The Bangalore Literature Festival (BLF) concluded on Sunday with a tribute to thespian Rajkumar. The late actor’s son Puneeth Rajkumar and filmmaker Maya Chandra launched a coffee table book on Dr Rajkumar.
Puneeth reminisced his experiences about Dr Rajkumar during a session ‘Bangarada Manushya: Bangalore Literature Festival tribute to Dr Rajkumar’.
“My father brought us up normally like any other kid in a family. More importantly, he kept us grounded,” he said. The proceeds of the coffee table book, co-authored by Prakruthi Banavasi, would be channelled for education of children, he said.
“Coming from a theatre background, Rajkumar maintained discipline towards his work. Never did he bring work into the house. During the period 1960-2000, my father did not know the value of money, as that was delegated to my mother, while he concentrated on work,” he said.
Audiences quizzed Puneeth on the quality of Kannada cinema and why Kannada movies have failed to replicate the lineament of Dr Rajkumar’s films.
“Let me tell you, Kannada cinema is producing some good movies of late. And as filmmakers, we have to change with time,” he said adding that he would not dare to portray even a single role of his father fearing he would not do justice.
A short version of a documentary titled ‘Dr Rajkumar - An Analysis of the Phenomenon’ was screened after the session.
Directed and produced by Maya, the documentary features testimonials about Dr Rajkumar from his contemporaries, including Vishnuvardhan and Amitabh Bachchan.
“My father and Amitabh shared a special friendship. They would meet whenever their shooting venues were the same. For instance, the movies Coolie and Bhakta Prahlada were shot at the same venue,” Puneeth added.