Blood ties: Shringar Nagraj with his son Pranav

Shringar Nagaraj, who produced the hit film Pushpaka Vimana, lives a lonely life, but celebrated his 70th birthday with MiD DAY last night.

Pushpaka Vimana is a parable about love and money. Made in 1988, it starred Kamala Hasan and Amala, and is considered a landmark in Indian cinema.

"I'm really touched," Nagaraj said, as a MiD DAY team visited his Malleswaram house and gifted him a bouquet and an umbrella.

In fact, Nagaraj was so touched by the gifts, he told the team that he would carry the umbrella with him to Atlanta to his daughter's wedding. "I use one of those supporters to walk. But I will leave that behind and use the umbrella instead when I'm there," he said.
Nagaraj wished he could spend his 70th birthday with Rajkumar at the Ravindra Kalakshetra. The two were friends for 40 years. 

Nagaraj recalled Rajkumar's earlier days when the thespian acted in plays. "I used to photograph him, and one day I managed to get him to pose with Parvathamma with his arms around her neck. Till date, that is a one-of-a-kind photo since Rajkumar never
posed for such shots. He did it for the sake of our friendship," a nostalgic Nagaraj said.

Nagaraj lives with Pranav, his physically challenged son. His elder son Ramkumar is married to Kannada icon Dr Rajkumar's daughter, and is not in touch with him.
"My brother doesn't come here," Pranav told MiD DAY.

Nagaraj was close to Rajkumar and ace director Sangeetham Sreenivas Rao. He began his career as a still photographer and earned celebrity status after producing the hit Pushpaka Vimana. The film had no dialogue. Many call it a silent film, but it was embellished by a music score by L Vaidyanathan.

Nagaraj has acted in some of Rajkumar's biggest hits: Sipayi Ramu, Haalu Jenu, Chalisuva Modagalu and Shabdhavedhi. He has won a national award, a Rajyotsava award, and a Filmfare award.

"I am growing old. I would like to do a film with my son Ramkumar, but the time should come," he said.

Ramkumar, who lives in Boopasandra, is now estranged from him, and was not moved by the thought of a reunion. "No, I will not act in any of my father's projects," he told MiD DAY.

Ramkumar began his career with Muttina Haara, a war film in which he played hero Vishnuvardhan's son. He married Rajkumar's daughter in the face of stiff opposition from the thespian's family.

He has acted in a couple of hits, but Paandavaru, which he produced, did not do too well.