Some multinationals are reporting unrest in cities like Bangalore and disruption to traffic and transport services.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4902668.stm

Actor's death sparks violence in India's tech city

An icon of south Indian cinema and star of more than 200 films, Rajkumar, died on Wednesday, sparking widespread violence as distraught fans torched buses and ripped hoardings in the country's hi-tech hub. Raj Kumar, one of India's most famous actors, dies at 77. The revered actor, who gained nationwide fame in 2000 when he was kidnapped by notorious forest bandit Veerappan, died at his home in Bangalore in the southern state of Karnataka after a heart attack, his doctor said. He was 77. His death effectively closed down much of the city, witnesses said, with major businesses – including cinema halls – downing shutters out of respect but also in fear of violent mobs that swept through the city as news of the actor's passing spread.A Microsoft research institute in the city centre was stoned, the company said, and many of India's leading technology companies concerned over safety sent workers home early.

Television reports showed huge crowds laying seige to an ambulance bearing the actor's body and trying to climb in through the vehicle's smashed windows.
A Reuters photographer saw a police car overturned and other vehicles set on fire. 'He was a cult figure,' said fellow actor Anant Nag. 'Everybody is at a loss.' Actors in the southern Indian film industry are often revered with as much intensity as the gods they regularly portray on screen. Many people include icons of their favourite star in their household shrine, alongside portrayals of the more usual Hindu pantheon. Rajkumar, sometimes called the John Wayne of the regional Kannada-language film industry, was kidnapped in 2000 along with four members of his family in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. The kidnap sparked violent protests as fans demanded his release, and police feared a backlash against the state's Tamil minority in Karnataka. He spent 108 days in the jungle bordering the two states before police negotiated his release. Veerappan was shot dead in 2004.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/2...ndia-actor.html

Never Heard of Him.

Neither have I.

Same Here, Who is this guy?

how influential was he?

and i thought he died of natural causes? i can't imagine any hollywood actors creating that much of a ruckus that people start torching buses and whatnot because someone died of a heart attack. he must've been a great actor.

i do know that ppl in s.india are a lil to obsessed with their actors.

I think only ppl from the South know him,whateva...he did more then 200 movies for the Kannada Cine Industry...a lot of movies LOL

This guy is from Karnataka. That state has Bangalore(the outsourcing kingpin), and has most of indian defene industries too i think.

he sounds like desi tupac

Sad, Southern ppl treat filmstars as deities (but they really are demons)
, Well is he the same guy whom Virappan abducted? yeah Veerappan ~|~

Yeah, there are people who worship actors in India...but this is not exclusive to southerners...in North India, a man built a temple dedicated to Madhuri Dixit.

lol what better way to mourn someone then to overturn some vehicles and throw stones at buildings.

Was it MF Hussein ? 2

Yes, it's the same man that Veerappan abducted. A few buses were burnt down then also.

LOL.....I wouldn't be surprised.......

lol...but no, I believe he was a rickshaw driver or something.

Lovely diversion in topic.

cant believe u guys never heard of him. This man was a legend in lots of movies. This guy ran the Bollywood industry, straight up G..!!!! I aint even southern Indian I heard of him

R.I.P. Rajkumar

I remember there was this amazing movie by him called tiranga

He worked for Kannada not Bollywood!

the Raj kumar your talking about,died a long time ago!

L L Man you are talking about Bolly RAJKUMAR but this is Kollywood RAJKUMAR (Veerappan's Friend)

Well I seen very bad scenes on TV Today, many people burnt a bus in Bangalore because RajKumar Died. What i believe is Every Kollywood actor must publish an interview addressing his/her Fans that they promise not to burn any buses when He/She Dies. Hope it works.

I think the biggest reason fot the violence are not only the fans, some "Gundas" were just looking for an excuse to create trouble and some of the Political parties were trying to cash in on popularity by showing who was more affected and closer to Rajkumar.

Well, as per my mind thinks is those were not gundas(anti-social elements) , Those were Fans ( Some very ignorant, Illetrated, Ill mannered, poor, non achievers), All their passion lies behind is an over limit.
They proove theirselves by telling other people that they did something for no cause, upto that very high extent. Yeah this is a kind of mentality in Some class of men found in India. Rest I never been to That kind of environment, so not much thoughts.