Amitabh Bachchan flew down to Hyderabad on Monday to present the 13th edition of the ANR National Award to Chiranjeevi. Incidentally, 2024 also marks the centenary year of the legendary actor A Nageswara Rao, after whom the award has been named. Chiranjeevi is the 13th recipient of the award that was instituted by the Akkineni Foundation in 2005 in memory of the legendary actor.
While speaking about Chiranjeevi on stage, Nagarjuna recalled his first memory of Chiranjeevi, back in 1985. He added, “Chiranjeevi was shooting a song sequence at our Annapurna studio. I remember my father telling me, ‘Go watch him dance and learn, since you want to become an actor.” Further recalling the incident, Nagarjuna noted, “It was a rain song, and he was dressed all in white as he danced with Radha Gaaru. Noticing his dance, which had such grace and charisma, one would be in sheer awe.” Nagarjuna further described Chiranjeevi as a ‘down to earth, warm, hospitable and sweet’ person. Addressing the audience later, Amitabh Bachchan said about Chiranjeevi, “Thank you for your friendship, concern, love, affection, humility, and hospitality.”
Recalling his association with Amitabh Bachchan, Chiranjeevi noted, “When I did my first Hindi film Pratibandh in 1990, I was eagar to show the film to only one person—my idol, my guru Bachchan ji. I was so tensed about what would be his reaction. Later, when he said to me, “A very powerful performance, Chiranjeevi… and a very purposeful film,” those words gave me enormous energy; I became like a child at that moment.”
The ceremony was attended by the biggest names of the Telugu film industry, like Nani, Venkatesh, Ram Charan, Boyapati Srinu, Prakash Raj, Ramya Krishnan, Nag Ashwin, Rajendra Prasad, and Brahmanandam, among many others. Renowned music director MM Keeravani also gave a special musical performance in memory of Nageswara Rao.
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