Everyone’s ‘Annavru’

It was a life well-lived. It was a life embellished with several achievements. Rajkumar, born 77 years ago in a tiny hamlet in Karnataka, was an actor of immense talent. From humble beginnings, he matured into an actor of great stature, on stage as well as the big screen.

A legend even when alive, the actor’s life was an open book. Rajkumar was actively involved in the Kannada film industry for a major part of the last century. Rajkumar will remain a guiding star to a generation of artistes.

It was in Gajanur near Chamarajanagar that Rajkumar was born. The day - April 24, the year 1929. His father was a noted theatre artiste - Singanallur Puttaswamaiah. His mother was Lakshmamma.
The actor was named Muthuraj as it was believed that he was born with the blessings of Muttathiraya. Muthuraj was rechristened as Rajkumar after he became an actor.
‘Anna’ was an epithet that millions of his fans chose for their hero.

Then came ‘Annavru’, affection mingled with respect. And that stuck. And Rajkumar reciprocated with the way he addressed his fans, ‘Abhimani Devarugalu’. An exalted position to his fans.
Rajkumar’s primary education was at the Government Primary School at Hirepura near Gajanur.
After completing his fourth standard, Rajkumar took to music lessons under the tutelage of his uncle Appaji Gowda.

At the same time, it was Puttaswamaiah’s dream that his son become an actor. It was as Balarama in the drama ‘Krishnaleela’ that Rajkumar made his debut on stage.

Rajkumar’s siblings, younger brother Varadappa, sister Sharadamma also donned roles in the play. A role in the movies was not too far away, and Rajkumar played one of the eleven saints in the film ‘Srinivasa Kalyana.’ And he was given remuneration of Rs 50. Incidentally, Rajkumar played the lead role in the colour film ‘Srinivasa Kalyana’.

Rajkumar acted in several plays from ‘Bhakta Ambareesha’ to ‘Bhu Kailasa’ and ‘Jagajyothi Basaveshwara.’ The actor’s father dreamt that his son make it big in the movies. But, that was not to be, for he soon passed away. Rajkumar was seen reminiscing about that several times during his career.

It was on June 25, 1953, that Rajkumar married his uncle’s daughter Parvathamma. It was a partnership that grew from strength to strength during his long career. ‘Bedarakannappa’ (1953) was Rajkumar’s first film as a lead actor. He followed it up with ‘Haribhakta’, ‘Ohileshwara’, ‘Mahishasura Mardhini’, ‘Abba Aa Hudugi’ and other films.

The actor completed a 100 films after 14 years of acting. It was ‘Bhagyada Bagilu’ which was his 100th film. ‘Gandhada Gudi’ was the 150th.

A record, It was a record of sorts when Rajkumar- starrer ‘Bangarada Manushya’ was screened for 104 consecutive weeks in the States movie hall in Bangalore.

Rajkumar acted in over 20 mythological films, including ‘Bhu Kailasa’, ‘Srikrishna Garudi’, ‘Dashavathara’, ‘Satya Harishchandra’, ‘Mahasathi Anasuya’, ‘Sathi Savithri’, ‘Mohini Bhasmasura’, ‘Srikannika Parameshwari Kathe’, ‘Parvathi Kalyana’, ‘Gange Gowri’, ‘Mahasathi Arundhati’, ‘Srikrishna Rukmini’, ‘Satyabhama’, ‘Babruvahana’ and ‘Bhakta Prahlada.’

Out of the notable historical films that Rajkumar acted in are ‘Jagajyothi Basaveshwara’, ‘Ranadheera Kanteerava,’ ‘Kittur Chennamma,’ ‘Sarvagnamurthy,’ ‘Srikrishnadevaraya,’ ‘Mayura,’ ‘Huliya Halina Mevu’ and ‘Immadi Pulikeshi.’

And to add to the sheer variety of roles, he also played James Bond-like characters in some films.

The other roles that won him adulation were in devotional films like ‘Bedara Kannappa,’ ‘Haribhakta,’ ‘Ohileshwara,’ ‘Bhakta Kanakadasa,’ ‘Santh Tukaram,’ ‘Navakoti Narayana,’ ‘Manthralaya Mahatme’ and ‘Bhakta Kumbara.’