Vishnuvardhan fans pay tearful homage to their icon

It was a year ago that fans thronged the streets as the body of actor Vishnuvardhan was taken to Abhimaan Studios for the last rites.

On Thursday, family friends and fans of the cine icon retracted that path, and carried a baton passed on to them by his widow, Bharathi Vishnuvardhan.

They started from the National College campus, where the body was kept a year ago, before the procession to Abhimaan studios.

Many prominent faces from Sandalwood were present. Actor Ramesh was there along with Anirudh, son-in-law of the late actor.

Thousands took part in the procession as others waited along the route.

At the studios, thousands paid their respects as the police struggled to control the crowd. A blood donation camp, with participation of over 500 people, was organised on the occasion.

Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa visited the studio and announced that construction of the Vishnuvardhan memorial would begin soon.

Yeddyurappa said that he was a big fan of the actor, and it would be an honour to construct his memorial. Home minister R Ashoka said he can watch Nagarahavu a hundred times, with undiminished interest.

NR Vishnukumar, member-secretary, Vishnuvardhan Prathistana said that Rs10 crore had been allocated for the construction of the Vishnuvardhan memorial and Rs2 crore had gone into the acquisition of land for the purpose.

Another Rs3 crore had been released to start the work and the rest would be released during the course of its construction.