Land of Lime

A sad, tragic day for the Land of Lime.

Dr. Rajkumar is no more.

It isn’t easy to wake up to news like this. When I began writing this blog about six months ago, Dr. Raj was a big part of it. I felt this acute need to write about his films to regain my own moral compass. Since then, I have been watching his films almost everyday, often writing here at the Land of Lime but also making notes for a book on moral visions in Rajkumar’s films. I was hoping to spend a week or two with  him this summer, to talk to him about his films and life. That wasn’t meant to be.

Perhaps the biggest cultural icon for Kannadigas, he represented the best of Kannada culture through his personal conduct and art. Karnataka chief minister Kumara Swamy said it best a few months ago. In an interview just before he assumed office, Kumara Swamy said Bangarada Manushya (possibly Raj Kumar’s best film) taught him how to be a good human being. That’s what each of his 205 films did: offer a moral compass to his audience, his abhimani devarugalu (fans who are like gods).

An unlikely superstar, Dr. Raj Kumar wore his fame and popularity with ease and humility. In his personal conduct and films, he embodied civility and decency. What he didn’t do with his iconic status is equally significant; unlike his contemporaries, he didn’t seek to parlay his popularity into political power nor was he ever known to enter into shady deals for personal benefit.

As we mourn the passing away of a good man, here is what I want to remember. He asked us to be good, decent human beings. And he often showed the way.

Aside: here is KP in Churumuri on Dr. Raj and then here is Sunaad.