Dr. Rajkumar

For other actors with the same name, see Rajkumar.
In this Indian name, the toponymic surname is Singanalluru. It is not a family name, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Muthuraj.
In this Indian name, the name Puttaswamaiah is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Muthuraj.

Dr. Rajkumar
Born
Singanalluru Puttaswamaiah Muthuraj

(1929-04-24)24 April 1929
Dodda Gajanur,[1] British India[2]
Died12 April 2006(2006-04-12) (aged 76)
Bangalore, Karnataka, India
MonumentsKanteerava Studios
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
Years active1954–2000
WorksFull list
MovementGokak agitation[3]
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1953)​
Children5, including Shiva, Raghavendra, Puneeth
FamilyRajkumar family
AwardsFull list
Honors

Singanalluru Puttaswamaiah Muthuraj (24 April 1929 – 12 April 2006),[4] better known by his stage name Dr. Rajkumar,[a] was an Indian actor and singer who worked in Kannada cinema. Regarded as one of the greatest and versatile actors in the history of Indian cinema,[6][7][8][9] he is considered a cultural icon and holds a matinée idol status in the Kannada diaspora,[10][11] among whom he is popularly called as Nata Saarvabhouma (Emperor of Actors), Bangarada Manushya (Man of Gold), Vara Nata (Gifted actor), Gaana Gandharva (Celestial singer), Rasikara Raja (King of connoisseurs), Kannada Kanteerava and Rajanna/Annavru (Elder brother, Raj). He was honoured with Padma Bhushan in 1983 and Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1995.[12] He is the only lead actor to win National Award for Playback singing.[13] His 39 movies have been remade 63 times in 9 languages[14][15] by 34 actors [16] making him the first actor whose movies were remade more than fifty times[17] and the first actor whose movies were remade in nine languages.[18] He was the first actor in India to enact a role which was based on James Bond in a full-fledged manner.[19] The success of his movie Jedara Bale is credited to have widely inspired a Desi bond genre in other Indian film industries.[20] On the occasion of the "Centenary of Indian Cinema" in April 2013, Forbes included his performance in Bangaarada Manushya on its list of "25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema".[21] Upon his death, The New York Times had described him as one of India's most popular movie stars.[22]

Rajkumar entered the film industry after his long stint as a dramatist with Gubbi Veeranna's Gubbi Drama Company, which he joined at the age of eight before he got his first break as a lead in the 1954 film Bedara Kannappa. He went on to work in over 205 films essaying a variety of roles and excelling in portraying mythological and historical characters in films such as Bhakta Kanakadasa (1960), Ranadheera Kanteerava (1960), Satya Harishchandra (1965), Immadi Pulikeshi (1967), Sri Krishnadevaraya (1970), Bhakta Kumbara (1974), Mayura (1975), Babruvahana (1977) and Bhakta Prahlada (1983).[23] 13 of his films have received National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Kannada (Rajat Kamal) within a span of 15 years from 1954 to 1968. 17 of his films have received Karnataka State Film Awards in five different categories.

Trained in classical music during his theatre days, Rajkumar also became an accomplished playback singer. He mostly sang for his films since 1974. The songs Yaare Koogadali, Huttidare Kannada, Hey Dinakara, Hrudaya Samudra, Manikyaveena and Naadamaya became widely popular. For his rendition of the latter song, he was awarded the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer.

He is the only Indian actor to be awarded the Kentucky Colonel, the highest honour bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the United States.[24][25] Well known for his highly disciplined and simple lifestyle in both personal and professional fronts, Rajkumar was also an avid Yoga, Pranayama, and Carnatic music performer. In 2000, he was kidnapped from his farmhouse at Gajanur by Veerappan and was released after 108 days.[26] He died of cardiac arrest at his residence in Bangalore on 12 April 2006 at the age of 76.[27] His eyes were donated as per his last wish.[28]

In his film career, Rajkumar received eleven Karnataka State Film Awards, including nine Best Actor and two Best Singer awards, eight Filmfare Awards South and one National Film Award.[29] He holds the record of receiving Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Kannada and Karnataka State Film Award for Best Actor the highest number of times. He received the NTR National Award in 2002. He was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Mysore,[30] and is a recipient of the Padma Bhushan (1983)[31] and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award (1995) for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.[32] He was also the first Indian actor to be bestowed with an honorary doctorate for acting.[33] A mega icon and a socio-cultural symbol of Kannada,[34] he has been credited with redefining Kannada cinema[35] and also putting the Kannada cinema on the national map.[36] He was the first actor to play the lead role in 100 as well as 200 Kannada movies.[37] His 1986 movie Anuraga Aralithu was the first Indian movie to be remade in seven other languages.[38] He has the distinction of having played the highest number of devotional, mythological and historical characters (combined).[39]

  1. ^ "The eternal Kannada icon". 24 November 2000. Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 29 August 2023.
  2. ^ Verghese, Abraham (February 2001). "The Bandit King". The Atlantic. Archived from the original on 16 August 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Economic and Political Weekly – Rajkumar and Kannada Nationalism" (PDF). Bangalorenotes.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  4. ^ Singh, Kuldip (13 April 2006). "Rajkumar – Demigod of southern Indian film". The Independent. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  5. ^ "All about the box office legend R Rajkumar, who is celebrating his 88th birthday". India Today. 24 April 2017. Archived from the original on 28 July 2021. Retrieved 28 July 2021.
  6. ^ "Remembering Dr Rajkumar: Lesser-known facts and trivia about the legendary 'Annavaru'". Amp.ibtimes.co.in. 24 April 2020. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  7. ^ "Here are some must-watch iconic films of Dr Rajkumar". Deccan Herald. 24 April 2020. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Not just a star, an icon - Indian Express". The Indian Express.
  9. ^ "Kannada actor Rajkumar dies of heart attack". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  10. ^ Katakam, Anupama (8 December 2000). "The eternal Kannada icon". Frontline. Bangalore. Archived from the original on 12 May 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  11. ^ Sharma, Ravi (5 May 2006). "Pride of Kannada". Frontline. Bangalore. Archived from the original on 12 December 2017. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  12. ^ "Did you know? Dr. Rajkumar is the first actor to have won the very prestigious Karnataka Ratna award". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 31 October 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  13. ^ "All about the box office legend R Rajkumar, who is celebrating his 88th birthday". India Today. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  14. ^ https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/bengaluru-news/bangarada-manushya-the-legacy-of-dr-rajkumar-101700766324262.html [bare URL]
  15. ^ Sharma, Damini (2 November 2022). "The only actor in the country whose films were remade more than 50 times, Amitabh Bachchan also touched feet". News Day Express. Archived from the original on 14 January 2024. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  16. ^ "How many films of Dr. Rajkumar were remade?".
  17. ^ "ವಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ದಾಖಲೆಗಳ 'ಅನುರಾಗ ಅರಳಿತು' ಚಿತ್ರಕ್ಕೆ 35 ವರ್ಷ". Chitrapatha.com. 15 September 2021. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  18. ^ "ರಾಜ್‌ ಹಬ್ಬ: ವರನಟನ ಕಾದಂಬರಿ ಚಿತ್ರಗಳ ಕನ್ನಡಿ". Udayavani.com. Archived from the original on 5 May 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  19. ^ "Versions of James Bond in Kannada". The New Indian Express. 17 October 2012. Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  20. ^ "When Rajkumar went by the name 'Agent 999'". 19 August 2018. Archived from the original on 19 August 2018. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  21. ^ "Forbes India - 25 Greatest Acting Performances Of Indian Cinema". Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  22. ^ Rai, Saritha (13 April 2006). "Rajkumar, Beloved Indian Film Star, Dies at 77". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
  23. ^ "Rajakumar, king of Kannada cinema". Rediff.com. 12 April 2006. Archived from the original on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  24. ^ "Did you know? Dr Rajkumar was the first actor in India to receive a doctorate in acting". The Times of India.
  25. ^ "All about the box office legend R Rajkumar, who is celebrating his 88th birthday". India Today. 24 April 2017. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  26. ^ Times of India – Total recall of 109 days of kidnap drama. The Times of India. (29 July 2001).
  27. ^ Deccan Herald News Service – Eight deaths and a funeral Archived 29 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Deccan Herald. (14 April 2006).
  28. ^ "Thespian Rajkumar's eyes donated: Doctor". Hindustan Times. 12 April 2006. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  29. ^ "40th National Film Festival" (PDF). Directorate of Film Festivals. dff.nic.in. pp. 49–50. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 October 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2011.
  30. ^ "Google doodles legendary Kannada actor Dr. Rajkumar on 88th birth anniversary". Archived from the original on 6 December 2017. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  31. ^ "Padma Awards Directory(1954–2009)" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 14 December 2010.
  32. ^ "Dadasaheb Phalke Award Winners". Film Federation of India. Archived from the original on 29 April 2023. Retrieved 11 May 2014.
  33. ^ "Dr.Rajkumar was the first actor in India to receive a doctorate in acting". Times of India. 27 May 2020. Archived from the original on 5 August 2023. Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  34. ^ "Exploring a phenomenon called Annavaru". Bangalore Mirror. Archived from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  35. ^ "A requiem for Dr. Rajkumar". The Times of India. 13 April 2006. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
  36. ^ "100 Years of Cinema: From actors to demigods; the first superstars of cinema". News18. 2 March 2013.
  37. ^ "When Dr Rajkumar boarded a lorry". newsable.asianetnews.com. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  38. ^ "Not Rajinikanth or Amitabh Bachchan, Rajkumar's film was first to be remade in 6 languages in India". newsable.asianetnews.com. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  39. ^ "Dr Rajkumar facts | 10 interesting records of Dr Rajkumar that are not easy to break".


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