Puneeth's book on Raj released
A book comprising over 1,750 photographs of Kannada matinee idol Rajkumar, authored by his actor-son Puneeth Rajkumar, was released here on Saturday. 
The book, co-authored by Prakruthi N Banavasi, an educationist, has been published in both English and Kannada.
After the release of the book by Raj’s wife Parvathamma Rajkumar and his sister Nagamma, Raghavendra Rajkumar said his brother Puneeth had dreamt of writing a book on ‘appaji’ in 1997. The proceedings from the sale of the book will be utilised for improving infrastructure in Kannada medium government schools. Parvathamma bought the first copy for Rs one lakh.
“Till date 66 books have been written about Rajkumar. We claim not to have written anything new. But we have tried to incorporate small, personal matters in the family that depict the man better,” Raghavendra said.
The Kannada version of the book costs Rs 2,250 and the English version, Rs 2,750.
Puneeth had initially planned to release the book in 2004, but he could start working on it only in 2005. It gathered pace only after Rajkumar’s death.
Playback singer P B Srinivas, senior actress Ranganayaki and cine writer Chi Dattaraj were awarded the “Rajkumar Souharda Prashasti’.
The award that the thespian’s family has instituted is conferred on three senior cine artistes every year. It carries a memento and a purse of Rs one lakh.
P B Srinivas, who was known as the voice of Rajkumar, became emotional at the award ceremony. He recited a poem written by himself on Rajkumar.
