Rajkumar

                      (1954 – 2005) 

                          Kannada

                 Singanalluru Puttaswamayya Muthuraju (24 April 1929 – twelve April 2006), identified mononymously by his screen name Rajkumar was a preferred actor and singer within the Kannada movie industry. he's thought of a cultural icon of Kannada , wherever he's additionally referred to as Rajanna, Natasarvabhouma (emperor of acting), Gaana Gandharva (singer within the court of Gods), and as Annavru (beloved elder brother). 

               The Ultimate methodology Actor, Rajkumar entered the screenland at the age of eight and got his 1st break as a lead within the 1954-film Bedara Kannappa and went on to figure in over 220 films. At the age of seventy one, he was abducted in Gajanur (the place wherever he was brought up) by forest thief Veerappan throughout a 108-day ordeal once he was free. He died of Cardiac arrest at his residence in urban center on twelve April 2006.

              In his film career, Rajkumar received 9 state State Film Awards, 10 South Filmfare Awards, 2 National Film Awards and a National Film Award for Best Playback Singer. He received in 2002 the NTR National Award. He was additionally awarded associate unearned doctor's degree from the University of Mysore, and could be a recipient of the Padma Bhushan and therefore the Dadasaheb Phalke Award.

Life

             Dr.Raj Kumar was born on Apr twenty four, 1929 at Gajanur (Talavadi block), Madras Presidency settled within the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border. His tongue was Kannada . His father, Singanalluru Puttaswamayya, was Associate in Nursing impoverished theatre-artist United Nations agency was wide widespread for depicting powerful roles like Kamsa, Ravana and Hiranyakashipu. His mother's name was Lakshmamma. Whereas, the thespian Rajkumar's father was from Singânallur, close to Coimbatore city on the Coimbatore-Sulur Road. Rajkumar born out of faculty at the age of eight once having been discovered by a show producer, and compete minor characters till he was twenty five once he compete his 1st lead role. Originally, he was named Mutturaju once the Lord Muthathi Raya, that could be a temple supernatural being settled in Muttatti of Malavalli Taluk, Mandya district, Karnataka.

            Before acting in Bedara Kannappa, Rajkumar acted in a very flick, Srinivasa Kalyana, within which he was one in all Saptharshis. This was too little a role; he remembered solely that the scene within which he acted was over before he recognized himself within the scene.

           Rajkumar married Parvathamma, with whom he had five kids (two daughters and 3 sons). 2 of his sons – Shivraj kumar and Puneet Rajkumar - became flourishing actors within the Kannada screenland. His Other son, Raghavendra Rajkumar, is associate degree actor-turned-producer.

Career 

Singer : 

            Rajkumar was conjointly a widely known singer, United Nations agency herbaceous plant several film still aspious songs . He won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer in 1992 for the critically acclaimed song "Naadamaya" from the picture show Jeevana Chaitra. it's a classical song in Thodi Raga that demonstrates his skillfulness as a singer with its complicated graces because it progresses with alternative ragas. 

            He was trained in musical style whereas in Gubbi Veeranna's drama organisation that had a demand for everybody to own a minimum of a operating information of the classical music. He performed a song within the film Mahishasura Mardini (this was picturized on Narasimharaju, a preferred comedian). However, he failed to become a full-fledged singer till his vastly standard song "Yare Koogadali" from the film Sampathige Sawal in 1974. before this, Rajkumar's songs were largely sung by P. B. Srinivas. when that, he herb in most of his movies and in several non-public albums, that were chiefly pious albums. His song renditions ranged from pure classical to discotheque and quick numbers to pathos. though his singing was greatly appreciated, his fans of the times of black-and-white movies in Sixties and Seventies, believe he was really P. B. Srinivas, WHO did the playback singing for many of Rajkumar's movies, till Rajkumar himself began to sing. P. B. Srinivas continuing singing for him in several of the films within which Rajkumar asterisked in double/triple roles.

             Rajkumar’s voice had a smoothness and depth that was additionally capable of nice high-spiritedness, noticeable in songs like "Sigivem Kshanadali," "Thai Thai Bangari," "Naa Ninna Mareyalare" and "Aradhisuve." His childhood theatrical background helped him in acting furthermore as singing and he was adept at rendering his voice to completely different genres: romantic, sentimental, pious and semi-classical.

           His songs concerning Kannadigas, kannada language and culture, like "Jenina Holeyo" from Chalisuva Modagalu, "Maanavanagi Huttidmele" from Jeevana chaitra and "Huttidare kannada Naadalli Hutta Beku" from the movie Aakasmika, square measure vastly popular. He even Panax quinquefolius an entire English song known as "If You come back Today" (Tick Tick Tick) in one amongst his Bond films - Operation Diamond Racket in 1978. This song became a preferred web acculturation in India following Rajkumar's death in 2006.

          In his final years, Rajkumar Lent his voice to a couple of alternative actors and herbaceous plant several background solos. One such song, that holds a singular distinction, was for the 1993 Films Muddina Maava, where by he provided playback to the legendary singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, United Nations agency acted within the movie. This was a rare occasion wherever Associate in Nursing actor herbaceous plant for a singer. Kalidasa's shlokas (songs) like "Maanikya Veena" and ghazal based mostly songs like"Sadaa Kannale," "Kanneera Dhaare" and "Yaava Kaviyu," have conjointly become very fashionable. additionally to his film work, he Lent his voice for several pious songs on Hanumantha and Sri Raghavendra Swami. 

Actor : 

             Rajkumar started his career as a theater creator along with his father in a very organisation crystal rectifier by the legendary Gubbi Veeranna. Here Rajkumar honed his acting and singing skills with Bedara Kannappa, a 1954 Kannada picture, that marked his entry into the film world. This moving picture was directed by H L N Simha, UN agency christened him "Rajkumar." Rajkumar would use an equivalent name for the remainder of his life. He later forayed into film production with the vastly well-liked Ranadheera Kanteerava, that he created. This movie, that was created completely with technicians from Karnataka, conjointly marked the start of full-fledged film-making in state. The renowned song Shivappa Kaayo Tande originated in his initial movie. 

             Rajkumar acted solely in Kannada movies throughout his life. only 1 flick Kalahasti Mahatyam was discharged in Telugu that was the remake of his Kannada film Bedara Kannappa. In his life, Rajkumar acted in 206 Kannada movies, excluding guest appearances. He closely-held a movie production company referred to as Vajreshwari Production, that produces films below the banner of Dakshayani Combines. Bhagyada Bagilu was his one centesimal flick, Devatha Manushya was his 2 hundredth flick, and Shabdavedhi was his 206th and last film.

            His character depictions ranged from lovers to double and triple roles', from action and mythological characters to portrayals of up to date social causes during a career spanning over 5 decades and with outstanding box-office success. Rajkumar at the side of his contemporaries Udaya Kumar and Kalyan Kumar were in style as “Kumara Thrayaru” of the Kannada cinema. He has acted in thirty six films with Udaya Kumar and five films with Kalyan Kumar over the course of his career. several of his films were of epic proportions and also the costumes were elaborate wherever Rajkumar vie every role with calmness. The films given a advocate version of Karnataka's history, focusing totally on the southern kingdoms from the Pallava amount to the Vijayanagara empire and later to the intrigue and mystery of the Mysore royalty.

Awards 

National Film Awards : 

1992 : Best Male Playback Singer for the song "Naadamaya Ee Lokavella" from the movie Jeevana Chaitra 

Filmfare Awards South : 

Rajkumar is a ten-time winner of South Filmfare Awards in the Best Actor category (a record which was later levelled by Kamal Haasan and Mammootty). Some of the films for which he received Best Actor awards include: 

1994 : Lifetime achievement award

1993 : Aakasmika

1982 : Haalu Jenu

1981 : Keralida Simha

1978 : Shankar Guru

1975 : Mayura

1973 : Gandhada Gudi 

Karnataka State Film Awards : 

Total tally of 12 (9 for best actor, 2 for best singer, 1 lifetime achievement) 

Karnataka State Film Awards (Nine) : 

Best Actor category 

Karnataka State Film Awards (Two) : 

Best Playback Singer category 

Other awards : 

2003 : ETV Kannadiga of the Year Award 

2002 : NTR National Award.

1999 : The Nadoja Award (an honorary doctorate) from Hampi University

1995 : Dadasaheb Phalke Award

1992 : Karnataka Ratna

1985 : Kentucky colonel honorary title by the governor of Kentucky, U.S

1983 : Padma Bhushan award

1976 : Honorary Doctorate from the Mysore University

 

Death

               Rajkumar died at his zero in Sadashivanagar, city on April twelve, 2006 following a Cardiac arrest. As per his desires, his eyes were given to two folks consecutive day.

               His death precipitated a broad reaction. Following the news of his death, there was major unrest within the town of city. The then Chief Minister, H. D. Kumaraswamy, later claimed that the violence was instigated by unconditional political interests. but the opposition curst it on lack of timely arrangements by accountable organizations. AN unofficial bandh (closure of all outlets and alternative establishments) was declared. quite one thousand vehicles were burnt and eight folks were killed in police firing. many folks tried suicide once hearing of Rajkumar's death; most of them were reclaimed. Around 2 million folks followed his remains. a number of the unrest was caught on film throughout the "Outsourcing" episode of the Morgan Spurlock show thirty Days.

             The Karnataka government declared its intention to create a ten crore memorial in memory of Rajkumar at Kanteerava Studios. once Rajkumar's dying, as a tribute and remembrance his fans have undraped quite fifty statues of Rajkumar, unfold across city town.