Rajkumar (born Singanalluru Puttaswamayya Muthuraju, April 24, 1929 - April 12, 2006) was an actor and singer in the Kannada film industry. He acted in more than 200 Kannada movies. He worked primarily in Karnataka and has won awards for his work.
He was called "Dr. Raj" and "Natasarvabhouma" (meaning "emperor of acting") and was popular in both Karnataka and other Indian states.[citation needed] His primary view about his fans was "I don't know whether I will ever see God. But for me all those who are assembled here are my Gods."
Rajkumar was born on April 24, 1929 in a Kannada speaking family at Gajanur,[4] in the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore. The village is now located in the Erode district of Tamil Nadu along its border with Karnataka. His mother tongue is Kannada. His father, Singanalluru Puttaswamayya, was a theater artist. His mother's name was Lakshmamma, and his elder brother was named Mutturaju after Lord Muthathi Raya.
A painting of Rajkumar in a streetboard in Bangalore
Rajkumar started his career as a theater artist with his father in a troupe led by the legendary Gubbi Veeranna. It was here that Rajkumar honed his acting and singing skills. Later, along with his father, Rajkumar joined M S Subbayya Naidu Drama Company.
Bedara Kannappa, a 1954 Kannada language movie, marked his entry into the film world. This movie was directed by H L N Simha, who christened him Rajkumar. Rajkumar would use the same name for the rest of his life. He later forayed into film production with the hugely popular Ranadheera Kanteerava which he produced with another legend of Kannada cinema, Balakrishna. This movie which was made exclusively with technicians from Karnataka also marked the beginning of full-fledged filmmaking in Karnataka. The famous song "Shivappa Kaayo tande" originated in his first movie.
He acted with many actresses such as Pandaribai, Leelavathi, Lakshmi, Ambika, Manjula, Jayamala, Jayachitra, Mahalaxmi, Kalpana, Jayanti, Bharati, Aarathi, Jayaprada, Madhavi, Geetha, Sarita, Gayatri and others from neighbouring states. He acted with many directors of south Indian cinema from B.R. Pantulu, Puttanna Kanagal to Shankar Nag and Nagabharana. With the exception of one Telugu movie called "Kalahasti Mahathyam" he acted only in Kannada movies.
In his lifetime, Rajkumar acted in 206 Kannada movies, excluding guest appearances. He owned a film production company called Vajreshwari Production, which produced films under the banner of Dakshayani Combines. Bhagyada Bagilu was his 100th movie and Devatha Manushya was his 200th movie. He participated in several protest marches such as Gokak Chaluvali.
He produced and starred in Kaviratna Kalidasa and Shankar-Guru. He produced movies based on famous Kannada novels. He also made many movies against perceived social evils, such as Shabdavedi, which addressed drug abuse.
As many as 17 singers gave voice to Rajkumar before he started singing his own songs including P.B. Srinivas, Yesudas and Ghantasala Venkateshwara Rao. Rajkumar had trained in classical music while in Gubbi Veranna's drama troupe. He had sung a song in the movie Mahishasura Mardini with G K Venkatesh as the music director. Rajkumar however, did not become a full fledged singer until his song Yare Koogadali from the movie Sampathige Sawal. Prior to his singing in Sampathige Sawal, Rajkumar's songs were sung by P. B. Sreenivas. After Yare Koogadali he sang for most of his movies. He received a national award for singing for the song "Naadamaya" in the film "Jeevana Chaitra". He sang for many private albums which were mainly devotional albums. Rajkumar lent his voice to a few other actors and sang many background solos.
Rajkumar was also a harmonium player. Interesting facts about Dr. Rajkumar
Dr. Rajkumar - The First Actor in the Indian Film Industry to get Doctorate for acting (Mysore University)
Dr. Rajkumar - Only Indian Actor to get �Kentuky Colonel�, a prestigious award given by the Kentuky state, USA (previously received by British Prime Minister & Russian Prime Minister)
Dr. Rajkumar - Only Actor in the Indian Film Industry, in whose name the State Government is giving an Award
when he was still alive, every year to a person who has given outstanding contribution to the Film Industry
Dr. Rajkumar - Only Actor to receive Nation Award for both Singing[Nadamaya Ee Lokavellaa in Jeevana Chaitra] & Acting[nine state awards for best acting]
Dr. Rajkumar - First Actor whose first film won the National Award for Best MovieBedara Kannappa
Dr. Rajkumar - First Kannada Actor to win �Dada Saheb Phalke Award�, prestigious award given by Indian Govt. for the achievement in the Film Industry
Dr. Rajkumar - Only Actor to have more than 10 Titles given by the Government & other Associations
Karnataka Rathna, Kannada Kanteerava, Kala Kausthuba, Rasikara Raja, Padmabhushana, Nata Sarvabhouma, Kentuky colonel, Annavaru, Gana Gandharva, Nithya Noothana Nata Shreshta, Doctorate.
Dr. Rajkumar - Only Kannada Actor to receive �Padmabhushan� award for achievement in the Film Industry
Dr. Rajkumar - Only Actor in the Indian Film industry to receive 9 State Awards for acting, 10 Film Fare Awards, 2 State Awards for Singing
Dr. Rajkumar - Only Actor ever to Act in 14 Films in a single year twice, once in 1964 & other in 1968
Dr. Rajkumar - Only Kannada Actor to Act as Hero with both Mother & Daughter in the Kannada Movies
Dr. Rajkumar - First Actor to have a song written in his honor for no particular reason than the fact that he could sing and act like so many of our fellow politicians for the movieBedara Kannappa
Dr. Rajkumar - Only Kannada Actor to win the �NTR Award� given by Andhra Govt. for the person giving outstanding contribution to the Film Industry
Dr. Rajkumar - He is the Hero of the Longest Running Kannada Movie ever - Bangarada Manushya, which ran for 2 years in one of the theatres in Bangalore & 1 year in 5 centres
Dr. Rajkumar - The Success Rate of his Movies is 95%, highest ever than any other actor in the Indian Film Industry
Rajkumar's brother, S.P. Varadaraju worked with him in his production company. He had 2 sisters, Sharadamma and Nagamma.
He was married to Parvathamma Rajkumar , who is a film producer. He has three sons and two daughters.
Rajkumar was asked to lead a movement about making Kannada a compulsory language for primary education based on the "Gokak report" popularly known as "Gokak varadhi". He became actively involved in the movement and soon became the force behind the Gokak movement. He took a rally from Belgaum to Bangalore and gave speeches about the importance of Kannada. The government responded and Kannada became a compulsory language of education in Karnataka.
On July 30, 2000, at the age of 72, Rajkumar, his son-in-law Govindaraju and two others were kidnapped from the actor's house at Gajanur in Tamil Nadu. Rajkumar was released unharmed on November 15, 2000, after 109 days of captivity.
Rajkumar died at his home in Sadashivanagar, Bangalore, on April 12, 2006 following a cardiac arrest.
His death precipitated a city-wide reaction. Following the news of his death, there was major unrest in the city of Bangalore. The then Chief Minister, H.D.Kumaraswamy, later claimed that the violence was instigated by vested political interests. However the opposition blamed it on lack of timely arrangements by responsible organizations. An unofficial bandh (closure of all shops and other establishments) was announced. More than 100 vehicles were burnt and eight people were killed in police firing.
Some of the unrest was caught on film during the "Outsourcing" episode of the Morgan Spurlock show 30 Days (TV Series).
The Karnataka government announced to make a Rs 10 crore memorial in the memory of Rajkumar at Kanteerava studios.
Rajkumar received numerous state, national and international awards.
Honorary doctorate from Mysore University in 1976.
10 Filmfare Awards South awards in the best actor category
Nine state awards in the best actor category.
National Award in Best Male Playback Singer category in the year 1993 for the song "Naadamaya ee Lokavella" from the movie "Jeevana Chaitra".
Padma Bhushan award in 1983
Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1995
Karnataka Ratna in the year 1993
"Nata Saarvabhowma" (The Emperor of Acting) in 1967
NTR National Award for the year 2002.
A book named Bangarada manushya (Golden Man), the chronicle of Dr. Rajkumar, written by A. N. Prahlada Rao is the achievements of Dr.Rajkumar both on and off the screen. This book is a referral volume on Kannada film industry, for it is rich in details of the growth and evolution of the Kannada Film Industry. The book released at Washington D.C, New Jersy and also at Kuwite. This book has been translated to English named as "Dr.Rajkumr: The inmitable actor with Golden voice" and this book released at Newjersy, America.