In a gesture that will give a new lease of life to several patients waiting for organ donations, the family of national award-winning Kannada actor ‘Sanchari’ Vijay donated his heart, kidney and other organs after he was declared brain dead on Monday.
Mr. Vijay, 38, was riding pillion with his friend when the rider lost control of the bike. The duo was rushed to a private hospital where doctors performed surgery to remove a clot in the brain of Mr. Vijay and prevent swelling.
He was kept under observation, but in the early hours of Monday, he stopped responding to treatment and was declared brain dead. Based on the family’s request, the hospital arranged for organ donation procedure through the organisation Jeevana Sarthakathe.
Mr. Vijay was best known for the film Naanu Avanalla Avalu , which fetched him his first national award in 2015. He made his debut with Rangappa Hogbitna in 2011. He appeared in several Kannada films including Harivu, Oggarane, Killing Veerappan, and Sipaayi. He has over 20 films to his credit.
Born in 1983 at Panchanahalli, Kadur taluk, Chikkamagaluru, his father Basavarajaiah is a stage actor and mother Gowramma a folk singer. He studied BE and worked briefly as a lecturer before plunging into acting.
He was part of the Sanchari Theatre troupe in Bengaluru before he entered films, and therefore, the prefix “Sanchari” remained with his name. His films Taledanda, Atakkuntu Lekkakkilla, and Melobba Mayavi are in the post production stage and yet to be released.