Visvesvaraya stadium set milestones for Ambareesh

Sir M Visvesvaraya stadium in Mandya district, where the mortal remains of Sandalwood actor turned politician Ambareesh has been kept for public viewing, is the place which has set several milestones in his life.

The actor who forayed into politics in 1994 had organised the convention in the same stadium and made his political debut by holding Congress party flag in front of then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao and former Chief Minister S M Krishna.

After submitting his resignation from the Information and Broadcasting ministry following the alleged injustice to Karnataka state, Ambareesh had protested in the same stadium. In 2002, the actor had also celebrated his 50th birthday where most of the biggies of Sandalwood and lakhs of Ambi's fans had graced the event.

Ambareesh had also organised his close friend Dr Vishnuvardhan's birthday in the same Vishvesvaraya stadium. After the birthday celebration, the climax shooting of Kannada movie Vishnusena was also organised in the stadium. When Vishnusena director Naganna was searching for a perfect place where he can get at least one lakh fans for the climax shooting, the immediate choice was the stadium. As both Vishnu and Ambi had a huge fan base in Mandya, the climax shooting was successful in drawing more than one lakh people.

Later in 2013, where the political pundits had predicted Ambareesh political career to hit a roadblock, the Rebel Star had organised a political rally after the confirmation of Congress ticket for Vidhan Sabha polls. Then Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had addressed the Congress rally, which had drawn a huge crowd.

After winning the polls in 2013, Ambareesh became district-in-charge minister of Mandya. In 2015, he had also taken the responsibility of celebrating 75 years of formation of Mandya district. The event was also organised in the same stadium, where the huge dias named after erstwhile Mysuru ruler Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadeyar was erected. The three-day event that marked the platinum jubilee celebrations of Sugar City, is still cherished by the residents of the district.

Finally, the same stadium is witnessing the last journey and last meet of the Ambareesh with lovely Mandya people, who are bidding goodbye to departed Mandyada Gandu (The Man of Mandya).