Rajkumar the famous film actor and singer was born on 24 April 1929 in Gajanur and passed away from us on 12 April 2006 due to a cardiac arrest in his Bangalore residence.He is known as a cultural icon of Kannada film industry. He was known in various names like Ganna Gandarvan and Nadaswavara Bhouma which means the singer and the actor of emperor. The starting of the actor's career as a theatre artist in troupe with his father where he showed his talent in acting and singing. The first film of the famous actor was in the age of eight, that was the first break for him as a lead role in a kannada film Bedara kannappa in the year of 1954. After that he work for atleast 220 film. In the year of 2000, when he was 72, Rajkumar and three other people were kidnapped by the forest Brigand Veerappan from the actors house which is in Gajanur. The forest man Veerappan was demanding to release his gang members who were in jail for defend anti terrorism law. After a long period of 108 days, Rajkumar was released.
Professional life
In his professional life he received endless awards like National film awards. Two Awards for best playback singer in national level. Nine Karnataka film state award. NTR National awards in the year of 2002. Ten South filmfare awards. He received Dada saheb phalke award and Padma Bhushan also. He received award for Honorary Doctorate from the Mysore University. He acted as various characters like double role and triple role, action, mythological roles which was remarkable for five decades and was successful in box office. In his whole life he acted for kannada film history only except one movie named as "Kalahasti Mahatyam" which was the remake of his first movie Bedara Kannappa in Telugu.
He has his own film production company in the name of Vajreshwari Productions. The company produced films for the banner of Dakshayani companies. He produced some movies which was based on famous kannada novels and social evils. He acted with many famous heroines like Jayanti, Lakshmi, Rekha, madhavi, Jayamala, kalpana, Bharti and so many southern actress. He was the first actor in the kannada film industry who enact a role which resemmbeled james Bond. His first such movie was Jedara Bale, after that he acted in so many films like Operation Jackotnalli, Goadalli CID999, Operation diamond Rocket etc.
As a singer he was a great devotional singer. In 1992 he was awarded in the National film award for the best play back singer. He was a classical singer also. He sang for his own movies and for so many albums also. He was appreciated by the fans of 1960's for the black and white cinemas. He first sang for his theatre show itself. His voice has a depth and smoothness which was noticeable. He sang for songs like devotional, romantic and classical songs also. Even he sang an English song named as "if you come today for his own bond" in 1978 in movie Operation Diamond Rocket. It become a popular song in 1970's. He sangs solo songs for few actors as a playback singer also like "Mudina Mavva, Sadda kannale etc.
Rajkumar was a disciplined man. He wake up early in the morning @ 4am and do yoga and practise Karnatic Music for 1 hour. Due to this he was physically and mentally fit. Rajkumar married Parvathi Amma and he had five children, three sons named as Shiv, Puneet and Ragvendra Rajkumar who are mainly actors in the film industry of Kannada. Ragavendra Rajkumar is a actor and producer in the same film history. Rajkumar rejected so many offers which received from political parties. But he became involved in Gokak report which is mainly known as Gokak Varadhi which was a movement which was a compulsory language for kannada primary education and he became the main force for the movement. He also took a rally for the same from Belgaum to Bangalore and also give speech about the importance of language for the education. Crores of people gathered there only to see a glimpse of the great personality - Rajkumar. A book named as Bangarada Manushya was written for Rajkumar by Prahalada Rao and released in 2005. After the book release Baraguru Ramacharappa was names Rajkumar as Bevarina Manushya.
Death of the great personality
He died at his Sadashivanagar home, Bangalore. On the day the an unofficial closure of Bangalore was announced. Some people attempted sucide as they heard the bad news. Most of the fans were rescued. About 2 millions people were gathered for his remains.