|
Name |
Rajkumar |
|
Birth Name |
Singanalluru Puttaswamayya Muthuraju
|
|
|
Nicknames |
Dr. Raj, Dr. Rajkumar, Annavru, John Wayne of South Indian cinema, Nata Saarvabhowma, Vara Nata, Gana Kogile, Gana Gandharva, Rasika Raja, Nata Rathnakara |
|
Date of Birth |
24th April 1929 |
|
Date of Death |
12th April 2006 |
|
Mother Tongue |
Kannada |
|
Religion |
Hindu |
|
Nationality |
Indian |
|
Profession |
Actor, Singer, Producer |
|
Birth place |
Dodda Gajanur (a village on the border of Karnataka & Tamilnadu) |
|
Family |
Father – Singanalluru Puttaswamayya (Theatre artist)
Mother – Lakshmamma
Wife - Parvatamma Rajkumar
Brother - S.P. Varadaraju
Sisters - Sharadamma and Nagamma
Sons - Shivrajkumar, Raghavendra Rajkumar and Puneet Rajkumar
Daughters - Lakshmi and Poornima
|
|
Debut |
Actor :
Kannada - Bedara Kannapa (1954)
Song :
"Tumbitu manava..." (in Mahishasura Mardini)
|
|
First movie offer |
While performing the part of Ramakantha in the play ‘Bhakta Ambareesha’, he was offered the lead role in Bedara Kannappa. |
|
His famous song |
“Huttidahre kannada nadalli huttabeku ...
Mettidhare kanndan mannanu mettabeku..”(from Akasmika)
|
|
Owned |
Film production company ‘Vajreshwari Production’
|
|
Primary view about fans |
"I don't know whether I will ever see God. But for me all those who are assembled here are my Gods." |
|
Doctorate |
Mysore University awarded a doctorate for his contribution to films. |
|
Favorite movie |
Bhakta Kumbara |
|
Awards |
* Dadasaheb Phalke award (1996)
* Padma Bhushan award (1983)
* "Karnataka Rathna" award (1992)
* Received 10 Filmfare awards as Best Actor.
* Received Nine state awards as Best Actor.
* National Film Award as Best Male Playback Singer for "Naadamaya ee Lokavella" song in Jeevana Chaitra (1993).
* Kentucky Colonel Award by the then-governor of Kentucky, U.S (1985).
* "Nata Saarvabhowma" (The Emperor of Acting) Award by Karnataka government (1967).
* Nadoja Award
* Karnataka Rathna Award
* Gubbiveeranna Award
|
|
Facts |
* He was named after Lord Hanuman.
* He studied up to 3rd standard.
* He joined ‘Gubbi Veeranna’ drama company to play drama along with his father.
* His name was changed to “Rajakumar” (meaning Prince) when he entered films, by H.L.N. Simha who directed his first movie ‘Bedara Kannappa’.
* He signed films only after consulting with his brother, S.P. Varadaraju.
* He has acted in 206 films.
* He practiced yoga regularly.
* He never smoked a cigarette on screen.
* He was kidnapped on 30 July 2000 by bandit Veerappan and released after 108 days.
* He has lent his voice to his sons Shivaraj kumar and Raghavendra Rajkumar in the movies.
* He was the 1st Indian actor to be conferred a Doctorate.
* He has bagged 179 awards.
* He has raised and contributed funds to many spiritual institutions, orphanages, and many governmental educational institutions through his stage shows and concerts.
* He was the 1st and the only Indian actor who was awarded with the prestigious Kentucy Colonel award.
* He is the only celebrity in this world who had a success rate of 95% throughout his career as an actor and an individual.
* He produced movies based on famous Kannada novels.
* He was a non-smoker and non-alcoholic. |
|
About him |
Dilip Kumar :
"Dr.Rajkumar is the only singer cum actor legend for our entire country".
Amithab Bachchan :
"If an actor like Dr.Rajkumar were there in Bollywood we would have been no where."
|
