Rajkumar laid to rest, 5 die in violence

      Bangalore: Veteran Kannada film actor Rajkumar was today laid to rest with full state honours inside the family owned Kanteevara Studios while his frenzied fans went on the rampage on the streets of Bangalore in which five persons died. Swarming crowds that followed the procession route of the thespian jostled to pay their respects to their 'Annavaru' (the elder brother). According to some estimates, three lakh people followed the cavalcade carrying the body of the their revered 'Nata Saarvabhowma' or the Emperor of Acting. Kept in a glass-enclosed chamber, the final procession beginning from the Kanteevara Stadium meandered its way to the studio making halts on the way that took close to five hours to reach. Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy along with several Ministers and eminent personalities ranging from film, art, and literature took part in the procession and were present when his body was finally being laid to rest in peace. The last rites of Rajkumar were performed as per the customs of the Idiga community of Hindu from which he belonged to. A two-day mourning has been declared by the State Government.

     Meanwhile, contrast to what the versatile actor was, his fans ran amok on the city streets pelting stones and attacking the policemen. The mobs set on fire two public buses earlier in the day. A private new channel vehicle also came under the ire of the mob that attacked the camerapersons. The streets of Bangalore though are calm now, there exists a palpable silence with undercurrent of anger and tension. Rajkumar's fans protested against the administration's failure in properly manage the situation. They were complaining that the body of their loved actor remained in open for long hours after he died yesterday following a cardiac arrest. Police had to resort to baton charge on the unruly fans surging to have a glimpse of their icon as they attempted to restore order at the stadium while thousands of fans, including women and children, stood in long queues to pay homage. Drivers pasted pictures of the actor to their windows in the hope of avoiding the mob's attention. Meanwhile, cable television operators blocked entertainment channels to mark the day of mourning.

     Born in 1929, Rajkumar acted in more than 220 Kannada films spanning over the four decades of his reel life career. Dr Rajkumar got his first break as a hero in 'Bedara Kannappa' in 1954, which turned him into a superstar. Rajkumar was awarded with Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1995. In 2000, he was kidnapped by the notorious sandalwood smuggler Veerappan, who kept him in captivity for 109 days, which had led to a great crisis for the then Karnataka Government. The icon's last film was 'Shabdavedi' which when released in February 2000 went on to become a silver jubilee hit. The legendary actor is survived by his wife Parvathamma Rajkumar along with three sons and two daughters. With his demise, curtain falls on a great epic of Kannada film history.

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