Acting on HC directive, the cremation spot attached to Abhiman studio  in Kengeri was demolished amid heavy Police cover on Thursday night

Bengaluru:  Following the High Court directive, the cremation site of late Sandalwood actor Sahasa Simha Dr. Vishnuvardhan at the premises of Abhiman Studio in Kengeri, was demolished amid heavy Police cover, on Thursday night, sparking outrage among the fans of the actor.

The fans, who had been long fighting for the due honour for their favourite actor, were aggrieved over the sudden move to raze the cremation site and vented their anguish against the Government, Police and Kannada Film Chamber of  Commerce (KFCC).

Vishnuvardhan, passed away at the age of 59 on Dec. 30, 2009. Following his death, the mortal remains of the actor, were cremated at the premises of Abhiman studio. Since then, the family members of the late actor and fans were fighting for building a befitting memorial at the cremation site. However, the legal battle between the family members of veteran actor late T.N. Balakrishna (Balanna), to whom the Abhiman studio belongs and the Government, had been a stumbling block in realising the plans of the memorial.

In the later years, the family members of Vishnuvardhan relented and consented to develop a memorial in Mysuru.

The then Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, had laid foundation to develop Vishnuvardhan Memorial was developed on a sprawling 2.75 acres of land, at Marase village, near Udbur Gate, on Mysuru – H.D. Kote Road, on Sept. 15, 2020.

The memorial has various attractions like the life size statue of Vishnuvardhan, awards and honours conferred on the actor in his lifetime, gallery of over 600 photographs, prized possessions and the colourful outfits worn by the actor, an auditorium and two classrooms to conduct film related activities.

Fans in Mysuru protest

Fans of Vishnuvardhan staged a protest under the leadership of former Corporator M.D. Parthasarathy (Pathi), President of Vishnuvardhan Fans Federation, in front of Vishnuvardhan Park, adjacent to Mysore Palace yesterday.

Pathi, described the demolition of Vishnuvardhan cremation site in Bengaluru as a ‘Black Day’, especially on the day when the State is celebrating Varamahalakshmi festival. He demanded the Government to call for a meeting of the fans and clarify its stand.

KPCC Member Nazarbad Nataraj, President of Karnataka Hitarakshana Vedike Vinaykumar, S.N. Rajesh, Vinay Kanagal, Byrati Lingaraju, Lokesh and others were present.