Rajkumar memorial to cost Rs 10 crore

The memorial proposed to be built by the state government at Sree Kanteerava Studios in the city in honour of thespian Rajkumar is estimated to cost Rs 10 crore.

According to official sources, the estimates were finalised at a special meeting chaired by chief minister H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday. The memorial will come up on a two-acre plot where Rajkumar was laid to rest.

The memorial will recollect the contributions of Rajkumar towards the growth of the Kannada film industry. A permanent exhibition on the history of the Kannada film industry and Rajkumar's movies will also be part of the memorial, sources added.

A panel comprising family members of the actor, representatives of the Kannada film industry and the government will be constituted shortly to prepare the blueprint of the memorial.

"The panel has to submit its report within a fortnight. The entire memorial will be ready within six months. The intention is to create a national monument in memory of the actor," sources added.

The government intends to hold a programme in the city on April 23 to pay homage to the actor. Representatives of the Hindi film industry and all south Indian movie industries will be invited to the programme. Elaborate security arrangements will be made for the event, sources said.