An icon who elevated Kannada cinema to national and even global levels, Dr Rajkumar was a singing powerhouse and an acting legend. The star, who died in 2006, spanned multiple decades and was the only lead male actor to earn the National Film Award for playback singing in 1992. He brought an unmatched enthusiasm and versatility to his vocal work, treating it as a valid accompaniment to his various roles. He even crooned an English track—“If You Come Today”, from 1978’s spy thriller Operation Diamond Racket—that became seared into Indian cinematic history just like his other musical gems.