A lover of Kannada language found himself in a pickle for his frank views on Sandalwood stars, including the greatest of them all, Rajkumar.
A lover of Kannada language found himself in a pickle for his frank views on Sandalwood stars, including the greatest of them all, Rajkumar.
Speaking at a seminar on the social responsibility of cinema, Mukundaraj, a teacher-cum-poet who wrote Kadukanigelaya Haadu Paadu, stunned the gathering by questioning Rajkumar’s contribution to Kannada film industry.
“All of you (other speakers) spoke about Rajkumar but have forgotten how he made people superstitious by acting in Swami Raghavendra and Ayyappa films,” he said. “Rajkumar had not acted in films that have the potential to make the cine-goers to think twice before following religious beliefs,’’ he said.
Coming down heavily on the state government for allotting the land at Sri Kanteerava Studios for Rajkumar’s memorial, he said the government committed another blunder by allocating land for a memorial for Vishnuvardhan. “Both of them were not freedom fighters. Their contribution is nothing for Karnataka,’’ he said.
Next he turned his ire on Tara, MLC and chairperson of Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy.
While giving her ‘cabinet status’, the state government ignored Kannada Sahitya Parishat and pampered the Chalanachitra Academy.
“The government sanctioned crores of rupees for Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy because it was headed by film personalities. It has also giving lakhs of rupees as subsidy for Kannada films but nothing is being done to encourage Kannada language and writers,’’ he said. He mentioned how badly writers were treated at the World Kannada Summit held in Belgaum last year.
“Cinema artistes were provided air-conditioned accommodation there while Kannada writers were asked to stay in ordinary rooms. A number of empty whisky bottles were found near the rooms allotted for cinema artistes. The liquor was provided to them by the state government,’’ he said.
Agni Sridhar, who anchored the programme, said while Mukundaraj was free to express his views, criticising Rajkumar was unjustified.
Raghavendra Rajkumar, son of Rajkumar, said his father was considered as a public property. “I need not waste my time by reacting to the comment made by someone who has no knowledge about my father’s contribution to Kannada film industry,’’ he said.
Mukundaraj is not aware of Rajkumar’s contribution to Kannada film industry, said Sa Ra Govindu, president of Dr Rajkumar Abhimanigala Sangha.
SV Rajendra Singh Babu, director, asked Mukundaraj to reflect on why Rajkumar was honoured with the Dadasaheb Palke award. He got this top national award for his contribution to the state and Kannada film industry. “I pity Mukundaraj for not realising the contribution of Rajkumar during the Gokak agitation,’’ he added.
“It is not necessary to react on comments made some people who have no basic knowledge about Rajkumar,” said Nagabharana, former chairman of Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy. Tara said the state government had not accorded any special status to her. She criticised Mukundaraj for speaking ill of Rajkumar whom she described as a role model for crores of Kannadigas.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}