Nagi Reddy Smaraka Puraskaram

B Nagireddy Smaraka Puraskaram – 2011 event was held on Sunday evening in Hyderabad. Dr Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Nandamuri Balakrishna, Dr D Ramanaidu, Dr C Narayana Reddy, A Ramesh Prasad, Singeeta Srinivas Rao, B Venkatrami Reddy, Bharati Reddy and Gollapudi Ramakrishna were the prominent guests for the event. Akkineni Nageswara Rao presented the award to producer Dil Raju for the film ‘Mr Perfect’ and Ramanaidu felicitated him with a shawl while Balakrishna presented the cheque of Rs 1.5 lakhs.

Later Akkineni Nageswara Rao said, “I did ‘Missamma’, ‘Gundamma Katha’ and ‘Maya Bazaar’ under Vijaya Banner. I’ve very good association with Nagireddy. He helped me a lot during my marriage and also at the time of completion of 60 films. I did not take any remuneration for the film ‘Gundamma Katha’. Later Nagi Reddy and Chakrapani deposited some amount on my name in the bank and started giving scholarships to the students. He was my inspiration for establishing the Annapurna Studios. I’m very happy to present the award on his name to Dil Raju. I saw the film ‘Mr Perfect’. Dil Raju made a full fledged family oriented film right at the time films of that genre started vanishing.”

Balakrishna said, “I’m very happy today for celebrating a Nagireddy’s Satha Jayanthi in Hyderabad. The Telugu people will never forget the Baapu-Ramana and Nagireddy-Chakrapani pairs. Nagireddy is the role model even for the future generations. I acted in super hit films like ‘Bhirava Dweepam’ and ‘Sri Krishnarjuna Vijayam’ under their banner. Nagi Reddy was nominated as Chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam when my father became the Chief Minister in 1983.”

Dil Raju said, “We produced good films but not great films like Vijaya banner. There is vast change in the film industry now when compared to those days. It’s not just sufficient if the producer wants to make good films. The circumstances also should match with his thoughts. We worked very hard for the film ‘Mr Perfect’. We even reshot some scenes for another 15 days. We blindly believed the story and made that film and it brought us several awards. I’m very happy to receive this award on the name of a great producer B Nagireddy’s name for the first time.”