The Telangana government felicitated Padma awardees, including Chiranjeevi, Dasari Kondappa, Gaddam Sammaiah, Anandachari, Ketawat Som Lal, and Kurella Vithalacharya.
Published Feb 05, 2024 | 1:11 PM ⚊ Updated Feb 05, 2024 | 1:11 PM
Padma Vibhushan Chiranjeevi and CM Revanth Reddy at the felicitation ceremony. (Supplied)
“A society prospers only when artists are given their due respect. I felt happy not when Padma Vibhushan was announced but when fellow actors, celebrities, and fans showered their love on me through their congratulatory messages and personal visits,” said Megastar Chiranjeevi.
He was addressing a felicitation ceremony organised by the Telangana government at Shilpa Kalavedika in Hyderabad on Sunday, 4 February.
At the event, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and former vice-president Venkaiah Naidu felicitated the Padma awardees, including Padma Vibhushan awardee film actor Chiranjeevi and Padma awardees Dasari Kondappa, Gaddam Sammaiah, Anandachari, Ketawat Som Lal, and Kurella Vithalacharya.
The event was also attended by Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka and Ministers Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Jupalli Krishna Rao, and Komati Reddy Venkata Reddy.
Addressing the gathering, Chiranjeevi expressed his disappointment with the state government’s indifference towards giving away the Nandi Awards all these years. However, he welcomed Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s decision to rename the Nandi Awards as the Gaddar Awards.
Chiranjeevi also stated that he had set up blood banks so that his fans wouldn’t misuse their power and waste their energies in erecting cutouts and putting up banners near theatres. He explained that blood banks were started with the slogan: “Fans give life. But don’t want life. Don’t give blood.”
The veteran actor also urged people to come forward and donate blood during every celebration.
He recalled that his fans helped him a lot in organising service-oriented programmes like blood donation, eye banks, and oxygen banks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier on Saturday night, 3 February, a grand party was organised at Chiranjeevi’s residence to celebrate his being honoured with Padma Vibhushan.
Several film celebrities like Sukumar and political leaders, including Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, and Minister Komati Reddy Venkata Reddy participated in the celebrations.
The party was hosted by Chiranjeevi’s actor-son Ram Charan Tej and his (Ram’s) wife Upasana Kamineni.
