Today is the sixth death anniversary of thespian Dr Rajkumar. He was not only a great actor but also a singer par excellence as far as Kannada films are concerned. The repertoire of his songs is vast, ranging from soft romantic melodies, foot tapping cronies, devotional renditions, to the melancholic haunting numbers. It may not be an exaggeration to state that such personalities are very rare in Indian films.
The beginning: Rajkumar, son of famous theatre personality Singanallur Puttaswamaiah, was born on April 24, 1929. He started his career as an actor in professional theatre companies in the early 1940s. He worked in many companies including the legendary Gubbi Company and Subbaiah Naidu’s company. Though he started with minor characters, he had great songs to perform. Singing was a must for theatre actors in those days and the companies had music teachers too. He made a name for singing by essaying the roles of Lord Rama, Bedara Kannappa, and Ramakantha in plays such as Bedara Kannappa and Bhakta Ambarisha in early 1950s — just before his entry into films.
When he entered films, well-known singers like Ghantasala and Sheerkali Govindarajan sang for him in films like Bedara Kannappa (which launched him as a hero) and Ohileshwara released in 1954 and 1955 respectively. Interestingly, he sang some lines in Ohileshwara under G K Venkatesh’s music direction and for the first time P B Srinivas, who later became his singing voice for most of his films spanning over 20 years, sang for him. Later, Venkatesh made Rajkumar sing a duet with S Janaki in Mahishasura Mardini (1959). The song ‘Tumbitu manava tanditu sukhava’ was received well; by then, Rajkumar started concentrating more on acting.
Unique voice: Rajkumar’s voice had the smoothness and depth comparable to P B Srinivas. His voice was capable of greater vivacity, particularly noticeable in songs like ‘Thai thai thai thai bangari’ of Girikanye’ (1977), the title song of ‘Nanna Neenu Gellalare’, ‘Le le appana magale’ of Trimurthy and ‘Aradhisuve madanari’ of Babruvahana.
G K Venkatesh, who introduced him as a singer, composed some of the most memorable songs for Rajkumar in films like Mayura and Huliya Haalina Mevu. He has sung with almost all of his famous contemporaries. Rajkumar and P B Srinivas lent their voices to many memorable numbers like ‘Amma neenu namagagi’ (Keralida Simha), ‘Ninnee naguve arunodayavu’ (Ade Kannu) and the famous war song between ‘Arjuna and Babruvahana’ (incidentally both roles were played by Rajkumar himself).
He also lent his voice to other actors. One of his earliest theme songs for Dharma, ‘Sathya dharmagale sripada kamalagalu’, is popular even today. In fact, such songs are often penned keeping him in mind. In the later part of his career, he sang many numbers in Ranaranga (1989), Ashwamedha (1990), Hrudaya Haadithu (1990), Hoovu Hannu (1993), Sapthapadi (1994), Karulina Kudi (1996), Janumada Jodi (1996) and Abhi (2003).
His songs rendered in high pitch, like the title songs of Ashwamedha, Hridaya Haadithu, Meghamale, Hoomale and Sapthapadi, are unparalleled. They hold a mirror to his theatrical rendition. He has even sung a complete English song in one of his bond films. Interestingly, he has lent voice for S B Balasubrahmanyam (Song-Deepavali Deepavali) in Muddina Mava (1994).
Nadamaya, a semi-classical song in Rag Thodi, from Jeevanachaitra (1992), which got him the coveted national award for best playback singing, clearly reflected that his voice was not ageing. The song proved his versatility as a singer with its complex graces as it progresses with other ragas.
He switched ragas with ease and sang Swara patterns something unique for one who was not completely professionally trained. His rendering of Kalidasa’s shlokas in Kavirathna Kalidasa is amazing. (singing demigod). His devotional songs, rendered in praise of Lord Ganesha, Raghavendra swamy, Ayyappa, Rama, Hanumantha are equally popular.