Senior Kannada film actor ‘Sarigama Viji’ dies at 76 due to health issues
Bengaluru: Senior actor of the Kannada film industry, R Vijaykumar, popularly called ‘Sarigama Viji’, who was well-known for his performance in supporting and humorous roles, passed away on Wednesday morning. He was 76.
The actor, who had developed severe health problems and was under treatment at a private hospital near Yeshwantpur in the city the last few days, failed to respond to the treatment and passed away on Wednesday.
He is survived by his wife and two children. Sources have said that the funeral rites will be conducted at the Chamarajpet crematorium.
Vijaykumar, who began his acting career with theatre, got a big break in the play ‘Samsaradalli Sarigama’, which also earned him the nickname ‘Sarigama’. Moving on to films, Vijaykumar acted in several movies mainly as a supporting actor and in the humour roles. In a couple of movies, he also performed in the role of the villain.
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NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani rejoins Town Hall after ABC reinstates Jimmy Kimmel
New York: New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani said Monday evening that he is once again willing to participate in a local town hall hosted by ABC’s New York affiliate, after the network announced it would reinstate late-night host Jimmy Kimmel.
Earlier in the day, Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, had pulled out of the WABC-TV event to protest ABC’s suspension of Kimmel. “Last week, Disney/ABC caved to Trump administration pressure. Millions of Americans helped them find their backbone. Whether you watch Jimmy Kimmel or not, today’s decision is a victory for free speech,” Mamdani wrote on X.
ABC suspended Kimmel last week following backlash over his comments on the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Nexstar and Sinclair stations had said they would refuse to air Jimmy Kimmel Live!, and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr threatened consequences if the network failed to act. Former President Donald Trump, who praised Kirk as a “great American hero,” applauded the suspension.
Kimmel’s remarks on his show had criticized those he said were seeking to “capitalize on the murder of Charlie Kirk.” The host has not issued a public statement since the controversy.
The suspension triggered an outcry over free speech, with more than 430 entertainment industry figures joining an ACLU-led letter denouncing the move as “a dark moment for freedom of speech in our nation.”
Mamdani, 33, had originally framed his withdrawal as a protest against corporate leadership, not local journalists, accusing Disney/ABC of “putting their bottom line ahead of their responsibility in upholding the freedom of the press.” After the reversal, he said his campaign was working with WABC to reschedule.
Mamdani will face former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, incumbent Mayor Eric Adams, and Republican Curtis Sliwa in the city’s November election.
