Star Passes On; Fury And Fire Grip City

Rajkumar the legend
Star Passes On Fury And Fire Grip City
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: It’s the end of an era. Twelve days before he would have turned 77 on April 24, the man called Kannadada Kanmani (Kannada’s darling), Natasaarvabhouma (king among actors) and Annavru (elder brother) — Singanallur Puttaswamaiah Muthuraj, better known as Rajkumar — passed away on Wednesday after a fatal cardiac arrest, plunging fans, friends and well-wishers into gloom.

Rajkumar started the day with his usual exercise and a brisk 20-minute walk. He started feeling tired around 11.30 am and the family called in the doctor. He lay down for a while.

Around 1.30 pm, he sat down on a sofa in the drawing room and told family members: “I am finding it difficult to breathe, please slow down the fan.’’ Within minutes, he collapsed and was rushed to M S Ramaiah Memorial Hospital by his wife Parvathamma, son Raghavendra and personal physician Dr B Ramana Rao. On arrival, the hospital tried to revive him, but to no avail. He was pronounced dead at 2 pm.

His eyes were donated even as the body was kept preserved, waiting for his eldest son Shivrajkumar, who was shooting in Hampi for his upcoming film Kumara Rama.

The star had been ailing for the past few years. Family members say: “It was after his brother and staunchest supporter S P Varadaraju’s death on February 8, that he lost interest in everything. At Varadaraju’s last rites, he muttered: ‘I will follow you soon.’’’

As the thespian’s fans went berserk across Bangalore, chief minister H D Kumaraswamy went on air on all channels appealing to the public to maintain peace. “Don’t give in to any emotional turmoil or take hasty decisions. As a fan of Rajkumar, I appeal to you fellow fans not to bring a bad name to him,’’ he said.
What triggered off trouble was the delay in deciding where the body should be kept for public viewing. Kumaraswamy said the initial venue was Palace Grounds,

but this was set aside as “it is hard to control crowds there’’.

“The family suggested Poorna Pragnya School grounds, but we felt that was too small. We decided on Kanteerava Stadium as it is easy to regulate the crowd,’’ Kumaraswamy said.

The body will be kept for public viewing till the funeral.
In the early 1990s, there was a public outcry when it was believed that Rajkumar had died.

The thespian had then gone on TV to tell people he was alive and well. And said: “Not many people know what will happen if they die. You have all made me see it for myself.’’

“I want to dance with you all again. But my knee should permit it.’’ Year after year, this was the line with which Rajkumar, the colossus of the Kannada film world, consoled his fans.
Now, his legions of fans are inconsolable.