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The human side of the matinee idol

A human side of late Rajkumar, popularly known as ‘Annavaru,’ was revealed by a farmer from Devanahalli, who happened to meet him on an occasion and stay with him for about half a day…

Two years after Annavaru’s death, Shivanapura Ramesh, the farmer, mourns his death in silence recollecting the day he happened to spend with the thespian, when the latter was a brand ambassador for Karnataka Milk Federation.

The KMF had decided to felicitate Rajkumar and gift him with a cow. ”My two-year-old Gowri, a holstein fraser, calf of a high yielding cow, was selected as a gift. To ensure that there was no trouble during the handover they invited me to be present during the ceremony in 1999,” recalled Ramesh.

The KMF veterinarian Rudresh took Ramesh to the venue. “Initially the dignitaries hesitated to come on the stage leaving Annavaru, me and Gowri, renamed as ‘Nandini.’ Unexpectedly the thespian removed his slippers and prostrated before the cattle before accepting it, he narrated.

Ramesh accompanied the calf to Rajkumar’s home. The calf was welcomed with aarthi and taken to the shed. “I could see the excitement in Dr Rajkumar, when he led me into the shed where already two cows were chewing fodder. He fed them lovingly and it was rare sight,” he said.

The actor forced him to stay for lunch. “While we talked over the lunch, he asked about crops, cropping pattern and his experience at the village, he kept on repeating, you are all lucky people you stay in villages, you have been feeding us, at least today you should eat well and be happy,” said Ramesh

The actor became nostalgic when he shared his experience at his village, the cattle, fields and the beehives.

Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Apr132008/city2008041362481.asp

© 2008 Dr. Rajkumar – Annavaru.