Actor and Dr Rajkumar’s son Shivarajkumar urged the fans to protest peacefully. He requested them to lodge a police complaint instead of blocking roads.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Bangalore/
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He was a versatile actor and a good singer. He was an artiste of such superior strengths and involvement that it was difficult to find loopholes in his portrayals. But that is not the focus of this story. It is not even about the void he seems to have left in the common man’s psyche.

Much has been said about his modesty and decency. Nursing a drink or holding a cigarette was taboo to him and he led such a disciplined life till the end. Though his public appearances were a few, he is most remembered for his dignified and humble ways. It is those apparently inconsequential details of his conduct that one treasures and wishes to share with the reader.

All his 205 films were in Kannada and not one of them could be discarded as a flop. If his debut film, Bedara Kannappa (1954) gave him instant stardom and also struck an emotional chord with his audience, his last outing, Shabdavedi (2000) saw the ageing star endear himself as much to the teens as he did to his faithful fans, which transcended age, gender, social and economic barriers.

What one saw of Rajkumar on screen was much of what he was in person. He admitted that he did not know English, not with a parochial sense of patriotism, but with a genuine sense of being an ignoramus in the more ‘sophisticated’ ways of the world. For many years, one believed that this ‘humility’ was for public consumption. But how long can a charade go on without being discovered?

Always dressed in a spotless dhoti and white shirt, it was this mega star who, as a matter of principle, began the tradition of eating with the crew while shooting. He would sit cross-legged on the floor and eat the meal prepared for the staff along with the light-boys and other ‘menial’ members of the set. He would also be present on the sets the entire day because, according to him, “I am being paid for the film”.

One misconception about this legend is that he did not indulge in philanthrophic activities. One has to go back to the early Sixties when Kannada film production had come down due to shortage of raw film. Nearly 40 Kannadiga families living in Chennai, who depended on the Kannada film industry for their livelihood, had to face hardship. Rajkumar took on moral responsibility for feeding these families. Cashing in on his star value, he formed the Chalana Chitra Kalavidara Ranga with stalwarts such as G V Iyer and Balakrishna and toured Karnataka for several months enacting plays.

It is also a fallacy that Rajkumar was unapproachable. One recalls an incident at actor Jaggesh’s house-warming ceremony many years ago, when Rajkumar patted the empty seat next to him and invited one to sit for lunch with him. This gesture, coming from a mega star to a stranger, is not something one can perhaps say of actors of any other region. Rajkumar was a complete man — an epitome of humility. And that’s the reason why he still finds a place in our hearts.

Source: http://www.newindpress.com/sunday/sundayitems.asp?id=SEF20080419042436&eTitle=Cinema&rLink=0

Those interested may send in entries before June 30, to MC Vasudeva Rao, President, Basavangudi Foundation, # 44, II floor, Dr Mutturaj Road, SBM colony, Banashankari I stage, Bangalore. For details, call 94480 51530, 26699175, 26699159, the release added.

Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/may162006/city2133382006515.asp

Over 1,000 policemen including KSRP and District Armed Reserve (DAR) platoons, fire brigade personnel, ambulances and emergency services made the offering to the departed soul incident-free and peaceful. Those closely associated with Rajkumar’s family narrated anecdotes about his eagerness to ensure that all the 24 workers of the household ate in silver plates.

One of them recalled how Raj washed his own clothes till the end. The narrations were interrupted with sobs. Inside the farm, Rajkumar’s mother and younger brother are buried beside each other. Special flower offerings were also made in a room adorned with the pictures of Raj’s parents. Kannada film industry people including Jayanti, Shruti, Rajendra Singh Babu, Vijay Raghavendra, Mamata Rao, Rockline Venkatesh, Devaraj, Anu Prabhakar, Sunder Raj and Kumar and Madhu Bangarappa among others attended the ceremony.

Earlier in the day, actress Jayaprada who co-starred with Rajkumar in his last movie Shabdavedhi, met Raj family members at his residence in Sadashivnagar here and offered her condolences. At an informal press conference held at the farm, eldest son Shivarajkumar said a cheque of Rs 50,000 each will be given to the family members of the eight persons who were killed in the violence that erupted after Rajkumar’s death. Second son Raghavendra spoke of the Rajkumar Trust and Shaktidhama voluntary organisation, which will continue to do focused work in the name of Rajkumar. “We will set aside 40 per cent of our time for constructive work like educating the poor, in the name of our father,” he added.

Rajkumar’s three sons also said they would give a week’s time for the release of new Kannada releases of other producers that were put on hold on account of the actor’s death. “Only after that will we release our own films,” Shivrajkumar added. Raghavendra said the family will discuss with the government and industry colleagues on the ever lasting contribution that can be made with Raj’s memorabilia. Raghavendra also recalled how every year on his birthday, April 24, Rajkumar would come out on the balcony of his residence to wave at his fans. “This year we will keep a photograph of his at the gate and serve sweets to those who visit us, appaji would have loved it,” he added.

Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr232006/index2116482006422.asp