Bengaluru: The long-standing dispute over the memorial of Kannada cinema legend Dr. Vishnuvardhan at Abhiman Studio took a dramatic turn on Tuesday night after the site was demolished without prior notice, leaving no visible trace of the late actor’s resting place. The sudden move has triggered widespread anger among fans, many of whom gathered outside the studio in protest.
The memorial site, located at Abhiman Studio in Bengaluru, had been at the heart of an emotional battle for years. Fans had long dreamed of seeing a grand Vishnuvardhan memorial built there. However, the land belonged to a person named Balanna, and legal disputes between his family and fans reached the Karnataka High Court. The court had earlier ruled that the land could only be allocated if agreed upon by the Balanna family or the government.
Despite no public announcement, the memorial structure was razed overnight, shocking fans who arrived the next morning to find the area leveled. “This was the final resting place of our beloved hero, and now even the smallest sign of it is gone,” lamented a tearful supporter at the protest site.
President of the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce, Narasimhulu, visited the location and assured that the court order would be reviewed before deciding the next steps. “If it is in court, we cannot interfere directly. We will respect whatever order is passed, but if action was taken without a court directive, we will decide accordingly,” he told reporters.
For Vishnuvardhan’s fans, Abhiman Studio was more than just a location — it was a symbol of their emotional bond with the “Sahasa Simha”. The demolition has now left them devastated, with many calling it the death of their memorial dream.
