‘Appu’ re-too

In 2002, Puneet Rajkumar’s first film before its release Appu, Journalist Ravi Belgere killed a storm with his cover-page article in his popular tabloid Is Bangalore. While writing about the discussion around the film, he raised a big question to his readers: what Dr. Can the last horse win the last horse race from Rajkumar’s family stables?

TheSpian prince was a reputed man in Karnataka, and his eldest son, Shivarjkumar, became a star. However, Shivarjkumar’s second younger brother Raghavendra Rajkumar did not establish himself as an actor despite his first few films (Nanjundi welfare) Is doing well at the box office.

“Can the prince family produce another star?” This was a big question in people’s minds Appu“The film recalls Shyam Prasad of the critic. Punith’s mother, Poronima Enterprises (also known as Vajreshwari Combine), operated by Parvatathmma Rajkumar), was a huge production house. The banner was set to launch Punith, and certainly had some legacy at stake, she says.

Actor Punith Rajkumar showing the film ‘Appu’ outside a single screen with a collage of famous characters. , Photo Credit: Sudhakar Jain

Rakshaita, the female lead of the film, says, “Acting in the film was associated with a great responsibility.”

Was released on 26 April 2002, Appu Made fun of those who underestimated the project with their blockbuster runs. A new star was born.

Superstar Rajinikanth, talking at the film’s 100-day festive program, is said to be Punith.Imhada mari (Lion’s son), Punith’s ability to carry forward his father’s legacy. “This was a dream launch for a heroine,” Rakshita believes. “I am always grateful to the film team for keeping my career in the right direction.”

A remoster 4K version of Appu Hit the screen on March 14, 2025 as a part of Puni 50th birth anniversary ceremony. Today, one may assume that the excitement around the film is more than the film with an untimely demise of the actor due to a cardiac arrest in 2021 in 2021.

back then, Appu There was a pleasant shock for people. Punith’s character was anything, but was an ideal commercial cinema hero. He played the role of Appu, an opposing hero, who involves gang wars in college, woose a girl without his consent, and is on a constant woodcutter with the police. Nevertheless, like any opposing hero character, Appu was loved by the public, because he fought for something right, in his case, “true love.”

Also read:Kannada actor Punith Rajkumar buried next to his parents

Appu was anything, but a prince was inspired by the film Nayak idealism and morality. Telugu Director, Director Puri Jagannadh made a difference. In a recent video, the memory is going under the lane, Puri revealed how Shivrajkumar suggested his name to Rajkumar and Parvatamma for direction. Appu. Once Puri was on the board, he brought the Telugu-cinema sensitivity to the film.

“Puri Kannada was not from the film industry, so he did not pressurize Rajkumar’s fans to fulfill. He wanted the film to win, so he focused on targeting the young audience. He made his hero contrary to expectation from the launch of an actor of the Rajkumar family. Shyam Prasad says, “Intentional risk was paid.

The music of the film was a smash hits, which had Hamslekha-written Jolly go And derogatory songs from Upendra for the song Taliban Alla Alla Crowds being a favorite. Gurukiran was at the peak of his career. Cooperating with Idiosyncratic Upendra, he gave two super-hit albums A (1998) And Upendra (1999), But working Appu There was a separate ball game, he confesses.

Showing 2002 Kannada blockbuster ‘Appu’, fan frenzy inside a single screen marked the beginning of actor Punith Rajkumar. , Photo Credit: Sudhakar Jain/The Hindu

“Working for a film under the Poornima Enterprises banner was a big opportunity and a big responsibility at the same time. I used to take my rhythm machine, mike and keyboard and composed music in front of Rajkumar Sir. Rahman (AR) started a tendency to compose music alone. I wanted the songs in the film to be a young energy, ”says Gurukiran.

Musicians were apprehensive with English songs in songs. “I didn’t know how Rajkumar Sir or Parvatamma Mam would react. But Punith was a bridge between us, and he ensured that our views were approved. I was also nervous if his family would also get music, ”he says about the album sold for Rs 40 lakh.

Despite his debut as a hero, Punith stunt appeared to be confident in scenes, dialogues and dance numbers. Fans happy him as an all -rounder. Throughout his career, he faced imperishable energy in his performance. Apart from its skills, the angle of generation gap in the film is well associated with the youth, the national award -winning film feels critic MK Raghavendra. The characters of Punith also matched Kannada emotions, he said. “Appu’s rebellious attitude in the film represented locals, who felt discrimination by the state during the development of Bengaluru, as a metropolitan city,” he explains.

In one scene, Dr. in the film. Rajkumar’s fans Appu talk about the film stars, who are trying to bring the audience back to theaters. Attractively, Punith also became a star that attracted family audiences into the cinema hall. After succeeding as a child artist, including his national award winning performance Bettda Howu (1985), Punith’s stardom was smooth as a commercial cinema hero.

A rare star who loved everyone, Punith was in an experimental stage in his career when his life was tragically reduced. He has undoubtedly left a huge zero in the Kannada film industry, but the memories of the dear Appu will wave in the hearts of the Kannada audience forever.