The vibrant world of Indian performing arts is deeply saddened by the passing of Rajesab Muktamsab Talikoti, widely celebrated as Raju Talikoti. This veteran actor, prolific playwright, and former director of Rangayana passed away on Monday evening at KMC Hospital in Manipal, Udupi district, following a heart attack suffered on Sunday night.
He was 60 years old and leaves behind his loving family: his wife, fellow actor Prema Talikoti, two sons, and three daughters.
At the time of his demise, Raju Talikoti was in Hebri for a Kannada film shoot. According to his son, Bharat, he experienced a heart attack on Sunday night and was swiftly admitted to KMC Hospital in Manipal. Despite immediate medical intervention, he unfortunately did not recover and passed away the following evening.
Dr. Avinash Shetty, Medical Superintendent of KMC Hospital, confirmed in a video statement that Raju Talikoti was brought to Kasturba Medical College Hospital at 1:30 a.m. on Monday after suffering a heart attack during his film shoot in Hebri. Expert cardiac surgeons at the hospital promptly performed an angioplasty. Regrettably, despite their efforts, he succumbed to his condition on Monday evening.
Raju Talikoti’s journey in theatre began remarkably early, at just seven years old, as a child artist with the Khasgateshwar Natya Sangha, a troupe founded by his father, Maktumsab Yenkanchi. Life presented significant challenges when both his parents fell ill. He was forced to close the family drama company and took on various jobs, including working as a hotel server and a truck cleaner, to make ends meet.
Yet, his innate passion for the arts proved too strong to suppress. He eventually returned to theatre, initially working backstage. A fortunate turn of events led him back into the spotlight as an actor, where he truly thrived, performing in countless diverse roles. His growing renown allowed him to resurrect his father’s drama company, under whose banner he produced, wrote, and directed numerous acclaimed plays.
Raju Talikoti was particularly celebrated for his impeccable comedic timing, a talent that smoothly transitioned him into the Kannada film industry, where he graced the screen in over 35 movies. A standout performance was his portrayal of a drunkard in the play ‘Kaliyugada Kuduka,’ which propelled him to widespread fame. An audio cassette of the play was released and became a resounding success. This immensely popular play garnered an astonishing nearly 40,000 performances, captivating audiences both nationally and internationally.
Throughout his distinguished career, Raju Talikoti was honored with numerous prestigious awards. His more than four decades of profound contributions to theatre were formally acknowledged by the State government when he was appointed as the director of Dharwad Rangayana. He took on this esteemed role in August 2024, immediately launching into several ambitious projects to further the arts.
His son confirmed that the final rites for the beloved artist will take place on Tuesday in Chikkasindgi, located in the Sindgi taluk of Vijayapura district.