Myriad events mark thespian Rajkumar's 89th birth anniversary across city

Faces painted with Rajkumar's portraits, musical tributes and distribution of cakes — the 89th birth anniversary of the Kannada thespian was celebrated with much fervour at Ravindra Kalakshetra here on Monday.

The Department of Information and Public Relations, which had organised the programme, tried to emphasise on the values that the late actor espoused besides creating an environment of festivities on the occasion.

Rajkumar’s views and ideas were discussed by actors even as artistes who participated in the programme stressed on the morality and social responsibility which were present in the late actor’s movies and songs.

Shivaraj and Puneeth’s tribute
Thunderous applause almost drowned ‘Hat-trick Hero’ Shivarajkumar’s voice as he sang popular songs ‘Aadisi nodu beelisi nodu’ and ‘Akashave beelali mele’.

When Puneeth Rajkumar started singing ‘Bombe helutaite’ from his latest film ‘Rajakumara’, many stood up with tears in their eyes.

Baragur Ramachandrappa recited his poem on the kidnapping of legendary actor by Veerappan.

Daughter perfoms pooja
There were sombre moments as Parvatamma Rajkumar, Shivarajkumar, Raghavendra Rajkumar, Puneeth Rajkumar and Rajkumar’s sister Nagamma performed pooja at the late actor’s memorial at Kanteerava Studios.

Thousands of fans jostled for space at the venue to get a view of the family.

On the occasion, Kempegowda Nagarika Vedike distributed books for poor children at Keshava Shilpa Circle at Kempegowda Nagar. In Domlur, Kannada Geleyara Balaga, Rotary Club (East) and Shanimahatma Swami Temple had jointly organised blood donation camp on the temple premises.

The Chamarajpet Cultural Trust had organised ‘Gana Gandharvanigondu Gana Namana’ programme where Lakshmi Mahesh and troupe sang popular numbers from Rajkumar films to pay tributes to the actor.

At Kanteerava Studios, singers vied with each other to perform in Rajkumar's voice.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike honoured artistes Dingri Nagaraj, Biradar, D Lakshman Nayak, Shantakumar and others.

Google pays tribute  through Doodle
Google paid tribute to the late Kannada thespian and cultural icon Rajkumar on his 89th birth anniversary on Monday through a doodle.
The Google Doodle showed a young smiling Rajkumar’s larger-than-life image beaming through the silver screen at an audience that watches him in awe.
Rajkumar was born as Singanalluru Puttaswamayya Muthuraj on April 24, 1929. Arvind Gowda, who coordinated with Google to create the doodle, said: “It is an incredibly beautiful gesture by Google to pay tribute to Karnataka’s cultural icon. He is also the only south Indian actor to have been given a tribute by Google through a doodle. It is an honour to have helped them in their efforts by connecting them to Rajkumar’s family who helped them to bring their tribute to fruition.”