Karnataka paid homage to her favorite son, the doyen of Kannada cinema, Dr Rajkumar. Eight years after his death the actor’s memorial at Kanteerva Studio in Bengaluru, a two-acre tribute to his life and work, was unveiled in a ceremony on Saturday that was attended by state’s top politicians and the who’s who of south Indian cinema. Acknowledging Rajkumar's god-like stature among his Kannadiga fans, Tamil superstar Rajinikanth predicted in his speech that the memorial would one day become a temple.

Rajkumar has been drawing crowds to single screens and multiplexes in Bengaluru all November with the release of the colour version of his hit film Kasturi Nivasa, which was first released in black-and-white 40 years ago. Giant garlanded cardboard cut-outs of Rajkumar went up once again outside venues like Bhoomika theatre. Once again, the matinee idol’s benevolent face smiled down from the clouds on hundreds of adoring fans. Inside the cinema halls, songs in the film were drowned out by the loud whistling and cheering, with fans dancing in the aisles, waving Karnataka state flags and pressing themselves against the screen as if to merge with their hero.



Like his cut-outs, Rajkumar's persona has always been a larger than life. He was considered the most versatile actor who sang, danced and wept with equal ease. “Even today it is the general opinion of the discerning audience that no one has come anywhere near him, in what he did in Kannada cinema," said film critic and historian HN Narahari Rao. "He is far above others in his talent and his love for Kannada."

Here are two movie scenes, one where Rajkumar plays the mythological Hiranyakashipu and the other where his is a South Indian version of the fictional James Bond.