Dr. Rajkumar

Biography:

Actor and singer Singanalluru Puttaswamaiah Muthuraj, who was born on April 24, 1929, and died on April 12, 2006, was best known by his stage name, Dr. Rajkumar. One of the most talented and adaptable actors in Indian cinema history, he is revered as a cultural icon and a matinée idol in the Kannada diaspora, where he is known by many names, including Nata Saarvabhouma (Emperor of Actors), Vara Nata (Gifted actor), Bangarada Manushya (Man of Gold), Gaana Gandharva (Celestial singer), Rasikara Raja (King of connoisseurs), Kannada Kanteerava, and Rajanna/Annavru (Elder brother, Raj). He received the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1995 and the Padma Bhushan in 1983. For his playback singing, he is the only leading actor to receive a National Award.

He is the first actor whose films have been remade more than fifty times and the first whose films have been remade in nine languages, with his 39 films having been remade 63 times in nine languages  by 34 actors. He was the first Indian actor to play a James Bond-based character in a fully realized way.  It is widely acknowledged that the popularity of his film Jedara Bale served as an inspiration for the Desi bond genre in other Indian film industries. Forbes listed his performance in Bangaarada Manushya as one of the “25 Greatest Acting Performances of Indian Cinema” in honor of the “Centenary of Indian Cinema” in April 2013.

The New York Times referred to him as one of India’s most well-liked film actors at the time of his passing. Before receiving his first break as a lead in the 1954 movie Bedara Kannappa, Rajkumar spent a considerable amount of time working as a playwright with Gubbi Veeranna’s Gubbi Drama Company, which he joined at the age of eight. He went on to play a number of roles in more than 205 films, including Bhakta Kanakadasa (1960), Ranadheera Kanteerava (1960), Satya Harishchandra (1965), Immadi Pulikeshi (1967), Sri Krishnadevaraya (1970), Bhakta Kumbara (1974), Mayura (1975), Babruvahana (1977), and Bhakta Prahlada (1983). He was particularly good at playing mythological and historical characters.

During his theater career, Rajkumar received classical music training and became into a skilled playback vocalist. Since 1974, he has primarily sang for his movies. Among the songs that gained widespread popularity were Yaare Koogadali, Huttidare Kannada, Hey Dinakara, Hrudaya Samudra, Manikyaveena, and Naadamaya. He won the National Film Award for Best Male Playback Singer for his performance of the later song.

Singapore On April 24, 1929, Puttaswamaiah Muthuraj was born in the Talavady taluk’s hamlet of Dodda Gajanur . His mother, Lakshmamma, and father, Puttaswamayya, were poor Singanalluru theater actors. He spoke Kannada as his mother tongue. Puttaswamayya was skilled at portraying mythological characters like Hiranyakashipu, Ravana, and Kamsa. After dropping out of school at the age of eight, Muthuraj was seen by movie producers, who gave him modest parts to perform until he was twenty-five.

In honor of Muthaththi Raya, which is the Hindu god Hanuman’s temple deity situated in Muthathi, a community on the banks of the Kaveri River in Malavalli taluk, Mandya District of Karnataka, he was given the name Muthuraj.