Bengaluru, 23 April (H.S.) :
Singanalluru Puttaswamaih Muthuraju nee Dr Rajkumar was born 24th April 1929 at Dodda Gajanuru, in the princely state of Mysore .
His rise to be the super star of Indian Cinema is the stuff of a legend.
His father, Singanalluru Puttaswamaih was a popular theatre personality during the late 1940s. Singanalluru Puttaswamaih was not only a brilliant actor but also a fabulous singer. He had great liking for Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan and would sing very similar to the Kasur Patiala stalwart. As a matter of fact Singanalluru Puttaswamaih’s histrionics were duly acknowledged by the Wadiyars of Princely State of Mysore.
SP Muthuraju was the eldest of the four siblings and took up to acting at a very early stage of life. It was natural that he followed his father’s foot steps to carve a life of his own as a teenager. Thus he joined the well known professional theatre groups of those days namely Gubbi Veeranna and MV Subbaih Naidu Companies.
In the initial years he used to play supporting roles in stage shows. It is by providence that young Muthuraju was casted as Ramakantha an antagonist character in the play Bhakta Ambareeshsha, that brought name and fame to the young lad. Post this role he began to get very good lead roles.
SP Muthuraju was introduced by AVM pproductio’s bilingual Bedara Kannappa with the screen name Rajkumar. The movie was released on 7th May 1954. It was a date with history.
For the next five decades Rajkumar became the synonymn for Kannada and Kannada Pride.
In the beginning of his career he used to act in mythological and devotional roles . Devotional genre movie like Santa Tukaram, Mantralya Mahatme made him a house hold name.
In due course of time he began to essay socially relevant movies. In a matter of fourteen years he had completed 100 movies and was the only Kannada film actor to have reached the mile stone. Bhagyda Bagilu for record was his 100th movie .
In the meanwhile, Rajkumar had made great friends with stalwarts like Tamil Super Stars MG Ramachandran, Shivaji Ganeshan, Telugu film super star NT Ramarao. It was sheer hard work and talent that he was in a elite group in the South Indian Film industry.
Rajkumar’s histrionics were un paralleled as was endorsed and validated by Bombay based Prithvi Theatre founder Prithvi Raj Kapoor. So enamoured was Prithvi Raj Kapoor by the talent of Rajkumar, that he made a special appearance as Rajkumar’s father in the movie Sakshatkara. Prithvi Raj Kapoor considered Rajkumar as his own son. And Rajkumar treated Prithvi Raj Kapoor as his father. Their liking was mutual.
The turning point of Rajkumar’s career was the role of Rajeeva in the 1972 released Bangarada Manushya. The movie scripted history not only in Kannada film industry but also in Indian cinema Industry. The movie had a great run for two years . Rajkapoor, Vinod Khanna , Sanjeev Kumar, Vinod Mehra, NT Ramarao, MG Ramachandran, Shivaji Ganeshan watched the movie by special request. Rajkumar as an educated youth finding his roots as a farmer heralded a socio cultural revolution in Karnataka.
He was awarded an honorary doctorate for the exemplary service to Kannada film industry by Mysore University.
His contribution to the cause of Kannada was evident in implementing the Gokak report in the early 1980s.
In his illustrious career he essayed all kinds of roles. Gandhada Gudi was his 150th movie. Yet again Rajkumar was the only Kannada film actor to have acted in 150 movies in the lead .
His singing career took off with the song Yaare Koogadali in the movie Sampattige Sawal in 1976. Since then he became a sensational actor singer in Kannada film industry. He went on to win a national award for singing in the 1992 released movie Jeevana Chaitra for rendering the song Nada Maya, Ee lokavella Nada Maya. In the annals of Indian Cinema Rajkumar is the only film fraternity member to have won national award for acting and singing.
Devata Manushya movie yet again was a witness to an unique record. Rajkumar was the first Kannada film fraternity member to have essayed lead role in 200 movies.
In his illustrious career he was decorated with innumerable awards and citations including Padmashree, Padma Bhushan , Dada Saheb Phalke award for outstanding contribution to film industry.
A man who remained unfazed by the glamour world, Rajkumar was the best brand ambassador for Hata Yoga which he practiced for over three decades.
He along with his wife Parvathamma Rajkumar in tandem with SP Varada Raju were responsible for setting up M/ S Vajreshwari Combines in Gandhi nagar Bangalore and contribute to the growth of Kannada films and Industry. Shabda Vedi released in the year 2000 AD remains to be his last movie. Dr Rajkumar breathed his last on 12th April 2006.
It’s a matter of great pride that Dr Rajkumar legacy continues till date.
Hindusthan Samachar / Manjunath Chavan
