Friday marked one of the darkest days in the history of the Kannada Film Industry. After the bigwigs left the industry at the hands of the young guns, Puneeth Rajkumar stood as one of the strong pillars of the biz. At the age of just 46, he too has left, leaving a vacuum that is never going to get filled.
The attach between the past and the present
Stardom at the age of 10 is unheard of in any industry. Puneeth Rajkumar did that and in no time, became the kid of every house in the yesteryears. Cut to a few years later, he was prepping for his mainstream debut as a hero and the houses in Karnataka were excited to see their own yet again, albeit in a grown-up avatar. That era, films of that time, people in those ages, all of it had the only link, and that was Puneeth Rajkumar.
A legacy carrier
Dr Rajkumar was more than just an actor and a performer for the people of Karnataka. He represented the idea of Kannada and Karnataka in the best way possible. He was the ideal definition of how a Kannadiga must lead his life. After he passed away, there was a genuine requirement for someone to step up. People looked at his family, and although Shivanna was there, the Hat-trick hero set up his own way of stardom and hence, the eyes fell on the third son.
Puneeth did not disappoint in even one aspect. He was the perfect successor to the dynasty of Dr Rajkumar. Like in villages, where people used to look up to a good house, the people of Karnataka looked up at “Doddamane”, and Puneeth was in there after his dear dad breathed his last.
The Power Star for this era
All along, Puneeth Rajkumar inscribed his own brand, and this had the tag called the “Power Star”. His movies, his style, the dialogue delivery, fights, dances, his fitness, all had a say in it. The film industry of Karnataka was looking forward, powered by the energy called Puneeth.
His demise is an unbearable jolt to anyone who has ever heard of him. There is only darkness right ahead, and it is unsure if willpower will just be another word here.
