Devotion Beyond Cinema: Fan builds temple in taluk Talavadi Kiccha Sudeep of Tamil Nadu for film stars. But rather fan devotion can be seen in little village Doddagajanuru which is a very small village where Kiccha Sudeep was the star (and is the character seen too in films).
The story of Siddaraju is of an ordinary friend who built a shrine in his home to keep his favourite movie stars forever present in his own room; that kind of love between people who watch movies or where there are different characters and not in another city. Siddaraju’s act has now become the talk of the village and beyond.
Siddaraju does so as an ice candy seller. Despite his modestity, his love for Sudeep runs deep. He did not just act as a fan; he built a small temple in his courtyard, put his picture in front and then worshiped it every day.
Siddaraju goes to bathe every morning, lights lamps, burns incense, and performs rituals with utmost devotion. The villagers that see him are shocked by his dedication. And for Siddaraju, Sudeep is a person who is inspirating & stronger than anybody else.
Doddagajanuru village lies near Karnataka border in Chamarajanagar District. In fact it is also the birthplace of legendary actor Dr. Rajkumar. Now in the same village a different actor likes to get honored in a new way.
Siddaraju’s shrine with the image of Sudeep’s photo, Maharshi Valmiki and Veera Madakari Nayaka at the side, also show how he mixes cultural reverence with cinema.
Siddaraju describes himself as more than a movie star with a film body and says he thinks of him as divine. Sudeep’s movies have inspired him to be happy and to make life better in order of that philosophy by reading his movies and in a spiritual way from here. As a result, Siddaraju had no reason to deny how much he is thankful to Sudeep for the same.
Villagers are so impressed by his dedication, he calls him “Kiccha Siddaraju.” Even while selling ice candies he listens to Sudeep’s songs, showing how deeply his admiration runs.
In South India, the idea of fans building temples for their favourite stars is nothing new. In fact, there are also many such shrines for superstars like Rajinikanth in the past. Siddaraju’s temple for Sudeep is a manifestation of this fantastic bond between cinema and our audience now.
So the thing that was even more than the love of fans in Siddaraju’s story is more than them. Like everyone in his life in fact, he chose to honor his idol in a very heartfelt and very special spirit. His devotion is proof that cinema can touch lives strongly; this small shrine in Doddagajanuru is one of the many of India’s true fan-culture scenes of the current generation.
