The Humble Prince

The Humble Prince

New Indian Express



It is an acknowledged fact that the actor born Muthuraju Singanalluru Puttaswamayya in a poor family in Gajanur, a small village in Erode district of Tamil Nadu, was a living god for millions of Kannadiga fans. That he was the most popular icon of the Kannada language and culture. That he was a simple, straightforward man. That he was a versatile performer, who could be a saint or a family man or a police officer or a James Bond or a lover or a brother or a teacher or a poet.

Not so acknowledged is the fact that Kannada star Dr Rajkumar was a shy and retiring individual. For 50 years, in over 200 films, he reigned over the industry, but he was reluctant to use his authority and power to influence politics and politicians. His name has been summoned often by chauvinists, charlatans and some close relatives to inspire respect – even fear – among rivals, but Annavru (big brother) was genuinely a man of peace.

In the dust that they kick up – demanding supremacy for Kannada in primary education, more Kannada in government and other public communication, more jobs for Kannadigas in private businesses and industry, more barriers against other language cinema – the language chauvinists have obscured this gentle truth about this gentle artist. By constantly invoking his name, they have sometimes dishonoured his fair reputation.

There were unique circumstances that made Rajkumar the legend he was. The emergence of the integrated Karnataka state in 1956 is practically co-terminous with Rajkumar’s reign. He made his debut with Bedara Kannappa in 1954. The state that was formed was culled from the old Madras Presidency (Mangalore and Udupi), Nizam’s Hyderabad (Northern Karnataka districts), Bombay Presidency (North-Western Karnataka districts), Coorg and the Mysore Province. It was officially to be a Kannada state, but the histories of the places brought Telugu, Tulu, Tamil, Konkani, Kodava, Dakhini and Hindi into it. The influences of the languages with decades and centuries of coexistence with Kannada shaped unique dialects. Which one of them was to be the official Kannada dialect?

Rajkumar spoke and confirmed a Kannada tongue in his films that made the language acceptable to every part of the new and struggling Karnataka. He spoke it beautifully, with music and clarity. He gave his voice to Kannada poetry and, in the later films, following Sampattige Saval, he even sang for his own roles. He won the National Award for Best Singer for his song ‘Naadamaya’ (Jeevana Chaitra). But mainly, he shaped through his roles a Kannada character of gentleness, tolerance and hospitality, which, ironically, the fanatics among his fans are eroding.

On the rare occasions when he felt obliged to become a public voice for the language and culture, he made it count. In 1982, when he assumed leadership of the Gokak Agitation that demanded instruction in the state language at Primary schools, it acquired revolutionary proportions. But when chauvinists sometimes ran amok, as they did attacking Tamil establishments in Bangalore in December 1991, when S Bangarappa was Chief Minister, Rajkumar spoke of shame and disowned the fanatics.

The ultimate price of fame that the great artiste paid was when he was kidnapped in 2000 by the late Koose Muniswamy Gounder, better known as Veerappan, the dreaded poacher and murderer, strangely enough, also from his birthplace, Singanallur. He was held captive in hostile forest terrains for 108 days. Although 72 years old at the time, Rajkumar, a non-smoker and non-alcoholic, a yoga expert and one of the fittest actors in the country, survived the nightmarish ordeal. But the scars remained. The experience left him weakened in body and spirit. He health had deteriorated steadily. Six weeks ago, he had been hospitalised when he complained of chest pain. He was also suffering from neurological problems, bronchial allergy and lung infection. He was devastated too by the recent death of his younger brother Varadaraj, who had long managed his acting career. His longtime colleague, Vajramuni, who played villain opposite him in so many films, died soon after. Rajkumar wept uncontrollably.

Today, it’s the people of Karnataka who weep. There will be none like Rajkumar. Yes, innumerable titles came his way – 10 Filmfare awards for Best Actor, nine state awards, the Padma Bhushan, the Dadasaheb Phalke award. But these are mere markers of the man’s professional life. It’s as a person Rajkumar will be missed the most, because he was the greatest mass leader that Karnataka has produced – one who eschewed political power for his art and for everyone else’s peace.