The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Love of fans keeps me going: ANR

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Friday, Sep 19, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Love of fans keeps me going: ANR

Staff Reporter

He will turn 85 tomorrow

Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

Going strong: Akkineni Nageswara Rao at a function organised in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. —

VISAKHAPATNAM: “It’s your love and affection that keeps me hale and hearty,” said the doyen of the Telugu film industry Akkineni Nageswara Rao. “I had undergone a bypass surgery 35 years ago and my blood pumping rate is much less than the normal. Your affection keeps me going and makes me live longer,” he said acknowledging the cheers of his fans at a function organised by the Akkineni Nagarjuna Kalasagar to celebrate his 1008 ‘Chandradarshana Mahotsavam’ at the Vaisakhi Jala Udhyana Vanam on Thursday.

Early days

He recalled the days when he had hardly anything to eat and his early days on stage when he craved for recognition and love from the people. “I learnt in later life that more than receiving it is giving that brings joy,” he said, and hailed the organisers for encouraging stage artistes.

Mr. Nageswara Rao, who will be turning 85 on September 20, felt it was wrong to think that cinema was responsible for various ills in society. It was also promoting and fostering good qualities like human values, compassion and true love. Cine-goers receive what they want to receive. “Cinema taught me human values and the value of true love,” he said reflecting on some of the characters from his old films. He, however, said that actors have a greater responsibility towards society, as their behaviour in public life would be watched by many people.

‘Humanitarian’

MP T. Subbarami Reddy recalled the contribution of ANR to education and described him as a ‘humanitarian’. He was the first hero to shift to Hyderabad from Chennai and other heroes followed him. He even lowered his remuneration for shooting in Hyderabad as directors would incur expenditure in travelling from Chennai to Hyderabad. He was instrumental in the shifting of the film industry from Chennai to Hyderabad. Chairman of Dr. Akkineni Natakotsavalu, Ponnada Mohana Rao, presided.

Director General of Prema Hospital S.V. Adinarayana Rao, Malla Aruna Kumari, wife of Malla Vijay Prasad, managing director of Wellfare Group of Companies, Professor of Surgery (KGH) G. Arjun and Proprietor of Vijay Nirman Company S. Vijay Kumar were felicitated on the occasion.

Telecom District General Manager P. Naga Raju, proprietor of ANR Mall Adabala Narayana Murthy, chairman of ‘For U’ organisation P.R.S. Naidu, managing trustee of Cultural Foundation AVVS Murthy (Badamgeer Sai) spoke.

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