Rajkumar buried with full state honours, five die in violence(lead)

Rajkumar buried with full state honours, five die in violence(lead)
Bangalore | April 13, 2006 9:15:22 PM IST

Veteran Kannada film actor Rajkumar was today buried with full state honours inside the family owned Kantirava Studios while his frenzied fans went on rampage on the streets of Bangalore in which five persons died.

Swarming crowds that followed the procession route of the thespian jostled to pay their respect to their 'Annavaru' (the elder brother). According to some estimates, three lakh peoples followed the cavalcade carrying the body of the their revered 'Nata Saarvabhowma' or the 'Emperor of Acting.

Kept in a glass-enclosed chamber, the final procession beginning from the Kanteevara Stadium meandered its way to the studio interspersed with frequent halts that took close to five hours to reach.

Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy along with several Ministers and eminent personalities ranging from film, art, and literature took part in the procession and were present when his body was finally being led for rest in peace.

The last rites of Rajkumar were performed as per the customs of the Idiga community of Hindu from which he belonged to.

A two-day mourning has been declared by the State Government.

Meanwhile, contrast to what the versatile actor was, his fans ran amok on the city streets pelting stones and attacking the policemen. The mobs set on fire two public buses earlier in the day.

A private new channel vehicle also came under the ire of the mob that attacked the camerapersons.

The streets of Bangalore though are calm now, there exists a palpable silence with undercurrent of anger and tension.

Rajkumar's fans protested against the administration's failure in properly managing the situation. They were complaining that the body of their loved actor remained in open for long hours after he died yesterday following a cardiac arrest.

Police had to restore baton charge on the unruly fans surging to have a glimpse of their icon as they attempted to restore order at the stadium while thousands of fans, including women and children, stood in long queues to pay homage.

Drivers pasted pictures of the actor to their windows in the hope of avoiding the mob's attention.

Cable television operators blocked entertainment channels to mark a day of the mourning.

Meanwhile, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat and Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh expressed deep sorrow over the passing away of the Kannada super star.

In a message to his wife, Smt. Parvathamma, Shekhawat said: "In his long career in the film industry, Rajkumar worked with generation of directors and made valuable contribution to South Indian Cinema".

Describing the veteran actor as an extremely amiable person who endeared himself to all through his innate simplicity and sensitivity, the Vice-President said that the country has lost a distinguished actor and a fine human being.

The Prime Minister in his condolence message, recalled Rajkumar's signal contributions to public affairs.

"Dr. Rajkumar will always be remembered not only as a cinematic icon who captivated generations of viewers, but also for his signal contributions to public affairs. The conferment of the Dadasaheb Phalke award testified to his histrionic talents and his life-long contribution to the cause of cinema. His services to the society and the nation led him naturally to the sphere of public life, where he fought for the welfare of the people. His commitment led to people reposing their trust in him, and this in turn led him to dedicate himself to address their concerns. His unfortunate demise leaves a void that will be difficult to fill".

The Prime Minister offered his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, his associates and to the countless fans and admirers.

Born in 1929, Rajkumar acted in more than 220 Kannada films spanning over the four decades of his reel life career.

Dr Rajkumar got his first break as a hero in 'Bedara Kannappa' in 1954, which turned him into a superstar.

Rajkumar was awarded with Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1995.

In 2000, he was kidnapped by the notorious sandalwood smuggler Veerappan, who kept him in captivity for 109 days, which had led to a great crisis for the then Karnataka Government.

The icon's last film was 'Shabdavedi' which when released in February 2000 went on to become a silver jubilee hit.

The legendary actor is survived by his wife Parvathamma Rajkumar along with three sons and two daughters.

With his demise, curtain falls on a great epic of Kannada film history. (ANI)

Viewer's Comment

Comments Not Available

More Stories