The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Worshipful fans

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 13, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Worshipful fans

K.V. Subramanya

BANGALORE: Rajkumar always addressed his fans as "Abhimani Devarugalu," but to them he was their god. On his first death anniversary on Thursday, they had put up a huge hoarding at his samadhi. It was titled "Dr. Rajkumar Shathanamavali" and contained 101 mantras praising him, such as "Dr. Rajkumaraya Namaha," "Natasaarvabhoumaya Namaha" and "Rasikara Rajaya Namaha."

For good measure, it had a footnote that Rajkumar the deity would bless those who recited these mantras and prayed at the samadhi.

The master's voice

Loudspeakers at the samadhi blared the actor-singer's devotional songs. As everyone knows, the thespian was a staunch devotee of Sri Raghavendra Swami of Mantralaya. And with his first death anniversary falling on Thursday, popular songs on Raghavendra Swami sung by Rajkumar were accorded priority.

Members of IDL Blind Band rendered some popular songs from Rajkumar's movies to pay tribute to the late actor who was also a singer par excellence.

The band received loud applause for the song "Aadisi nodu, beelisi nodu urulihogadhu... " from the mega hit movie of the sixties "Kasturi Nivasa."

Colourful tributes

It was flowers everywhere. Ten flower decorators led by Balaraj had toiled since Wednesday night and decorated the samadhi with 6,000 red roses, jasmine and other flowers.

There was a hillock of flowers near the samadhi as each of the thousands of fans had offered garlands and bouquets.

Florists outside the samadhi did roaring business. They could not meet the demand as stocks kept getting exhausted in no time.

Roaring business

Not just the florists, even hawkers selling groundnuts, watermelon and cucumber slices, churumuri, buttermilk sachets and ice-creams had a field day.

As no proper arrangements were made for providing drinking water, the fans had to depend on a BWSSB water tanker stationed outside to quench their thirst.

A nearby restaurant serving Davangere benne dosa was packed for most part of the day and the staff found it difficult to cater for the customer demands.

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