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The Rediff Special/ Vodda Nagaraj

'If Veerappan kills Dr Rajakumar, I will also die'

Four days after Veerappan kidnapped Kannada film star Dr Rajakumar, fear is still writ large on the face of Vodda Nagaraj. Dr Rajakumar's close friend and an actor in his own right, Nagaraj was at the Kannada matinee idol's Gajanur farmhouse when the brigand struck on the night of July 30.

Seeing his well-built physique, the Veerappan gang first pounced on Nagaraj and wanted to abduct him along with Dr Rajakumar and the other three men. But when Nagaraj and Dr Rajakumar pleaded that the actor suffers from diabetes, Veerappan let him free

Nagaraj, 48, was introduced in Kannada films by Dr Rajakumar. He has acted in more than 50 movies, mainly in villain roles. But the villain, who often instills fear among movie-goers, nearly breaks down when recalling the nightmarish events that led to his friend's abduction.

A first person account, as recounted to George Iype:

It was a family gathering for Dr Rajakumar on Sunday. All the relatives were here. Though I am not a relative I accompany Dr Rajakumar wherever he goes. I have known him for the last 30 years and have been his constant companion and close friend.

We came to Gajanur on Friday as Dr Rajakumar personally wanted to look at the final work going on at the new house he has built. Though he owns a huge bungalow in Bangalore, he always wanted to stay in this small, old house at Gajanur. He is such a simple and humble human being. This ancestral house was very dear to his heart.

Dr Rajakumar always wanted me to come along whenever he visited Gajanur. "I want to live the rest of of my life here. I want to die in this house," he used to tell me. When we came here on Friday, he was very thrilled because almost all his family members were present.

On Sunday night, we all had supper together in the old house. It was raining heavily. Soon after supper, Govindaraju, Nagappa, Nagesh and me walked across to the new house to sleep there. Though he built a bungalow in the village, he never stayed there; he always wanted to sleep in the old house.

As we walked to the new house, a group of armed men suddenly appeared before us and ordered us to kneel down. I asked them who they were. One of them hit me with the rifle butt. It still aches. We knelt down. By then Veerappan had entered the old house and asked for Dr Rajakumar.

Veerappan soon came to us with Dr Rajakumar and said he was taking us all with him. He gave a micro cassette to Parvathamma and ordered her to give it only to the chief minister, not to the police. I was on the verge of a breakdown as I am a diabetes patient. I pleaded with him that I wanted to take some medicines. So Veerappan sent me along with two of his men to the new house and allowed me to take the medicines.

Then Dr Rajakumar pleaded that I be let free because I am a diabetes patient. Veerappan suspected that Dr Rajakumar and me were telling a lie. He came to me, looked at me and murmured: "Nee yaar? (Who are you?)" I said I am a friend of Dr Rajakumar. Veerappan did not believe me. Since I am strongly-built, he thought I was Dr Rajakumar's bodyguard. Veerappan then again asked Dr Rajakumar who I was.

Dr Rajakumar pleaded that I be let free because I suffer seriously from diabetes. Veerappan then let me free, but before that he ordered me not to speak to the police. "I will shoot him, if you tell the police anything," he said looking at Dr Rajakumar.

Dr Rajakumar asked me to be calm and courageous. These words still echo in my minds. Veerappan spoke in a mixture of Tamil and Kannada. Soon Veerappan and his gang whisked away Dr Rajakumar, Govindaraju, Nagesh and Nagappa. There were 14 men along with Veerappan. All of them were dressed in khaki and carried rifles which I think were AK-47s.

I was in a state of shock and fear. I did not know what to do. I was crying. I cannot now think that my dearest friend is in the jungles living with Veerappan. I cannot think how Dr Rajakumar will walk in the jungles for miles. He is not in very good health. Last year, some newspapers reported that Veerappan threatened Dr Rajakumar. But we never took it seriously. We never expected that Veerappan would strike here.

I have known Dr Rajakumar for the last 30 years. I came in touch with him through his son-in-law Govindaraju. Govind and me were classmates in Saligrama in Mysore. I still work as a physical education teacher at a school, but mostly I have dedicated my time for Dr Rajakumar and for film acting.

Dr Rajakumar introduced me to acting. I have enjoyed acting as a villain against him. The latest film I am acting is Dr Rajakumar's dream production Bhakta Ambareesha. I am also acting in a few television serials.

I will remain in this house till he comes back. What I am today is because of Dr Rajakumar. If Veerappan kills Dr Rajakumar, I will also die.

Photographs: George Iype

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