Dr.Raj or Natasarvabhouma literally means the emperor of
acting which he was fondly called as Dr.Raj or Annavru, he was popular not on
in Kannada film world but in entire country, as his views about his fans in his
own words that he does not whether he will see god or not, but for him his
audiences were the real gods, such was the simplicity he has developed and
maintained throughout his life.
Dr.Rajkumar - Early life
Dr.Rajkumar was born in 1929 at Gajanur in the previous
kingdom of Mysore, but the village is now situated in the Erode district of
Tamil Nadu, which is at the borders of Karnataka and Tamilnadu, his mother
tongue is Kannada, he was born to Singanallurur Puttaswamaiah and Lakshmamma
and his earlier name was Muthuraju and this name was after the god Lord
Muthathiraya, literally Lord Hanuman.
Dr.Rajkumar – His film career
He started his early career in theatre groups along with his
father in the theatre company of legendary Gubbi Veeranna, this was his
university of learning his acting and singing skills, later he joined the group
of M.S.Subbayya Naidu Drama Company.
Bedara Kannappa’ which was made in the year 1954, earmarked
his entry to film world, this film was directed by another legendary director
H.L.N.Simha, who named him as Rajkumar, the most popular song Shivappa Kayo
thande is even now a days competing with the recent genre of music, the name
Rajkumar was used for his rest of his life, later along with another legendary
character actor T.N.Balakrishna he produced a mega hit film Ranadheera
Kanteerava, specialty of this movie is the production and technical unit were
entirely from Karnataka, which started the beginning of full fledged film
making in Karnataka only.
He has a unique record of acting with many heroines likes of
Pandaribai, Leelavathi, B.Sarojadevi, Lakshmi, Ambika, Manjula, Jayamala,
Jayachitra, Kalpana, Mahalakshmi, Jayanthi, Arathi, Bharathi, Jayaprada,
Madhavi, Saritha, Gayathri, Geetha and many more from neighboring states, from
directors point of view he acted in the directions of all the directors
starting from B.R.Panthulu, Puttanna kanagal to Shankarnag and Nagabharana, he
has acted in one Telugu film and with the legendary actor M.G.Ramachandran in
Kalahasti Mahathyam in Tamil.
Overall he has acted in 206 movies, which excludes his guest
appearances, later had his own film production company named as Vajreshwari
Productions, which has produced several movies under the banner of Dakshayini
Combines.
Bhagyada Bagilu was the 100th movie he acted and Devatha
Manushya was his 200th movie. He acted in Kavirathna Kalidasa which was
produced in his own banner, he has produced many movies about the social evils
one such movie was Shabdavedi which has shown the abuse of drugs.
D.Rajkumar – Singing career
It was a record that 17 singers has lent their voice to
D.Rajkumar before he made singing in his own films a career, other singers who
lent their voice are P.B.Srinivas, Yesudas, Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao,
Dr.Rajkumar was a trained singer as he had that training when he started his
career in Gubbi Veeranna’s company, but the accidental way of introduction of
his voice in the movie Sampathie Saval the song Yare Koogadali became a super
duper, till then P.B.Srinivas used to lend his voice for songs in almost all
the movies and Dr.Rajkumar has received a National Award for the film
Jeevanachaitra for playback the song ‘Naadamaya’ is still a hit, he has sung
many songs particularly devotional for many albums, and incidentally he has
lent his voice to another legendary singer S.P.Balasubramanyam. D.Rajkumar was
also a professional Harmonium player.
Dr.Rajkumar – Some interesting facts
The First Actor in the Indian Film Industry to get Doctorate
for acting from Mysore University.
Only Indian Actor to get “Kentucky Colonel”, a prestigious
awarded from Kentuky state [This award was previously awarded to British Prime
Minister and Russian Prime Minister].
Only Actor in the Indian Film Industry, in whose name the
State Government is giving an Award this award was started when he was still
alive and every year to a person who has given outstanding contribution to the
Film Industry.
He was the only Actor to receive National Award for both
singing in the film Jeevanachaitra and for acting nine state awards.
MovieBedara Kannappa was the first movie to win National
Award for best in which Dr.Rajkumar has acted.
First actor from Kannada film world to win Dada Saheb Phalke
Award, prestigious award given by Indian Government for the achievement in the
Film Industry.
Only Actor to have won more than ten titles given by the
Government and other Associations.
Other important titles and awards Dr.Rajkumar holds many
titles and awared few of them are, Karnataka Rathna, Rasikara Raja, Kannada
Kanteerava, Kala Kausthuba, Padmabhushana, Gana Gandharva, Nata Sarvabhouma,
Kentuky colonel, Annavaru, Nithya Noothana Nata Shreshta, Doctorate.
Only Kannada actor who have to received Padmabhushana award
for his achievement to Film Industry.
Only actor in the Indian film industry to receive nine state
awards for acting, ten Film Fare Awards and two state awards for singing.
Only actor ever to act in fourteen films in a single year
two times, once in 1964 & another once in 1968.
Only Kannada actor to act as hero with both mother and her
daughter in the Kannada Movies.
First Actor to have a song written on him, his honor for no
particular reason but the fact that he could sing and act like so many of our
fellow politicians for the movie Bedara Kannappa.
Only Kannada actor to win the prestigious NTR Award given by
Andhra Pradesh Government, who have given an outstanding contribution to the
Film Industry.
He is the only hero of the longest running Kannada movie
ever made that is Bangarada Manushya, which has ran for over two years in one
of the theatres in Bangalore and one year in five centres.
The Success Rate of Dr.Rajkumar’s movies were 95%, highest
ever than any other actor in the Indian Film Industry
Dr.Rajkumar – His family
S.P.Varadaraju, brother of Dr.Rajkumar has worked in his
production company, Dr.Rajkumar had two sisters by name Sharadamma and Nagamma,
Dr.Rajkumar was Dr.Rajkumar's brother, S.P. Varadaraju worked with him in his
production company. He had 2 sisters, Sharadamma and Nagamma. Dr.Rajkumar
married to Parvathamma who is also a film producer, Dr.Rajkumar has three sons
and two daughters, his sons Raghavendra Rajkumar, Shivarajkumar and Puneet all
are well established actors now.
Dr.Rajkumar – His link to Kannada language movement
Dr.Rajkumar has been asked to spread the movement about
making the language Kannada as compulsory in primary education which was based
on Gokak’s Report, which was popularly know Gokak Varadhi, he was actively
involved in that movement and later he became a force behind this agitation, a
rally from Belgaum to Bangalore was organized under his leadership, he has
inspired many with his speeches, ultimately the then government has responded
and later made Kannada as compulsory language.
Dr.Rajkumar – Kidnapping incidents
July 30th, 2000 was a black letter day for Karnataka film
fans as Dr.Rajkumar at the age of 72, his son-in-law Govindaraju and two others
were kidnapped from their house at his birthplace by Veerappan, a notorious who
has killed over 200 people, later Dr.Rajkumar was released on 15th, November
2000 after a captivity of 109 days.
Dr.Rajkumar – His death and aftermath
This was the most sad day for Kannada film world and for his
fans, the Dr.Rajkumar was died at his home near Sadashivanagar on 12th of
April, 2006 following a cardiac arrest.
But his death has made a city wide reaction, uncontrolled
fans went berserk, a major unrest happened, an unofficial bundh was declared,
more than 100 vehicles were burnt out and nearly eight people were killed.
The government has made an announcement to spend about ten
crores for his memorial near Kanteerava Studios, where his last rights were
performed.
Dr.Rajkumar – A book called Bangarada Manushya
Bangarada Manushya literally means golden man was the name
of the book released later which was written by A.N.Prahlada Rao, based on his
achievements both on and off the film world. The vast details are rich in
nature in this book, this book was released at the Washington D.C., New Jersey,
later to reach even the non Kannada people, this book has been translated to
English
No comments:
Post a Comment