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RAMA
KRISHNA HEGDE NO MORE
He
Was Shrewd And Sensible
Report
by - CNB
Photos - K.M. VEERESH
Date -12h Janurary 2004
 An
era of value based politics has come to an end in political
history of Karnataka with the demise of the most charismatic
leader former Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde in Bangalore.
He was suffering from illness for a long time. Just before
the elections to Assembly and Lok Sabha declaration the
death of Hegde has left a strong void.
 We
have every reason to condole his death in the columns
of Chitraloka because he is the first one to introduce
the subsidy to Kannada films when he was the Union Minister
of State for Finance in late sixties. Rs.50000 subsidy
for every Kannada film was sanctioned in his regime. The
same subsidy is now given as Rs.10 lakhs by the Karnataka
Government for 20 quality Kannada films.
R.K.Hegde
considered to be the most shrewd chief minister of Karnataka
for a long period of six years and above when he took
his office on January 10, 1983 as CM of Karnataka representing
Janata Party. He is the only chief minister to resign
twice and become CM again as he always vouched for value
based politics. Controversies always followed Hegde whether
it is rice deal or Revajeethu land scandal or liquor scandal.
 No
one can forget the work done by RK Hegde in politico-socio-cultural
life of the State. He deserves a special place in Kannada
film industry for various reasons. He has acted in two
Kannada films – ‘Marana Mrudanga’ (drums of death) and
‘Prajashakthi’ (People power) and both of them were produced
by Chidambara Shetty who was murdered a few years back.
In ‘Marana Mrudanga’ Hegde played the reel Chief minister
and we remember still how he was assassinated by actor
Sunderraj in front Vidhana Soudha in that film. Although
both the films did not do good business Hegde continued
his soft corner to Kannada films. He was contacted for
third Kannada film by Film Chamber activist G.K.Kutty
but it did not take off.
Hegde
was instrumental in Sanketh Recording studio in his regime
as Chief Minister of State. Near Shivananda circle next
to Film Chamber of Commerce Sanketh studio was given 15
years lease for post production of film activities. Because
of Hegde Nag brothers - Shanker Nag and Ananthnag jumped
in to politics. He sanctioned increase in subsidy for
Kannada films and allotted 400 acres of land at Hesaraghatta
to construct Film City in Karnataka. Unfortunately even
today no one has come forward to construct film city.
At this Hesaraghatta land Hegde allotted 10 acres of land
for Protima Bedi for ‘Nrutyagrama’ and got himself locked
in controversy for sometime.
Chitraloka
joins the entire Kannada film industry and people of Karnataka
in mourning the demise of the most powerful leader of
the State – Ramakrishna Hegde.
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