In a star-studded ceremony held in Hyderabad on Monday, South superstar Chiranjeevi was honored with the prestigious Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR) National Award. Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan presented the award, marking a significant moment in the celebration of Indian cinema.
This year’s event held special significance as it commemorated the 100th birth anniversary of Akkineni Nageswara Rao, a titan of Telugu cinema and the father of actor Nagarjuna. Established by the Akkineni International Foundation in 2005, the ANR National Award recognizes artists for their exceptional contributions to the Indian film industry.
A heartfelt video from the ceremony captured the emotional moment when Chiranjeevi, visibly moved, bent down to touch Amitabh Bachchan’s feet, paying homage to the legendary actor. After accepting the award, Chiranjeevi posed for photographs alongside Nagarjuna and Bachchan, encapsulating the camaraderie and respect shared among the icons of Indian cinema.
The event, hosted by Nagarjuna, attracted numerous luminaries from the Telugu film industry, including actors Nani, Brahmanandam, Ram Charan, Prakash Raj, Ramya Krishnan, and many more, all coming together to celebrate the legacy of ANR. Naga Chaitanya and his fiancée, Sobhita Dhulipala, also graced the occasion with their presence.
Earlier this month, Nagarjuna took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to announce the annual ANR National Awards, emphasizing the significance of this year’s celebration. He wrote, “This year is extra special as we celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of my father, ANR garu! Honoured to invite @SrBachchan ji and Megastar @KChiruTweets garu to the ANR Awards 2024 to mark this milestone! Let’s make this award function unforgettable!”
The ANR National Awards have a rich history, previously recognizing legends such as Sridevi and Rekha in November 2019. Other esteemed recipients include Amitabh Bachchan, Lata Mangeshkar, SS Rajamouli, Hema Malini, and Shabana Azmi. The first recipient of the award was the late actor and filmmaker Dev Anand.
As the industry continues to pay tribute to its legends, the ANR National Awards 2024 stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Akkineni Nageswara Rao and the profound impact he had on Indian cinema.
Sources By Agencies
