Choultry built by Dr. Rajkumar in Muthathi shows signs of neglect as village panchayat fails upkeep

Neglected choultry near Cauvery River built by Dr. Rajkumar yearns for attention and maintenance, impacting bookings and profits.

The choultry standing near the banks of Cauvery River, built by the legendary Kannada actor Dr. Rajkumar, is yearning for attention as it suffers from despair due to poor maintenance by the village panchayat. The structure, which is about three decades old, was constructed as a tribute to Mutturaya (Anjaneya) shrine in Muthathi village in Mandya district. 

While Dr. Rajkumar is a screen name of the actor, his parents named him Mutturaju. The popular story is that the actor was born in 1929 after parents visited Mutturaya temple and placed a solemn vow for male child. So the parents reportedly named him Mutturaju. Dr. Rajkumar died in 2006 and April 24 will be his 96th birth anniversary.

After Dr. Rajkumar rose to fame, he donated money to build a hall for pilgrims as there was no dedicated space for organising events and to take rest. The Byadarahalli village panchayat, which is the custodian of the space, gives contract to run the choultry every year. This year contract was awarded at ₹3,61,000.

The building shows severe signs of neglect—faded walls, cracked ceilings, and broken windows. After Puneeth Rajkumar died in 2021, some cosmetic repairs were made, including a new coat of paint and gate restoration. However, the overall condition remains poor.

S. Nagaraj, a resident of Muthathi, said, “On Saturdays and Sundays round the year, the Choultry is booked for events. People from Bengaluru, Mandya, Mysuru, and other places come here. The hall is booked for naming ceremonies, religious events, and other family events. The hall has the potential to attract people if maintained properly. The profits from the choultry are considerably less and are precisely due to the maintenance issue. Rajkumar’s family has built the hall, but the panchayat has failed in its job.”

The choultry has a kitchen, a washroom, and a hall. The waste generated is dumped on the premises with no dedicated dumping place.

M. T. Manju, the contractor maintaining the choultry, talking to The Hindu said booking prices range from ₹5,000 to ₹12,000 based on hours. Manju bagged the contract in April. “The village panchayat fixed the broken gate after I delayed payment, demanding repair. Some years back, actor Shivarajkumar promised to rebuild the hall but it did not happen. The village panchayat bothers not to renovate the structure.”