HEIGHT OF HECTIC WORK 
3 Cine Photo Journos Trauma

Interview - CNB   Photos - chitraloka, K.M. Veeresh,, K.N. Nageshkumar, D.C. Nagesh  Date - 14th April 2006

With nearly two decades of stay in the field of cine photo journalism profession the testing time came with the demise of Dr.Rajkumar on last Wednesday. Known for round the clock working occasionally the three important cine photo journalists K.N.Nagesh Kumar, K.M.Veeresh and D.C.Nagesh have faced the toughest time of their career.

The main idea of this report is to describe how hectic is the work of these professionals who know Dr.Rajkumar family very closely and they have to be dare enough to take challenges.

Fortunately all the three popular cine photographers KNN, KMV and DCN were in Bangalore when their other colleagues had been to Hampi to cover the shooting of Shivrajkumar starring ‘Gandugali Kumararama’.

K.N.NAGESH KUMAR
Known for straightforward approach is a workaholic and go getter in his work. When he heard the news of Dr.Rajkumar death he had no vehicle to reach Dr.Rajkumar residence. He caught hold of his friend’s vehicle at 2.30 pm and rushed to Sadashivanagar. The crowd turn out was huge by that time as the body of Dr.Raj was expected from M.S.Ramaiah Hospital. Repeated requests to get an entry did not materialise for Nageshkumar.

When the CM came to the house he made request with him also. But he had to jump and reach the first floor of the house with courage to get long shot photographs. There he found the weeping wife of Dr.Rajkumar. The doctor who was there giving injection to Raghavendra Rajkumar, daughter of Raj Poornima and Varadappa’s wife was unconscious. Ananthnag, Siddaramaiah, Jaffer Sharief, Vishnuvardhana, Sudharani, Bharathi, Jayanthi, Anu all came here to console Parvathamma.

Seeing Ananthnag Smt.Parvathamma Rajkumar told him that Dr. Raj was inquiring about him very often. She informed that Dr.Raj was watching television serial ‘Preethi Illadha Mele’ regularly and very often Dr.Raj was talking in the house about the performance of you. Ananthnag could not react to it immediately.

Enters Yoga master Raiker at this time. He keeps his hand on the head of Smt. Parvathamma Rajkumar and utter hymns. At this time the body of Dr. Rajkumar moves to reach Bangalore Palace. Since a marriage was taking place there, the organisers think of Poornaprajna School as the alternative – KNN remembers. Finally the body reach near Cauvery theatre and traffic jam keeps everyone standstill. Raghavendra Rajkumar is in confusion like his family members on whereabouts of the body. Raghu is trying to contact the Karnataka Chief Minister at this time it goes in vain.

KNN moving out of the house, rushes to his vehicle to reach house to transmit photographs of his takings and that of his 25 year old photographs. To his dismay he finds only his vehicle in tact but all others were burnt. He goes on war footing in his vehicle via Doordarshan Road but before 6 kilometers to his house his vehicle petrol comes to an end. He pulls the vehicle for 6 kilometers with hunger on the one side physically and mentally.

Such trauma KNN undergoes with the sole intention of ‘work is worship’. He quickly sends pictures of 25 years old of Dr. Rajkumar to half a dozen newspapers. The photographs of Dr.Rajkumar at ‘Dhruva Thaare’ shooting, the first photo he had taken in Rajkumar’s birthplace Gajanur all come in his memory at the wee hours.

KNN had special love always from Dr.Rajkumar. KNN took his son Shreyas one day to Dr. Rajkumar house. Affectionate Raj took the boy on his lap and offered him an apple. In Puneeth Rajkumar birthday last month KNN took his daughter Sharadha and introduced to Dr. Raj. After hearing the name of the cute child of KNN he became emotional and said his sister name is also Sharadha.

K.M.VEERESH

Editor of Chitraloka and senior cine photo journalist as every one knows is something more than workaholic nature. He is one of the closest to Dr Rajkumar family. Because of the closeness KMV started a column of Smt.Parvathamma Rajkumar in his mega portal.

Raghavendra Rajkumar called up KMV in the evening on an important matter. After confirming the news for Dr. Rajkumar demise at 1.00 PM, KMV reached his office in Sanjaynagar and his innumerable collections of Dr. Rajkumar and his films started getting transmitted. KMV did not believe the news and when he cross checked with two others they said it is confirmed. When he ascertained the fact from senior journalist Mysore Harish he landed in his computer chair and hecked out all photographs related to Dr. Rajkumar within a few hours. For prestigious dailies Kannada Prabha and Udayavani he sent lots of photographs besides uploading several photographs and already piled up information on Dr.Rajkumar in his mega portal www.chitraloka.com.

Veeresh was tied to his seats till late in the night. In the morning he went to Kanteerava studio and he was baffled with the tear gas shells and police firing. He came to Kannada Prabha office with his swollen face and again reached the residence to transmit some more photographs and news. It was two days of sleeplessness for KMV. Nearly 400 photos of KMV collections reached newspapers and his website.

After Praveen Naik, it was only KMV who did Umbrella lighting for Dr. Rajkumar and took photographs of Dr. Rajkumar at Kanteerava studio (where he is laid to rest now). After make up Dr.Raj and actress Jayaprada (at the time of Shabdavedi shooting in 2000) appeared for photo shoot of KMV. Prior to this KMV had obtained permission from Smt. Parvathamma Rajkumar. In the midst of shooting one hour was set apart for this photo session is something remarkable remembers KMV. Infact on that day Smt Parvathamma also took part in the photo shoot with her husband Dr. Raj. This is the most cherishing moment in my life says KMV.

It was 15 years ago KMV took the first photographs of Dr.Rajkumar for Mangala publication. What he has noticed is the strength and smile in Dr.Rajkumar in tact.

D.C.NAGESH
The bright and bubbling photographer who has an engineering degree came to know about Dr.Raj’s death at 2.15 pm. He got hold of old photographs negatives of Dr.Raj to dispatch it to Prajavani and Vijaya Karnataka publications. He reached Kanteerava stadium around 7.30 pm and stayed there till late in the night. DCN noticed the change in Dr. Raj health in one month gap after his operation. When he met Dr.Raj at his residence after the operation his voice was normal and he had the opportunity to hear a song. The first photograph of Dr.Raj DCN had taken was during Nanjundi Kalyana 100 days function.

The day two of Dr.Raj death was still terrific for all the three top photographers. The violence that broke out was a real handicap for them.All the three remember that this tough work would not repeat again in their life.

That is the power of Karnataka Rathna Dr.Rajkumar.

Also See
Chitraloka.com inaugurated by Smt. Parvarthamma Rajkumar - Click