Bengaluru: All roads on Wednesday, led to the home of the iconic Kannada filmstar of yesteryears, Dr Rajkumar as the rich and the not so famous beat a path to the door of the woman behind the stalwart - Parvathamma Rajkumar, wife of legendary actor, and an iconic film producer in her own right, with more than 80 films under her home banner for over a span of four decades.
Parvathamma died here early Wednesday from a heart attack after the cancer she had battled returned. She was 77, and is survived by her three sons and two daughters and their families, and mourned by members from the film industry.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah consoles actor Puneeth Rajkumar, as he arrives to pay his last respects to his mother Parvathamma Rajkumar, in Bengaluru on Wednesday. (Photo: DC)
She was laid to rest right next to the memorial of her husband in Kanteerava Studio as per Hindu rituals. She held no official post but in a departure from past practice and in an acknowledgement of her stellar role in Sandalwood, she was accorded full state honours.
Parvathamma had been admitted to M.S. Hospital on May 14 after she complained of breathing problems. She was put on assisted ventilation for more than 15 days before her condition deteriorated on Tuesday. She was pronounced dead at around 4.40 a.m on Wednesday morning.
Film industry veterans as well as many of the young whose careers she helped shape, paid their last respects alongside Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and several politicians, cutting across party lines.
