Karnataka’s highest civilian award the ‘Karnataka Ratna’ was conferred posthumously on late actor Puneeth Rajkumar on Tuesday, on the event of the 67th Kannada Rajyotsava (the state formation day).

He is the ninth recipient of this prestigious honour.

The occasion on the foresteps of Vidhana Soudha, the seat of the state Legislature and secretariat right here, was shortened and held in a hurried method, attributable to sudden rains.

Cine actors Rajinikanth and Junior NTR, and Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murty had been company on the occasion during which Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai conferred the Karnataka Ratna on Puneeth Rajkumar.

The Karnataka Ratna award consisting a full silver plaque and a 50 gram gold medal, was obtained by the late actor’s spouse Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar, within the presence of his actor brother Shivarajkumar and different members of the family.

Several famous personalities from the movie and literary world, Ministers, political leaders, legislators, amongst others had been current on the occasion.

Ahead of the primary occasion, there was musical efficiency by a number of famous singers together with Vijay Prakash, who sang in style numbers from Puneeth’s films.

With a lot of folks descending on the venue, Ambedkar Road in entrance of the Vidhana Soudha was jam-packed regardless of rains, and it was closed for visitors. Commuters had been suggested to make use of alternate routes by the visitors police.

Considered the Kannada cinema’s reigning star, Puneeth, youngest of 5 youngsters of thespian and matinee idol Dr Rajkumar, died of a cardiac arrest on October 29, 2021, on the age of 46.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai mentioned, ”your entire Karnataka, each village on this state is celebrating and is proud in honouring Puneeth with Karnataka Ratna.” Ashwini thanked the Government of Karnataka, the Chief Minister and followers for the honour; whereas Shivarajkumar mentioned, their total household is full of delight in receiving the very best civilian award of the state, which their father Dr Rajkumar too was conferred with, 30 years in the past.

Greeting folks of Karnataka on the event of Rajyotsava, Rajinikanth talking in Kannada mentioned, Puneeth was a god’s youngster, who spent a while with us and has now gone again to his creator.

He additionally recalled that Puneeth’s late father Rajkumar was conferred the identical award on the similar venue, and at the moment too it had rained.

Also talking in Kannada, Telugu actor Junior NTR mentioned, Puneeth Rajkumar is a king who dominated thousands and thousands of hearts, simply by his character and smile, with none ego.

”He (Puneeth) was above all an ideal human being, and the richness in his smile can’t be seen elsewhere. He is getting the Karnataka Ratna award at this time, however based on me, Puneeth is the actual that means for Karnataka Ratna in a real sense. I’ve come right here as a proud good friend of Puneeth,” he mentioned.

Karnataka Ratna was final awarded to Dr. Virendra Heggade for social service in 2009.

Interestingly, Puneeth’s late father Rajkumar is among the many first recipients of Karnataka Ratna award in 1992, together with famous poet Kuvempu.

Other recipients of the award are S Nijalingappa (Politics), CNR Rao (Science), Bhimsen Joshi (Music), Shivakumara Swamiji (Social Service), and Dr J Javaregowda (Education & Literature).

Puneeth, popularly often known as ‘Appu’ and ‘energy star’, by his followers, made his debut on display when he was simply six-months outdated and went on to win a nationwide award as a baby artiste for the movie ‘Bettada Hoovu’. He then re-emerged as a lead actor in 2002 and went on to star in 29 movies, delivering some huge hits.

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