Karnataka - Mysore   

Mysore was dear to `Annavaru'

Special Correspondent

GOOD OLD DAYS: Rajkumar flanked by Pailwan Basavaraju (left) and his brother, Somanna, at the shooting of a movie in Mysore.

MYSORE: "Mysore was close to Annavaru. His formative years as a stage artiste were spent in and around Mysore. Along with his father Puttaswamy, he spent many nights at the Bidaram Krishnappa Prasanna Sitarama Mandira."

"Once, the little boy, Muthuraju Singanalluru Puttaswamyya, pestered his father to take him to Mysore Dubar. But Puttaswamayya said: One cannot go to the durbar in this dress. You need a special pass and a durbar dress and entry is only for invitees."

"But the little boy persisted and his father finally rented a durbar dress that was as colourful as bewitching, and also managed to secure permission. Muthuraju jumped in glee at the prospects of witnessing the royal durbar. On being allowed inside the palace, Muthuraj was thrilled and the memories of the durbar hall captivated him for decades."

"Those were the early years Muthuraju spent in Mysore before coming into his own and becoming popular as `Dr. Rajkumar.' He would be concerned if it did not rain here and prayed for it and had a special attachment to the place."

It was a nostalgic trip for Pailwan Basavaraju of K.G. Koppal, a close confidante of the Kannada thespian. Recalling his early years with the veteran actor who passed into the state of timelessness on Wednesday, Mr. Basavaraju, who along with his brother, Somanna, has acted in over 50 movies with Dr. Rajkumar, threw light on some interesting aspects of the late actor's humane nature and his association with the city.

"It was out of curiosity that we went to see the shooting of Mannasiddare Marga. I got a role in the movie. Dr. Rajkumar was amiable and soon I was fortunate enough to become his close associate and family friend and went on to act in Oda Huttidavaru, Dhruvatare, Aakasmika and other movies with him."

Dr. Rajkumar used to frequently talk of his fondness for Mysore. Dasprakash Hotel near Gandhi Square was his favourite eatery in the early days. Later, he used to frequent Hotel Sujata and in recent years it was Hotel KingsKourt. But off late, his visit to Mysore was indeed rare and it used to be a low-key profile, Mr. Basavaraju recalled.

But not many knew that for Dr. Rajkumar, who last came to Mysore almost seven months ago, a visit to the city would not be complete without visiting his father's grave near Jodi Tenginamara at Bannimantap. Puttaswamy died at the K.R. Hospital many decades ago. But despite his advancing age, Dr. Rajkumar never failed to visit his father's grave to pay his obeisance to him.

Mr. Basavaraju was one of the few associates who was privy to such information about the thespian. "Though we acted in many films and used to go frequently to Chennai and Bangalore for shooting, it was Mysore that really fascinated him," he said.

Humane side

There were other traits about the actor that brought to the fore his humane nature. Mr. Basavaraju was a rookie without any training in acting. But Dr. Rajkumar encouraged him to be his natural self and had a word of advise to the directors who were ready to breathe fire down the neck of new actors.

"Don't terrorise them and instruct them in a gentle manner" was Dr. Rajkumar's advice to directors.

If it were not for him, I would not have attained success in the film world, Mr. Basavaraju said as he prepared to go to Bangalore to pay his last respects to his mentor.

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