Bengaluru: Karnataka's highest civilian award the 'Karnataka Ratna' was conferred posthumously on late actor Puneeth Rajkumar on Tuesday, on the occasion of the 67th Kannada Rajyotsava (the state formation day). He is the 9th recipient of this prestigious honour. The event on the foresteps of Vidhana Soudha, the seat of the state Legislature and secretariat here, was shortened and held in a hurried manner, due to sudden rains.
Cine actors Rajinikanth and Junior NTR, and Infosys Foundation Chairperson Sudha Murty were guests at the event in 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 received by the late actor's wife Ashwini Puneeth Rajkumar, in the presence of his actor brother Shivarajkumar and other family members. Several noted personalities from the film and literary world, Ministers, political leaders, legislators, among others were present at the event.
Ahead of the main event, there was musical performance by several noted singers including Vijay Prakash, who sang popular numbers from Puneeth's movies. With a large number of people descending at the venue, Ambedkar Road in front of the Vidhana Soudha was jam-packed despite rains, and it was closed for traffic. Commuters were advised to use alternate routes by the traffic police. Considered the Kannada cinema's reigning star, Puneeth, youngest of five children of thespian and matinee idol Dr Rajkumar, died of a cardiac arrest on October 29, 2021, at the age of 46.
Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said, "the entire Karnataka, every village in this state is celebrating and is proud in honouring Puneeth with Karnataka Ratna." Ashwini thanked the Government of Karnataka, the Chief Minister and fans for the honour; while Shivarajkumar said, their entire family is filled with pride in receiving the highest civilian award of the state, which their father Dr Rajkumar too was conferred with, 30 years ago.