Titan of K'taka tinselville Rajkumar passes away

Bangalore, Apr 12 (UNI) Dada Saheb Phalke awardee and Kannada matinee idol Rajkumar died of cardiac arrest on the way to a private hospital here today, plunging the entire State into gloom.

He was 77. He is survived by wife Parvathamma, a film producer, three sons -- Shivraj, Raghavendra and Puneet -- all actors, besides a daughter.

Family sources told UNI that Rajkumar, who had a normal breakfast in the morning, complained of respiratory problem and was rushed to the super speciality Wockhardt Hospital around 1130 hrs. However, doctors there said he had already breathed his last. He was subsequently shifted to the M S Ramaiah hospital, where the doctors declared him brought dead. The body was then shifted to his residence.

As Rajkumar had pledged to donate his eyes, the body would be kept at the Palace Grounds here after grafting procedures to enable his fans to pay their last homage.

Family sources said the last rites would be held at Puneet Estate on Mysore road. His eldest son Shivrajkumar was away in Hampi on a film shoot and was expected later in the day.

Stray incidents of violence and arson were reported as the news about his death spread. Police resorted to lathi charge in front of Rajkumar's residence as his fans surged ahead in an attempt to take vantage positions to get a glimpse of their ''Annavru'' (elder brother).

The grief was evident in the faces of people from all walks of life, be it actors, other representatives of the tinselville, politicians or commoners who had thronged the residence.

Among the early callers were Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda.

Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha L K Advani cancelled his Karnataka leg of the Bharat Suraksha yatra following the demise of Rajkumar.

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