Fans flock to pay tributes to Rajkumar

Hundreds of fans flocked the Rajkumar samadhi (memorial) at Kanteerava Studio off Outer Ring Road, on his 84th birth anniversary on Tuesday, to pay their tributes to their beloved “Annavaru.”

The young and old stood in serpentine queues from the early hours at the memorial, which was decorated with flowers. Family members of Rajkumar, a large number of Kannada cine actors and Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda and his Cabinet colleagues paid rich tributes to the thespian.

The Rajkumar Fans Association had organised blood donation, eye donation and free health check-up camps at the Kanteerava Studio to mark the occasion.

Speaking at a function organised to mark the event at the Kanteerava Studio, Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda said work on the construction of the much-delayed second phase of Dr Rajkumar Memorial at Kanteerava Studio will be completed in a year’s time.

“I will convene a meeting of officials and members of the Rajkumar Smaraka Pratishtana Samithi and direct them to take appropriate steps to complete the work,” he said.

Noted writer Baragur Ramachandrappa said the government should take up construction of Dr Rajkumar museum, multi-purpose auditorium and a library, apart from the Memorial. The second phase of the Memorial project has not taken off due to want of space. The government should immediately provide necessary land for this purpose, he added.

Shivarajkumar fumes

“I will protest if the Kannada industry is run against the aspirations of my father. Once I stand against it, I will fight till the last drop of my blood,” Shivarajkumar, son of the late Rajkumar, warned those working against the interests of Kannada film industry.

He said the film industry had changed in the absence of Appaji (Rajkumar). “People should not think that we have become mute spectators. We are ready to do anything to protect the interests of Kannada filmdom,” he added.

He said he has a lot of respect for non-Kannada films. “I called up Dhanush over phone and congratulated him after watching his recent movie. But I will not remain silent if non-Kannada movies try to seek backdoor entry,” he stated.

Ministers draw flak

Noted writer Baragur Ramachandrappa took serious exception to Home Minister R Ashoka and Housing Minister V Somanna, for  standing on the steps of Rajkumar’s samadhi while offering tributes to the thespian, when the photographers insisted.

“Even the chief minister and the family members of Rajkumar stood away from samadhi. I am upset by the incident,” he said.

Later, Somanna apologised for his mistake.

In another incident, veteran actor Jayanthi faced humiliation when one of the organisers asked her to leave the dais before the inauguration. Members of the Rajkumar Fans Association objected to it, but the actor walked away. She was later invited again.