Devataa Manushya was 200th film and Shabdavedhi was his last film.[18]

His character depictions ranged from love to double and triple roles, from action and mythological characters to portrayals of contemporary social causes in the span over five decades.[6] Rajkumar along with his contemporaries Udaya Kumar and Kalyan Kumar was referred as the "Kumara Thrayaru" of Kannada cinema. He acted in 36 films with Udaya Kumar and in 5 films with Kalyan Kumar.[19] The films presented a populist version of Karnataka's history, focusing on the southern kingdoms from the Vijayanagara Empire and later to the intrigue and mystery of the Mysore royalty.[20]

He made historical movies such as Ranadheera Kanteerava and Kaviratna Kalidasa. He made movies from Kannada novels and made movies against perceived social evils such as "Jeevana Chaitra" on evils of drinking and Shabdavedhi on drug abuse.[21] He acted with heroines of southern cinema such as Jayanti (36 films),[22] Pandaribai (18 films), Leelavathi (28 films), Bharati (28 films), Kalpana (19 films), Aarathi (13 films), B. Saroja Devi (10 films), Harini (11 films), Krishna Kumari (8 films), Madhavi (7 films), Manjula (7 films), Jayamala (6 films), Lakshmi (5 films), Geetha (5 films), Saritha (5 films) and Jayaprada (4 films).[23] 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 85 of his movies.

Rajkumar was the first Indian artist to enact the role of James Bond in Jedara Bale.[24] Later, in Operation Jackpotnalli CID 999, Goadalli CID 999 and Operation Diamond Racket he played roles chronicling the adventures of Prakash aka Agent CID 999, a James Bondesque superspy.[25] Much of these films were made from the directing pair of Dorai and Bhagwan who began making spy flicks relatively late in their career, including Operation Diamond Racket.[26]

Rajkumar's famous 1971 hit Kasturi Nivasa was colorized and released in 2014. Even close to a decade after his death, the movie garnered a grand opening with the actor life size cutout being immersed in milk. The colorized release also performed well at the box office over taking other Kannada movies released at the time.[27]

In his obituary, Rediff.com wrote, "It was his subtle acting, spontaneous style and his flair for giving reel characters real credibility that helped him survive the onslaught of time, age and changing demands of the celluloid world. Despite his box office success, Rajkumar, a strong advocate of Kannada, confined himself to the Kannada film world."[28]

Alluding to his acting skills, famed Bollywood actor Anil Kapoor remarks "He was not just Dr Rajkumar. He is the emperor Dr Rajkumar — emperor of all actors." [29]

Rajkumar trained in classical music when he was with Gubbi Veeranna's theatre troupe.[30] The track "Om Namaha Shivaya" from the 1956 film Ohileshwara, that he also starred in, was his first for a film. He subsequently sang "Thumbithu Manava" for Mahishasura Mardini (1959). However, he became a full-fledged singer only in 1974 when he sang in place of P. B. Sreenivas for Sampathige Savaal,[5] who had till then sung for most songs picturised on Rajkumar, fell ill. Rajkumar sang the "energetic" "Yaare Koogadali" for the film which became widely popular during the time and is considered one of his best songs.[31]

Rajkumar has been credited for having sung across various genres and each rendition according to the mood of the scene in the film. In "Yaaru Tiliyaru Ninna" for Babruvahana (1977), a prosodic form of Kannada poetry that required the tone to be a combination of sarcasm and anger, he blended the "twin skills of theatrics and music". For Nee Nanna Gellalare (1981), he sang two songs — "Jeeva Hoovagide" and "Anuraga Enaytu" — beginning both with the refrain "I love you", that is "full of Carnatic gamakas". After the same tone in the refrain, they "take on a life of their own", with the form according to "love and happiness" in the scene and the latter when there is "love, but a discord" in the scene.[30] He is known widely for his rendition of "Nadamaya" for Jeevana Chaitra (1992), a song based on the raga of Todi and "with ... complex graces, and strings other ragas as it progresses. He switches ragas with ease, and sings complex swara patterns like a professional classical artiste." For the rendition, he was awarded the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer.[32] His frequent collaboration with the composer duo of Rajan–Nagendra gave musical hits such as Bangarada Hoovu (1967), Nyayave Devaru (1971), Swayamvara (1973), Sri Srinivasa Kalyana (1974), Nanobba Kalla (1979) and Chalisuva Modagalu (1982).[33]

During his career, Rajkumar sang and performed for songs about Kannadigas, the Kannada language and culture, such as "Jenina Holeyo" from Chalisuva Modagalu, "Maanavanagi Huttidmele" from Jeevana Chaitra and "Huttidare Kannada" from the film Aakasmika. He sang a complete English song called "If You Come Today" ("Tick Tick Tick") 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.[26]

In later years, he lent his voice to a few actors and sang background solos. For the song Kannappa Kottanu,[34] from Muddina Maava, he provided playback to S. P. Balasubrahmanyam.[35] This was a rare occasion. He sang Kalidasa shlokas such as "Maanikya Veena" and ghazal-based songs such as "Sadaa Kannale", "Kanneera Dhaare" and "Yaava Kaviyu".

Rajkumar recorded many devotional songs beginning in the 1970s for Columbia Recording Company starting with "Mantralayakke Hogona" in 1972. His widely popular LP record "Guruvara Bantamma" was also recorded during the time.[36] In 1979, Sangeetha Cassettes became India's first licensed pre-recorded cassettes. Rajkumar sang for the record producers devotional songs glorifying the saint Raghavendra and the Hindu deity Hanuman.[36][37]

At the age of 24, Rajkumar married his 14-year-old cousin, Parvathamma, on 25 June 1953 in Nanjangud.[38] It went ahead in accordance to the agreement that their fathers made following the latter's birth. Together, they had five children; sons Shiva, Raghavendra and Puneeth, and daughters Lakshmi and Poornima. Having lived a "hand to mouth existence" after marriage in a joint family that included 24 children in Madras, the family moved to Bangalore in 1972, after Rajkumar began getting multiple film offers.[39]

On 30 July 2000, Rajkumar, his son-in-law Govindaraju and two others were abducted by Veerappan from the actor's palatial house at Gajanur (Erode district of Tamil Nadu). Veerappan demanded the release of his gang members who were being held in jail under a defunct anti-terrorism law. The event prompted a massive manhunt and threw the Karnataka government into crisis. The Supreme Court of India opined that it was "unpardonable" on the part of the government of Tamil Nadu for not providing security to Rajkumar, although they had information a year earlier that he faced a threat of being kidnapped by Veerappan.[40] A Special Task Force (STF) set up to capture Veerapan had earlier warned Rajkumar against visiting the farmhouse, but his son Raghavendra later acknowledged that his father had not taken the threat seriously.[41]

After a total of 108 days in captivity, Rajkumar was released unharmed on 15 November 2000. His abduction and the manner in which his release was secured remains a mystery.[9][37][42]

Bust of Rajkumar in Jayanagar

On 12 April 2006, Rajkumar returned to his Sadashivanagar residence after his regular 20-minute walk and had a general medical check-up by 11:30 a.m. (IST). At 1:50 pm (IST), as he sat on a sofa, he asked a member of his family to slow the fan down and immediately collapsed. His personal physician Ramana Rao was called for, who rushed within three minutes, and performed external cardiac massage and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Rajkumar was then taken to MS Ramaiah Memorial Hospital and was administered intracardiac injections. Efforts to revive him failed and he was pronounced dead at 2:05 pm (IST).[43]

Rajkumar's death triggered an outpouring of grief. There was major shutdown in the city of Bengaluru. An unofficial bandh (closure of all shops and other establishments) was observed. Several people attempted suicide after hearing the news; most of them were rescued. The funeral cortège the next day started from Sree Kanteerava Stadium to Kanteerava Studios a few minutes before 12:30 pm (IST), a distance of 14 kilometres (8.7 mi).[44] Around two million people followed his remains.[10] However, the entire procession was marked with violence with mourners attacking public property, and police, who resorted to lathi-charge and tear gas.[45] Passing through Krishna Raja Circle, Palace Road, T. Chowdiah Road, Sadashivanagar, Yeswanthpur and Goraguntepalya localities, the cortège reached the Studios at 4:45 pm (IST). His body was buried with State honors at 5:45 p.m (IST) at the premises of the studios. The last rites were performed by his eldest son Shiva, guided by priests from the city's ISKCON and the Gayathri Temples.[44] His eyes were donated to two visually impaired persons the same day.[46]

On 19 April, the government of Karnataka announced that a memorial would be made in Rajkumar's honor at Kanteerava Studios in association with the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce at the cost ₹100 million.[47] The blueprint of the memorial was cleared by a panel comprising members of Rajkumar's family, representatives of the Kannada film industry and the state government.[48] After a delay over allocation of funds and land, it was finally opened in November 2014, after a sum of ₹70 million was used in developing it over an area of 2.5 acres (1.0 ha). It included "an open-air auditorium, mini-water body, landscaping and a bust" of Rajkumar. 40 photographs of selected films of Rajkumar were kept on display at the inauguration.[49] A permanent exhibition on the history of Rajkumar's films that included his photographs, trophies and souvenirs, alongside a stock of dialogue, scripts, songs and other memorabilia associated with him were put on display. An annual calendar for 2012 was released containing photographs of Rajkumar and stills from his films.[50]

• Kentucky Colonel, an honorary order from the governor of Kentucky, United States in 1985.[62]

• 1983 - Padma Bhushan [13]
• 1992 – Best Male Playback Singer for the song Naadamaya Ee Lokavella from the movie Jeevana Chaitra [11]
• 1995 – Dadasaheb Phalke Award
• 2002 – NTR National Award [63]
• Postal Stamp bearing the actor's likeness was issued in 2009 by the Central Government of India.
• On 24 April 2017, Rajkumar's 88th birth anniversary, Google India dedicated a Google Doodle in his honor.[64]

• Rajyotsava Award in 1973.
• Karnataka Ratna in 1992 and Title: Nata Saarvabhouma in 1967 from the Government of Karnataka.[65]
• An honorary Doctorate from the Mysore University [12] in 1976.
• The Nadoja Award, an honorary Doctorate from Hampi University in 1999.[66]
• A 6-kilometre (3.7 mi) road is named Dr. Rajkumar road.[67] The road stretches from the government soap factory in Yeshwanthpur to Prasanna theater, Magadi road in Bangalore.

Rajkumar holds the record of winning Eight South Filmfare Awards in the Best Actor category in Kannada cinema.[68]

Below is the films for which he received the Best Actor awards include:

• Gandhada Gudi in 1973 [69][70]
• Mayura in 1975 [71]
• Shankar Guru in 1978 [72]
• Keralida Simha in 1981 [73]
• Shravana Banthu – 1984
• Ade Kannu – 1985
• Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma – 1986 [74]
• Aakasmika in 1993 [75]

Total of 8 [68] Filmfare awards for best actor category.

• Rajkumar has won 13 Karnataka State Film Awards (9 for best actor, 2 for best singer, 1 lifetime achievement)

Best Actor

• 1967–68 – Bangaarada Hoovu
• 1970–71 – Kula Gourava
• 1974–75 – Bhakta Kumbara
• 1976–77 – Babruvaahana
• 1981–82 – Hosa Belaku
• 1982–83 – Haalu Jenu
• 1988–89 – Devatha Manushya
• 1992–93 – Jeevana Chaitra
• 1993–94 – Odahuttidavaru

Best Singer

• 1993–94 – Aakasmika – Huttidare Kannada
• 1994–95 – Thayi Illada Thavaru – Arishina Kumkuma

• More than 1100 statues of Rajkumar are placed in Karnataka. A statue in the Mayura touch placed in Kurubarahalli is worth 10 million rupees.
• Vishwa Maanava named by Kannada poet Kuvempu.
• ETV Kannadiga of the Year Award in 2003.

In July 2005, the government of Karnataka captioned by N. Dharam Singh, the Chief Minister of Karnataka conducted a felicitation ceremony for honoring Rajkumar for his (50 years of) service to Karnataka at Bangalore Palace named Sarthaka Suvarna (Significant Gold). This ceremony was attended by the entire Kannada film industry marking respect and tribute to the legend, and could be called an official celebration of Golden Jubilee of Rajkumar's works and services to the Kannada film industry.[76] A Biography on Rajakumar, written by A.N.Prahlada Rao, was released on the occasion.[77]