Kannada film star Puneeth Rajkumar, who died of a cardiac arrest on October 29, will be conferred with the ‘Karnataka Ratna’ award posthumously, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced at an event to pay homage to the actor. Karnataka Ratna is the state’s highest civilian honour and the actor will be the 10th recipient of it. 

“After discussion with several people, I have decided to confer Karnataka Ratna award posthumously to Puneeth Rajkumar. I’m making this announcement today,” Bommai said.

“There are a lot of other suggestions, regarding honouring him with national-level awards, our government is open minded on this, and in the upcoming cabinet those decisions will be taken,” he added.

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Puneeth Rajkumar was youngest of five children of thespian and matinee idol Dr Rajkumar. He died at the age of 46. Puneeth was laid to rest with full state honours at Dr Rajkumar Punyabhoomi in Kanteerava Studio, next to his father and mother on October 31.

Following his untimely death, people started demanding ‘Padma Shri’ award for him. 

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Meanwhile, the Karnataka Ratna announcement was welcomed with a standing ovation at the event that was attended by former Chief Ministers B S Yediyurappa and Siddaramaiah. Others present at the event were state Congress chief D K Shivakumar, several political leaders, film personalities of Kannada and South Indian film industry.

Karnataka Ratna was last awarded to Dr. Virendra Heggade for social service in 2009. Puneeth’s late father Rajkumar is among the first recipients of the award in 1992, along with poet Kuvempu. Other recipients of the award are S Nijalingappa (Politics), CNR Rao (Science), Dr. Devi Prasad Shetty (Medical), Bhimsen Joshi (Music), Shivakumara Swamiji (Social Service), and Dr J Javaregowda (Education & Literature).

Stating that a lot of suggestions have come to immortalise Puneeth Rajkumar, Bommai said, “I want to say one the government’s wish is also the same. His final resting place will be developed like that of his parents- Dr Rajkumar and Parvathamma Rajkumar.”