Dr Rajkumar is synonymous with the spirit of Karnataka, said Information Minister R Roshan Baig at a programme organised to celebrate the 85th birth anniversary of the Kannada matinee idol.
Baig said, “The credit for Kannada being made the administrative language in the state goes to Dr Rajkumar as he spearheaded the Gokak agitation to save the language.”
Jnanpith awardee Dr Chandrashekar Kambar said Rajkumar’s name is etched in the hearts of his fans. “He was a true artiste. Though he got offers from other languages and was invited to politics, he refused both,” said Kambar.
Recalling the moments spent on and off screen with Dr Rajkumar and his family, yesteryear, actress Sowcar Janaki said, “I worked with Dr Rajkumar in Thayige Thakka Maga, which was produced by Parvathamma Rajkumar and the family again gave me an opportunity to act in his last film Shabdavedi but I suffered an heart ailment. Dr Rajkumar asked me not to worry and his family waited for me to recover.”
The programme was organised by the Information Department. The yesteryear actor’s son Raghavendra Rajkumar, daughter Lakshmi Govindaraju and family members were present.