In a touching and meaningful evening, the third year S.P. Varadaraju awards was presented to one stage actor Smt. Sarojamma Duttargi and one film actor Shani Mahadevappa by Smt. Parvathamma Rajakumar, Dr. Jayamala and Jayaramaraje Urs, secretary of the Kannada and Culture department.

S.P. Varadaraju, the younger brother of icon of Kannada cinema Dr. Rajakumar is a lifetime achievement award winner from Karnataka government. He died in February 2006 and just after two months Dr. Rajakumar also died in April 2006. He was instrumental in selecting scripts for his elder brother Dr. Rajakumar in his 50 plus years of film career.

It is in the memory of Varadaraju, the awards were instituted by Prof. Baraguru Ramachandrappa evolving SP Varadaraju Athmeeyara Balaga without seeking assistance from Dr. Rajakumar family and Varadaraju family. An honor should be made by the admirers and society, feels Prof. Baraguru Ramachandrappa in his inaugural address.

Smt. Parvathamma Rajakumar surprised everyone by attending the function with a mere postal invitation and lauded the good aspects of Prof. Baraguru and team. ‘Varadaraju, my husband Dr. Rajakumar’s younger brother who is five years younger to me in age was immensely attached to ‘Nam Yajamanru’ (Dr. Rajakumar). Both were like ‘Ram and Lakshman’, said an emotionally moved Smt. Parvathamma Rajakumar.

The invitees at the Nayana auditorium of Kannada Bhavana was treated with a stage play organized by Sampathige Savaal and Kitturi Rani Channamma. Dialogues by award winner Smt. Sarojamma Duttargi were appealing. Film actor Shani Mahadevappa recalled his role of ‘Vishwamithra’ in the play ‘Satya Harischandra’.

Dr. Jayamala in her address opined Sri Rama, Lakshmana and Seetha are nothing but Dr. Rajakumar, Varadaraju and Smt. Parvathamma Rajakumar.