Kannada Producer Paravathamma Rajkumar passes away at 78

Noted film producer and wife of Kannada the spian Rajkumar, Paravathamma Rajkumar passed away after a prolonged illness at a private hospital, early on Wednesday. She was 78.

Paravathamma, who has been suffering from cancer, died of a cardiac arrest at 4.40 am at Ramaiah Memorial Hospital,hospital sources said.

She is survived by her three actor sons, Shiva Rajkumar,Raghavendra Rajkumar, Puneeth Rajkumar and two daughters.

"Paravathamma Rajkumar expired on May 31 morning at 4.40am. She had known case of breast malignancy with metastasis to her liver and lungs. Her renal functions had also compromised," President of Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, Dr Naresh Shetty said in statement.

"At about 10 pm on May 30, her pulse and BP started falling. She had a cardiac arrest at 4.30 am. Despite all active measures, she failed to respond. She was declared dead at 4.40 am," the statement further read.

Paravathamma, under the banners Vajreshwari Combines and Poornima Enterprises, has produced about 80 movies,featuring her husband Rajkumar and their sons.

Blockbuster movies produced by her include "Trimurthy","Haalu Jenu", "Kaviratna Kalidasa" and "Jeevana Chaitra"starring Rajkumar. According to the sources close to family Paravathamma would be cremated at Kanteerava Studio here, next to her husband Rajkumar, who had died on April 12, 2006.

As a mark of respect to the departed, Kannada film industry has decided to remain shut on Wednesday.