The ANR National Awards in Hyderabad were recently held and it was an event that emphasized the interdependence and the common heritage of Indian films. It was the collaboration of two great legends, Bollywood’s Amitabh Bachchan and Tollywood’s Chiranjeevi, who were both on stage to mark the award and their great relationships, which was animated by the memories of the late Akkineni Nageswara Rao(A. N. R. ). Celebrations were for the actor who has been the epitome of grace and hard work.
His presence indeed proved to be the cherry on top of an already memorable event. It was more than simply formal. Considering the actors’ growing relationship with Telugu cinema, he called himself an “honorary member” of the industry, alongside such greats as Chiranjeevi and Nag Ashwin, who featured him in their works. This is the first time I have heard of a Czech who is understanding of double entendres in the Telugu film industry! The response was expected; claps were heard throughout the hall as Bachchan made such a statement.
Amitabh Bachchan recently appeared in Kalki 2898 AD along with Prabhas and Deepika Padukone, and he thanked the film for its admiration, shattering a record by earning over Rs. 1000 crores worldwide. When talking about his camaraderie with Nag Ashwin (Kalki’s) director he also made a quip about wishing to stay on the director’s contact list for more projects perhaps marking the start of a fresh party between Bollywood and Telugu cinema industry.
Nagarjuna Akkineni, the host of the evening, expressed warm sentiments, recalling how he feels about Bachchan. After watching Kalki 2898 AD, Nagarjuna had called Amit Bachchan, and said, “Amit Ji, my original mass hero is back!” To hear such a voice would surely not only be a comment on Mr. Bachchan’s performance but also the golden era of Indian cinema which he continues to represent in many ways.
Chiranjeevi receiving the award from Mr. Bachchan was very special for him, in fact he went so far to accuse that receiving from someone like Mr. Bachchan is a victory for him in the context of Telugu as well as in his story with the Indian film industry. This event turned even more special when Mr. Bachchan hugged Chiranjeevi’s mother Anjana Devi and that respect and love spirit made the evening special for both families and the fans.
This year’s ANR National Awards were not only a showcase of cinema but also a celebration of the relationships that go beyond the geographical borders and forge a link between the icons and the light of narration across the Indian film industry.
