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Emperor's earthy dreams
MURALIDHARA KHAJANE
He is the biggest star of Kannada cinema. In his career spanning 50 years, Dr. Rajkumar has acted in over 206 films, and all Kannada. Annavru, as he is reverentially known, has been the guiding force of not just the Kannada industry, but of Kannada too. This actor, who enjoys enormous clout, has also been recognised as one of the most powerful personas by successive governments of the State.
Many a times, the actor, a Kannada icon, has intervened to resolve issues for the State. The 77-year-old Rajkumar is now on a retirement of sorts, though once in a while he keeps declaring to his fans his intentions to give them a good film.
When this correspondent, after six long months of perseverance, finally managed to get an appointment for an interview, Rajkumar was playing with his grandchildren. In his signature white dhoti and white shirt, the thespian seemed too tired to talk not only about his illustrious career, but also the politics concerning the industry or of Kannada language.
Nevertheless, one did ask him. What do you think of having spent 50 years in the Kannada film industry? Rajkumar got nostalgic. He remembered his childhood in Gajanoor. He recalled how his father always insisted that he should respect the artiste's community and how his mother constantly told him to be of help to the community at large. "These days, my favourite pastime is to ponder over the days I spent in Gajanoor. Given a chance, I will sleep on the small katte beneath platform surrounding big banyan tree in my village," he said. "When I went to my village to enjoy myself, Veerappan abducted me. Though, I must admit that after a couple of days, I began to enjoy every moment in the forest." For him, Gajanoor is "Janani, Janmabhoomi and swargadapi gariyasi" (Mother, Motherland, higher than heaven).
Modestly, Rajkumar says that his contribution to Kannada cinema is nothing. "Who am I to contribute? I have returned what I got from the people and the industry. It is the duty of every one to return what they get from the society. But what can I offer to the people of Kannada in return for all the love that they have given me in the last 50 years?" he asks, his eyes welling up.
Unlike others of his generation, Rajkumar doesn't deride the present trends in Kannada cinema. He always accepted change with open arms. In his characteristic non-controversial style, he doesn't even say negative things about the direction Kannada cinema is taking. Quoting lines from DVG's Manku Thimmana Kagga, "Hosa chiguru hale beru koodiralu mara sogasu" he gives a philosophical turn to the whole thing. "New technology, new inventions, fresh acting styles is always a feast to watch. There is lot to learn from them and with so many films hitting the screens on a weekly basis, it is difficult to keep quality. In the recent years, the film industry has grown enormously, technically and aesthetically, and it is welcome. Amazed by the growth of technology, I even asked Puneeth to supplement the production unit with improvised cameras," he says. However, the actor who began his career in a professional theatre group, under the exacting Gubbi Veeranna, he knows technology can never replace talent.
Recalling the glory of films in his early days as an artiste, Rajkumar observed that, the industry was more concerned about disseminating the values and protecting the family system. It is the professional theatre, especially, Gubbi Veeranna, who contributed lot to the film industry and he who made the industry proud at national level. Censor authorities were rigid and artistes were more committed. "It is now difficult to find such involvement, discipline and concentration of the previous generation." Bhakta Kumbara is his favourite character and dreams of donning the roles of king Nripatunga and the 12th century reformer Basavanna, who made the land proud.
On the awards received in the last five decades, he said, he never aspired for them, as he dabbed colour on his face to make a living. "When I got an award for Bedara Kannappa I was not elated, as I was in a need of opportunities to support my family," he said in all humility.
Like most film stars, why did he not choose to join politics? Rajkumar looked visibly disturbed. "Many invited me to join politics on various occasions. But I declined their offer, as I felt that it would be difficult for me to foster values I believe in. Politics is quicksand and it will not allow you to work according to your conscience. I wanted to serve the society which gave me so much. But then I knew politics wouldn't give me that kind of space."
He refused to comment on the remake trend. But he said that, he was not interested in acting in remake films then. "I came to the industry in search of a livelihood, not just to make big money. Though I got offers from other south Indian languages, I didn't accept them, for I was convinced that it would only help me economically and not satisfy me professionally. I am at ease in my own language, which I know and adore," he explained.
With each passing day, Rajkumar is becoming more and more philosophical. It oozes in every word he utters. For an actor, who reached the zenith of popularity, with fans willing to die for him, he has strange desires.
He wants to return to his childhood days, he wants to graze cattle in his field, and bring back his parents to be loved by them all over again. Rajkumar wants to be one with nature singing "Nadamaya, ee lokavella", like he did in the film Jeevana Chaitra.
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Rajkumar, more than a living legend to Kannada films, went on to become an icon of Kannada language too. At 77, the actor, has the simple desire of going back to his village and doing things he did as a child
What can I offer to KANNADIGAS in return for all the love they have given me? Dr. Rajkumar
RETURN JOURNEY Rajkumar wants to dwell in that past, when he didn't don the greasepaint
