Kannada Film Actor Rajkumar Passes Away

The popular Kannada film actor, Dr Rajkumar, born Mutturaju Singanalluru Puttaswamayya, has passed away at the age of 77 after a cardiac arrest. He acted in over 200 films, and spearheaded various social movements, including the Gokak movement, aimed at raising the profile of Kannada as a social force. He was kidnapped by the poacher Veerappan in 2000, and later released after a frenetic search and rescue operation.

Anant Nag, another noted Kannada film actor, commented on the news,

"His passing away will leave a void because his legacy is unparalleled even by greats like MGR or NTR. Unlike other popular actors, he chose to stay away from politics and led his life among the masses. To his last breath, he remained a humble man, never trying to capitalise on his popularity."

He won 10 Best Actor Filmfare awards in his career as a thespian, besides receiving the Padma Bhushan and the Dadasaheb Phalke award. He was a noted singer, his devotional albums selling beyond the Pope's wildest dreams. His acting and general demeanor were exemplary. One cannot say the same about his heated fan-base. As happens so often in a society in flux, faced with tumultuous change, and with strata that are unable to take advantage of the opportunities of capitalism, regionalism took root, although not as strongly as in neigboring Tamil Nadu. As a result of this half-hearted regionalism and social flux, wherein one segment was skating onto the 'level playing field' and another facing insurmountable barriers, they took refuge in opposing the very factors that made the 'level playing field' possible. English, technology and Westernization became totems to knock down, oppose and insurrect against.

The same dissatisfaction and un-addressed anger saw expression after the actor's death on Wednesday, with the city lapsing into a melee of frenzy and fury. Vehicles were pelted, set ablaze, and shutters downed. A state holiday on the 13th will provide some respite to heated emotions and perhaps time to reflect on the legacy of Dr Rajkumar, Kannadada Kanmani, Annavru.