CAMPAIGN: A Bharat Ratna for Dr Raj Kumar?
If he were still with us, Singanalluru Puttaswamayya Muthuraju—actor, singer, yogi, and above all a gentleman—would have been 79 years old tomorrow. But as one of his many co-stars, Jaya Prada, noted in Bangalore recently, it is unfortunate that Dr Raj Kumar left this planet without a significant national award being bestowed on him. The lone national award he got was for singing.
Jaya Prada, now a Samajawadi Party MP, says she will do everything she can to get the UPA government to honour Dr Raj Kumar with the Bharat Ratna. We have heard no such commitment from our honourable Members of Parliament, all 28 of them. We haven’t heard a squeak from our Members of Legislture, all 224 of them. We haven’t seen the sons of the son of the soil do anything to get this due recognition to a true son of the soil.
churumuri.com is pleased to launch a campaign to secure the Bharat Ratna for Dr Raj Kumar. Join the debate, leave a comment, add your voice—we will make sure it reaches a couple of interesting ears in New Delhi. If nine greats from Uttar Pradesh and eight greats from Tamil Nadu—including, yes, M.G. Ramachandran—could be honoured with India’s highest civilian award, surely it’s time for Karnataka to have its second Bharat Ratna after Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya?
23 April 2007 at 11:47 am
The Bharat Ratna and other Padma awards have been politicised and conferred to persons - living/posthumous, some of whose claims are debatable; people who should have been awarded have been left out.
RK’s influence, popularity, respect amongst the people is too great for any award to match. It will be better if Rajkumar is left alone. May his soul rest in peace
23 April 2007 at 12:25 pm
Hi KP, I’m all for a Bharat Ratna for Rajkumar, but can’t understand what you have against Tamils? MGR was a phenom. Say what you will about his acting skills, but the fact remains that no actor in India could exercise the kind of control on fans’ emotions like he did. And when you say: “surely it’s time for Karnataka to have its second Bharat Ratna after Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya”, I guess you should be elated if NRN gets it ahead of RK. I know this blog is all about Mysore, but this kind of cheap parochialism just doesn’t befit you.
23 April 2007 at 12:46 pm
MGR should NOT have got the Bharat Ratna—and for the very same reason, Raj Kumar should NOT get it either. Both were phenomena, yes, and with “control” over the fans’ emotions. Yes, that is the essence of a movie star’s hold on the masses but that is no reason to decorate film stars with the nation’s highest civilian award. The Bharat Ratna should be for an inarguable jewel of the nation. But it has been hopelessly politicised, starting largely with the successful 1988 campaign which resulted in MGR getting it, and it has become the handmaiden of various linguistic, regional and religious groups. That said, it speaks for the kind of people Karnataka has produced or is producing that between 1955 and now—that’s 52 years—the only person churumuri finds worthy enough for the honour is a dead film star.
23 April 2007 at 1:10 pm
Is the Bharat Ratna given posthumously? I am still not so sure. Must check the Bharat Ratna Act and find out.
…and why not?
In this age of self-serving greed and shameless self-aggrandizement, to give the Bharat Ratna to Annavaru would be to affirm the values he stood for, not his acting or singing skills, considerable as they were. The fact that he is Kannadiga or otherwise should have little bearing on who makes the pitch to ensure that one of the most decent and humble citizens of India, despite his numerous achievements, gets his due recognition.
23 April 2007 at 1:56 pm
Dr. Rajkumar belonged to the whole of India and Karnataka. Here was a man who regaled audiences of all hues — cutting across religious, cultural, age and other differences. He united us all in a manner no politician worth his salt could ever imagine; and yet, he was a private person, choosing to shy away from the media glare and staying away from controversy.
And what better way to honour his memory than by bestowing the Bharat Ratna on him, albeit posthumously?
Having said that, I am disappointed that you’d take surreptitious potshots at other regional actors. Dr. Raj Kumar and his contributions are beyond comparison!
23 April 2007 at 1:58 pm
I think the Bharat ratna is no more awarded posthumously….
And I think Pt. Bhimsen Joshi could also be a very deserving (more deserving as well ) candidate…
23 April 2007 at 2:51 pm
Remind me..what has Raj done to Karnataka or to India to merit a Bharat Ratna. Same holds for MGR also..
Two wrongs doesn’t make it right
23 April 2007 at 3:20 pm
I do not understand why we expect our icons to do good to society. They are artistes, special people who possess talent/s that border on genius. You and I are a far cry from that epitome.
If anything, bringing social change, contributing to building schools/hospitals… that’s the job of the politicians. Gana, how many of our netas have you posed this question to?
23 April 2007 at 3:25 pm
Well first of all not true that RK didnt get any National award- he did get the Padma Bhushana ( and became part of his name like the DOCTOR bit!!). The Bharat Ratna is so politicised that one wonders if decent people like RK should be given it but then against all common sense the BR is given posthomously ( unlike the Nobels) and that is how MGR got it- after he died in order to influence the TN Assembly poll results. No such luck for RK there.
Sad but then we kannadigas seem to have this need to waste our energies on such frivolous campaigns- first the RK Narayan drama on churumuri and now this- honestly why cant we leave the dead souls alone and get on with it?
23 April 2007 at 7:13 pm
DR RAJKUMAR— most versatile , the greatest actor post independent india has seen.
he led an exemplary life, showing the world how a celebrity should behave in public.
could have easily become the C.M. OF KARNATAKA— but he rejected it saying that he was not qualifid for it.
even now he inspires millions of people around the globe.
ANNA MATTE HUTTI BAAAAA.
BUT EVEN DR.RAJ WOULD HAVE SAID —- BHARAT RATNA SHOULD GO TO a) SHRI SHIVAKUARA SWAMIJI
b) NIJALINGAPPA.
23 April 2007 at 7:39 pm
The correct usage is: “would be 79 tomorrow ” (if here were alive)
23 April 2007 at 8:00 pm
Bharata Ratna award has become devalued. Well known actors are rewarded otherwise. Nijalingappa did not have clean hands. I would say scrap this award. If some one is an exemplary individual, people will know it and their respect is something that award cannot bestow.
23 April 2007 at 9:31 pm
Greatunknown,
answer is still simple. Three wrongs doesn’t make a right. Yes, may be none of the Bharat Ratna’s deseve it except may be MV but again question what purpose does it server having Dr.Raj getting it.
24 April 2007 at 2:50 am
Dr. Ramesh,
Annavarigey BharatRathna title siktha itthu! Aadhrey awaru madidha akshamya aparadhadha thappu, Sivanna anno katthey kirubana KAnnada chitrarangakke kottidhhu!
24 April 2007 at 9:35 am
Kottru aythu kodlilla andhru aythu.
RIP Dr.Raj
24 April 2007 at 12:27 pm
dr raj is way above awrds like bharat ratna.
avaru kannada ratna,kannadigara hrudayada ratna.
karnatakada kana kana dalli avaru iddare.
yenri dodda buddi chennagiddera, thumba dina aaythu nimma prathikriye odhi,
neevu shivannanannu yeshe condemn maadidru– avara cinema nodavru noode nodtaare. NEXT RELEASE SANTHA— LOT OF EXPECTATION FOR THE MOVIE
24 April 2007 at 11:41 pm
annavru is above all awards including the bharatratna which counts rajiv gandhi amongst it’s recipients.
25 April 2007 at 9:24 am
i personally feel rajkumar does deserve a bharataratna for his contribution to kannada cinema and for being true the native soil that is kannadanadu…
25 April 2007 at 9:04 pm
Dr. Ramesh,
Sivannana cinema noduvaru kannu variskondu nodtharey! Ameley Rajanna thumba manasalley bytharey…”Yella bittu ee kothina neenu shrusti madiddhoo.” antha!
Thagolli innoo swalpa Sivanna movie titles:
Dr. Black Father
Kamarida Kanusu
Mayor Hegganna
Kavirathna Kapidasa
Kariyappan
Kariya nanna Raja
Kappu Sathya
Vanara prathapi
26 April 2007 at 6:31 pm
alla kanri DB,
if things were as bad as u say, state awards shivannange yaake kodta iddru, filmfare awards yaake sigta ittu.
how can u expect sons to match their father’s greatness. its mighty impossible.
NO ONE IN INDIA COULD HAVE DONE THE ROLE BETTER IN THE MOVIE — OM. AMONG HIS CONTEMPORARIES.
26 April 2007 at 7:05 pm
By conferring Bharat Rathna on Dr Raj,one is equating him with Sir MV and Nelson Mandela.Is’nt that great?
26 April 2007 at 8:49 pm
Dr. Ramesh,
Saar aaaw kothi Sivanna yawaglu kothiney! Nani OM cinema nodilla. Nodbittu comment madtheeni.
26 April 2007 at 8:51 pm
DB, Another movie you can watch is ‘Chiguridha kanasu’
I am not promoting shivanna acting. The Movie is good
26 April 2007 at 9:08 pm
DG
Anna, neevu yestu helidhru aaw kaiynney sivanna mathra beda devru! Nanigey aaw kothi muka nodidhrey benki aagutthey! Adhondhu bahala dodda thappu madbitta Rajanna!
Yaakey Nammura Mandara Hoove nodi–ee kapi poorthi kedisbittidhhaney!
DG nandu swalpa eclectic taste oo saar—
27 April 2007 at 12:26 pm
CHIGURIDA KANASU —– yentha cinema, shivarama karanthara kathe aadharisi maadida cinema. SHIVANNA scintillating performence as shankara.
adhe cinemaana SWADES antha hindi alli maadidru.
jana hindi cinema nodi super andru, kannada cinema nodlilla.hiriyaru kotta gaadhe-
hittala gida maddalla.
28 April 2007 at 8:39 pm
Dr. Ramesh
Whatever happened to Gandu Ili Kumararama?
Selective aagi argue madabedi saar!
29 April 2007 at 11:41 am
GKR was big flop. it was a case of good intention ,bad execution.
even i dont like shivanna or any actor in kannada industry to do historical,mythological because –they are not good enough.
he has limitations— he knows it and he works with what he has.
nanna ondu suggestion— CHIGURIDA KANASU .OM,AK47, RISHI ee cinemagalu nijavaagitu chennagide. time sikkiddre nodi. nimage ishta aagabahudu.
4 June 2007 at 9:36 pm
Dr. Ramesh and Dodda Buddhi,
Shivanna’s Amma will pay the state to get awards (here’s charity for you). Rajkumar was a good actor 20 years back. He did put Karnataka on the national map but politics man… he is a top notch politician in the film industry (that’s contribution for you). They have ruined the whole industry by giving movies as mentioned by DB. Well, state awards are paid and purchased. Look at Mohanlal, no support from people, but gives such future-fresh movies. Om, Jogi and all associated rowdy crap. Great movies for the great illiterates. No wonder the college crowd avoids and discriminates Kannada speaking locals. Shankar Nag was one phenomenon. That was legit contribution, not Rajkumar or his wife and sons!
Lets put the movies back to where they belong..a mere reflection of the change happening around!
13 June 2007 at 4:21 pm
With reference to the statement made by one of the friend …..
DR RAJKUMAR— most versatile , the greatest actor post independent india has seen.
I would like to say that reiterate that Tamil nadu has produced genius actors like Shivaji ganesan, Kamal hasan etc … not suprisingly they are the gems of indian film industry. Once Marlon Mandro has said that “Shivaji can act like me but i cannot act like shivaji” which is history. That’s the influence his acting had despite being a vernacular actor. Ask annavaru even once he said in an interview …Shivaji is the best actor india has ever seen. Can any actor in india have ever tried out speaking a lengthy dialogue which goes for 20 minutes non stop with utmost clarity . only shivaji can do it which others can only deam of. Such the stature of a man. Still he did n’t get any Barath rathna award.
Atleast can any one in contemporary indian cinema match the genius of Kamal hasan’s acting who’s considered just half perfect to Shivaji.
So please come to reality. Don’t pour in euphoric comments on Annavaru at the cost of drawing baseless comparisons with his contemporaries just because annavaru wasn’t confered Bharath Rathna ward. However i do understand the fact that annavaru’s honest,modest life for a film star is greatly appreciated but we should not try to fit him with others shoes, because there are still stalwarts in india whose name wasn’t even talked about.
More over coming to MGR, have you people ever seen his movies ,,, he is arguably the most Charismatic actor to have ever born in india. Look at his face, his skin colour, his style of speaking the dialogue is really awesome , though he cann’t be tagged as a great actor but he is surely uncomparable with his looks and screen presence. He is actually a true definition of a star not someone with a boy next door looks. And more over he has never ever acted as a drunkard or neither he smoked in any of his movies which was his idealogy. And he is the only politician in the india who has won the elections while he was bedridden, during this phase he never even campained for his party nor did he show his face to the people.Moreover when MGR was sick some 20 of his die hard fans comitted suicide praying to god to save his life by giving away there life.Such was the influence he had with people. He was a boon to the poor people. Now even in some parts of tamil Nadu people still worship him as a God.
So its always better to know about a person before shooting a comment or making comparison on them unnecessarily.
First know about MGR and then compare his credentials or achievements with Annavaru
like who is the most charismatic actor on screen
who has the highest rate ( not highest no.) of fan following
How craze the fans were ( any incident that match there stature)
Who has shouldered more responsibility in there public life for the welfare of there people ( the people who gave them this life)
Who had better ideology etc…
13 June 2007 at 5:51 pm
ramane,
i respect u r right to say this, as a tamilian u have to say this.
talking of lenghty dialogues, please watch babruvaahana, mayura ,satya harishchandra— u r doubts will be put to rest.
MGR– charismatic actor— thats too much, our own upendra is far better.
DR RAJ—- is the best ,most magnificient actor-singer combo subcontinent has ever seen.
14 June 2007 at 5:21 pm
sir kindly see how thalaivar looks (in the below site) or else see any of his old tamil movies.
no one can match his charmness.
http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/gallery/m/Events/mgr_sway260806/128594.html
Moreover upendra cann’t even be matched with kamal hasan or Madhavan looks then its ridiculous to compare him with MGR.
However i do accept the fact that annavaru is ONE of the versatile actor india has ever produced (in line with Kamal hassan) though he has won his only national award for his singing caliber & not for his acting nuances.
Hence he can only be called jack of all trades & king of none.
If annavaru is considered a overwhelming favourite then nothing should have stopped him from getting any highest awards in cinema. From the praise you people pour in for your annavaru DR. RAJ, i though he would have won atleast some 5 - 10 national awards but only to find in the net that he has only won 1 national award that to in singing.
my praise for the following holds the proof ….
if u take sivaji he has won the highest award for cinema ( in acting) in india, france etc ,,, widely appreciated as the best across the globe.
kamal hasan - 4 national awards
can u please name atleast one (in acting) from kannada for that matter.
14 June 2007 at 5:58 pm
tamils in awards tribunal scuttled any nomination for best actor for dr .raj.
in fact it was already decided that he should be awarded for JEEVANA CHAITRA-but due to linguistic politics , he was awarded best singer for the same movie as an eyewash.
awards in india are for sale. BHARAT RATNA WAS CONFERRED ON MGR( MOST UNDESERVING) TO GET VOTES,TO PLEASE POLITICAL PARTIES.
SINCE THEN IT HAS LOST ITS VALUE.
gandhiji never won noble prize— does this demean his achievement, not at all.
sivaji ganeshan— yes truly a splendid actor, he shared a very cordial relatioship with dr.raj.
14 June 2007 at 7:19 pm
ya if you feel that indian awards are absurd then atleast Dr.raj should have got some recognition from foreign film industries rite ,, any doctorate from foreign universities for that matter …. see no one would have stopped him from doing so if he is really overwhelming.
Coming to mgr… ok if he is not deserved .
both are film stars in there own rite. had gr8,frenzy fan following …
but what contribution did annavaru make for the people of karnataka (for there well being) .If he is a true saviour considering his fan following he should have joined politics (irrespective whether he is not interested or not ) and directed the people & the state in the right path just like how he lead a clean,honest life. Who was there to stop him. In fact people urged him to join politics but he never respected there wish
Should he not have sacrificed his conscience for his die hard fans/people. Its after all the people of karnataka who gave him this stature. Karnataka would have been a faar better state than what it his today if annavaru would have been the chief minister. Why am stressing on politics is because its the most powerful thing in india to serve people authoritatively ( provided if your an honest person) Reality is that he didn’t have the firepower to shoulder responsibilities to lead his people.
Apart from being a film icon what powerful service did he do for the people or the nation. You might say he lead a humble,honest,clean,compassionate life but that same life is also lead by others people like super star rajini kanth apart from being modest contributed lot for the poor people.
mgr beside being a decent actor, he atleast served the people , thrived for the upliftment of the masses, he never had any childeren he sacrificed his life for the people who gave him this life for him. He gave back what he got from them. Now all his property has been distributed to the masses. He is abankrupt by all means.
On the other hand annavaru has got family , his childrens are acting by his influence ,, earning a lot ,,,, they are one of the richest family in karnataka. Is this called sacrifice for the people.
i would only feel that Dr .Raj is really bestowed with nice kanadiga people/fan ,, they still support him for barath rathna besides the reality…. !!
14 June 2007 at 9:26 pm
dr Ramesh, Like a frog in a well.. you are going on Crom..Crom..Crom.. No Bharat ratna for Dr.Raj Kumar. You ask KRV to start an award. come on dr, grow up!
15 June 2007 at 10:20 am
Also dr ramesh , do gandhiji really deserve the noble prize ,,, can you please tell me when did gandhiji ever though that india was under the british rule in his life, not until he was 25. He studied in london, went to south africa to full fill his personal dreams of practicing as a barrister…. did he ever care about india at that time. It was only when he got insulted and chucked out form the train he wanted to take revenge on the british. Until then where was he for india ,, i propably think he would never come into picture had that incident wouldn’t have occurred but rest his history. Its more of a personal revenge which hugely helped india’s cause
But atleast gandhiji did sacrifice his life for the people after that and he is still a great person but don’t equate him with Dr. Raj as he didn’t even had the courtesy,guts to fullfil his peoples/fans wish.
Its far worthwhile to campaign for Mr. Narayana moorthy for Bharath Rathna ….
5 January 2008 at 12:07 am
i am an avid fan of movies and i didnt hear abt dr raj kumar till i came to bangalore.. mind you i had heard of rajanikanth, kamal hasan, chiranjeevi etc before that.
i dont think dr raj kumar has even a bit of mind share outside karnataka. for a person who has “influenced” INDIANS, well the INDIANS ought to know his name first … or his works for that matter.
some would argue ppl like Sir M V are also not known (unless you’ve read ur primary books well); but we do know their works (for eg KRS dam)
north of karnataka, nobody knows dr raj kumar’s works as well.
if Bharat Ratna has to be given to popular actors / cricketers.. i believe there is a long list to go before his name comes. and if he does get it, it will be rightly termed as another politically motivated move.. just like MGR
5 January 2008 at 1:16 pm
@Ramane, don’t hijack this conversation. The topic is about Annavru and don’t bring your Tamil Eelam agenda to this forum.
MGR didn’t deserve the award and got it due to politics. Talking about Gandhiji you say he did everything to score a personal revenge! That shows what kind of idiot you are. By the same token you will say MGR did everything only for the public and fans! He acted, he became a CM and even he slept with a few ugly side actresses of Tamil cinema all for the public and fans.
@Rama, stop puking over the keyboard.
@ piko, just because your North Indian ass didn’t know about Sir MV doesn’t make him any less great. If you think he is only famous for KRS, then you need learn your ABCDs better.
Annavru will be awarded the Bharatha Rathna very soon.
5 January 2008 at 8:54 pm
MGR, Rajkumar, sachin tendulkar or amitha bachan have all excelled in their own fields and the award they deserve can be the top awards in their respective fields and nothing more.
Bharat ratna should be conferred on indians who have dedicated their lives to better the lifes of their fellow indians and in the process made the country proud. With this in mind i think Dhirubhai anbani, ratan tata, NR murthy, Manmohan singh(as Narashima roa’s finance minister), Atal bihari vajpayee are some of the deserving candidates i can think off.
6 January 2008 at 1:34 pm
@Prasad what r u smoking? Stay off that stuff.
Ambani, Tata, Murthy - do you think the decisions they took on a day to day basis was for the betterment the people or their business? If it’s not for the business they wudn’t have anything to show for now.
Manmohan Singh - was the finance minister for abt 5 years, do u really think he dedicated all those five years for the betterment of Indians. Whatever good he did when he was an FM, he is undoing it with his PMgiri under SG madam.
ABV will never get this award, he was an average PM.
barla,
im
26 May 2008 at 2:00 pm
i am very sorry to say that he is not fit to bharata ratna. Because he is not that much good actor. Please dont hype it. except karnataka, nobody hasn’t known about him and also we have seen many pictures of him. But, when compared to others like Senior NTR, Shivaji Ganeshan, SV Ranga Rao etc, I am sure, he is unfit to that award.