Why Karnataka is enraged over demolition of Kannada icon Vishnuvardhan's memorial

India Today

2 days ago

Kannada matinee idol Dr Vishnuvardhan's memorial at Abhiman Studio in Bengaluru was demolished overnight. This action has triggered outrage among devoted fans who had long cherished the site as sacred. Actors like Kichcha Sudeep, Rishab Shetty, Upendra and more, voiced their opinions on the matter on social media.What happened to Dr Vishnuvardhan's memorial at Abhiman Studio?On the night of Thursday, August 7-8, 2025, under police protection and reportedly on High Court orders, the structure at Abhiman Studio - where Vishnuvardhan was cremated in 2009 - was abruptly demolished by a member of the Balakrishna family. This demolition became the reason for the uproar among fans, who received an emotional blow when they witnessed the disappearance of their idol's memorial without any prior notice. advertisementThe core of the controversy stems from a prolonged legal dispute. In 2015, the Karnataka government allotted two acres at the site to the Vishnuvardhan Memorial Trust, but the Balakrishna family - owners of the studio where Vishnuvardhan was cremated - challenged the allocation, resulting in years of litigation that ended in this dramatic court-ordered action.
The decision to unceremoniously uproot the memorial, which included an 8-foot statue of the actor, seems to have been taken to avoid public resistance. However, the move appears to have had the opposite effect, riling up innumerable fans of the Kannada cine-legend in their quest to get a memorial built at their hero's final resting place.Kannada stars of today enraged by the demolitionScenes of grief and fury unfolded outside the demolished site. Several fans were taken into preventive custody in order to control the situation. While the fans blamed the government and the Kannada Film Chamber of Commerce (KFCC) for failing to protect the memorial, several stars from the Kannada film industry commented on the issue.Kichcha Sudeep was the first to speak publicly about it. A vocal fan of Dr Vishnuvardhan, Sudeep released a video statement in which he was visibly upset and said 'Vishnuvardhan is not just a name - he is an emotion. When I heard the memorial was torn down, it was like seeing a temple - the one we prayed at for years - being destroyed. When it happens overnight, it was cowardly of the ones who did it.'With due respect to all... pic.twitter.com/sq5Segx80M— Kichcha Sudeepa (@KicchaSudeep) August 9, 2025'Kantara' actor Rishab Shetty condemned the actions, writing, 'What has happened in the case of Vishnuvardhan sir's memorial is condemnable. It has deeply hurt every fan who worships him wholeheartedly. Repeated disrespectful incidents in the case of an actor who is counted as one of the greats in the state is an insult to his personality and service to the arts.'Several other notable actors like Upendra, Dhruva Sarja, Sri Murali and others also expressed their opinions on the matter.Who was Sahasa Simha Dr Vishnuvardhan?Sampath Kumar, more familiarly known by his screen name Vishnuvardhan, was a Kannada actor considered one of the biggest stars in the industry, second only to Dr Rajkumar in terms of stature. With over 200 films in his 35-year career, Vishnuvardhan earned monikers like Sahasa Simha, Dada, and The Angry Young Man of Kannada Cinema for his on-screen persona.
PC: IMDb
Vishnuvardhan's talents were not limited to the borders of Karnataka as the legend had also crossed borders and featured in several Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu films. His notable films include 'Naagarahaavu' (1972), 'Bhootayyana Maga Ayyu' (1974), 'Bandhana' (1984), 'Muthina Haara' (1990), 'Nishyabdha' (1998), 'Yajamana' (2000), 'Apthamithra' (2004) and several others.The actor's sudden death at the age of 59, on December 30, 2009, came as a shock to the people of Karnataka. Vishnuvardhan died of a heart attack at King's Court Hotel in Mysore and is survived by his wife Bharathi, who is also an actor, and two daughters. His funeral was held at Abhiman Studio, making the location deeply symbolic for fans.Why Abhiman Studio?Abhiman Studio, a well-known landmark in the Kannada film industry, was the site where Vishnuvardhan was cremated with state honours on December 30, 2009. Founded by actor-producer Balakrishna in the 1960s, the studio was Bengaluru's first dedicated Kannada film studio, established on a sprawling 20-acre plot near Kengeri to reduce reliance on Madras (now Chennai) for film production.advertisementThe decision to hold Vishnuvardhan's final rites at the studio came after discussions between his wife, Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, and then Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, who sought a venue that could both honour the actor's towering legacy and accommodate the unprecedented crowds expected. Abhiman Studio, with its open grounds, became the natural choice, similar to Dr Rajkumar, who was cremated in Kanteerava Studios in 2006.What happened in court?In August 2023, the Karnataka High Court set aside two government orders issued in September 2015 that had allotted two acres of Abhiman Studio land in Mylasandra, Kengeri, for building a memorial. The land belonged to the heirs of veteran actor-producer TN Balakrishna, who argued that the allotment was made under government pressure, without proper consent, and that the promised compensation of Rs 1 crore per acre was never paid.The court found merit in these claims, ruling that the acquisition lacked due process. It restored ownership to Balakrishna's family, effectively halting the memorial's construction and paving the way for the eventual demolition in 2025. This decision was aided by the government's move to develop a memorial for the actor in Mysuru.advertisementWhat is Dr Vishnuvardhan Memorial Complex?Despite repeated demands from admirers for a permanent tribute at the cremation site, the unresolved property dispute compelled Vishnuvardhan's family to settle for a memorial built in Mysuru over 5 acres of land. In January 2023, a grand memorial near Mysuru was inaugurated - a sprawling site featuring museum galleries, over 600 rare photographs, personal artifacts, a life-sized statue, an auditorium, classrooms, and more, intended to celebrate and educate about his legacy.
Dr.Vishnuvardhan Memorial Complex in Mysuru (PC: X/Chandrashekar Dhage)
The government reportedly sanctioned around Rs 8 crore to Rs 11 crore and allotted approximately five acres of land in Mysuru, located at Halalu village near Udbur Gate on the Mysuru - HD Kote Road. However, to many fans, this location does not hold the same sacred value as the final resting place of the great actor in Abhiman Studio.Is there more to the story of this demolition?The demolition of Vishnuvardhan's memorial has not only angered fans but also stirred allegations that hint at deeper disputes. Vishnuvardhan Fans Association president Veerakaputra Srinivasa expressed heartbreak over what he called an '11-year-long struggle gone down the drain.' He claimed the Balakrishna heirs intended to replace the site with a mall.advertisementTN Balakrishna's daughter, Geeta Bali, alleged political involvement and said, 'I had no idea that something like this was going to happen. It was wrong to do something like this without informing anyone. I had nothing to do with this. It was my nephew Karthik, who took this decision, and it has come to my notice that there are politicians backing him.' These claims, though unverified, have intensified public suspicion that there is more to the demolition than meets the eye.Should Kannada cinema's triumvirate be reunited in Kanteerava Studio?
Vishnuvardhan (Right), Rajkumar (Centre) and Ambareesh (Left) (PC: X/Sumalatha Ambareesh)
The biggest question left behind is: why was Vishnuvardhan not cremated in Kanteerava Studio? While it is understandable that creating an individual memorial for the legend might have been the motive, everything that has transpired over the last 15 years - family and fans struggling to respectfully erect a memorial in Bengaluru - makes it clear that a lasting solution is warranted.Kanteerava Studio hosts the memorials of Dr Rajkumar and Ambareesh, two of the three most celebrated stars of Kannada cinema. It also houses the memorial of Dr Puneeth Rajkumar. There are now calls to build a memorial for Vishnuvardhan alongside Rajkumar and Ambareesh, completing the triumvirate of Kannada cine-legends.- EndsMust Watch