The life and times of a matinee idol

‘Handbook’ on Kannada film legend Rajkumar released

Karnataka Bangalore:22/09/2014: Re-Copy photo of book on Dr. Rajkumar Samagra Charithre. Dr. Rajkumar in Santha Thukaram. Photo: V Sreenivasa Murthy

In what is perhaps the most extensive compendium on any actor, a 2,140-page encyclopaedia is getting ready on Kannada matinee idol Rajkumar.

The encyclopaedia in two volumes, ‘Dr. Rajkumar Samagra Charitre’, will have over 8,000 pictures and sections that talk about his family, initial years on stage, career as a film actor, success as a singer, his involvement in movements like the Gokak agitation, the awards he won, his abduction by Veerappan and so on.

The encyclopaedia, being edited by Dodahullur Rukkoji and published by Preethi Pustaka, is expected to be released by the end of the year.

Handbook released On Monday, Mr. Rukkoji released what he called a ‘handbook’ on the encyclopaedia, which offered a glimpse of what can be expected. He started working on it 15 years ago, he said.

Releasing the handbook, writer and Jnanpith award recipient Chandrashekar Kambar described Rajkumar as a person who changed Kannada cinema.

Writer Baragur Ramachandrappa said the encyclopaedia is a compendium that traces the history of Kannada cinema.