The ANR National Award is named after the legendary actor Akkineni Nageshwar Rao, and this was the 13th edition of the same. 2024 also marks the centenary year of Akkineni Nageshwar Rao.
Published Oct 29, 2024 | 12:27 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 29, 2024 | 12:27 PM
Chiranjeevi recieves ANR National award. (X)
Actor Chiranjeevi was felicitated with the ANR National Award on Monday, 28 October in Hyderabad. Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan came to Hyderabad to present the award in the presence of the Akkineni family.
The ANR National Award is named after the legendary actor Akkineni Nageshwar Rao, and this was the 13th edition of the same. 2024 also marks the centenary year of Akkineni Nageshwar Rao.
The event was attended by many film personalities like Nani, Venkatesh, Ram Charan, Boyapati Srinu, Prakash Raj, Ramya Krishnan, Nag Ashwin, Rajendra Prasad, and Brahmanandam, apart from the Akkineni family— Nagarjuna, Amala, Akhil, Naga Chaitanya and his fiance and actor Sobhita Dhulipala. MM Keeravani also gave a special musical performance in memory of ANR.
Amitabh Bachchan, who gave the award noted that it was an honour for him to present the award. Speaking at the event, he recited his father Harvanshrai Bachchan’s poem about fathers and sons, which read: “My son will not be my inheriters, just because he is my son, but rather he will be my son because he is my inheriters.” He further praised the Akkineni family for being the inheriters of Nageshwar Rao.
Further thanking the Akkineni family, he said, “I feel deeply honoured that you have chosen me to honour my dear friend and colleague Chiranjeevi. Whenever I call he is always there. Thank you Chiranjeevi and Nag for giving me a part in your film, thanks to Vyjayanti Films, and Nag Ashwin for giving me a part in your film. Now I can proudly say that I am a member of the Telugu film industry.”
He ended his speech by asking the audience to consider him a part of the Telugu film industry.
Recollecting the first time he met Chiranjeevi, Nagarjuna said, “At our studio in Annapurna, Chiranjeevi was filming a song sequence. My father once told me, ‘You want to be an actor, so go watch him dance and learn.’ It was a rain song, and he was dressed all in white as he danced with Radha Gaaru.”
Chiranjeevi was further characterized by Nagarjuna as a “down-to-earth, warm, hospitable, and sweet” individual.
Later taking to X, Chiranjeevi wrote, “Blessed and Elated to receive the prestigious ‘ANR National Award’ named after the Doyen Akkineni Nageswara Rao garu, in his centenary year, through the hands of my Forever Guru Amitabh Bachchan. Grateful to every member of the Akkineni Family, Members of the Akkineni International Foundation, especially T Subbaramireddy garu, and my dearest brother and friend Nagarjuna. Forever indebted to each and everyone who contributed to my cinematic journey and each of my milestones.”
Blessed and Elated to receive the prestigious ‘ANR National Award’ named after the Doyen Akkineni Nageswara Rao garu, in his centenary year, through the hands of my Forever Guru @SrBachchan Amit Ji. 🙏
Grateful to every member of the Akkineni Family, Members of Akkineni… pic.twitter.com/Js3DjkBG81
— Chiranjeevi Konidela (@KChiruTweets) October 28, 2024
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
