Legendary Akkineni No More!!!

Legendary actor and producer Akkineni Nageswara Rao finally left the whole of Telugu people in permanent distress. He succumbed to cancer, casting clouds of sorrow over Telugu film industry. The 90 year old actor himself announced last year October about his cancer and expressed confidence that it will not spread fast during old age. But fate got something else in store for the Akkineni legend and it has finally spread its claws and spit its venom to take him away from this world.

Born on 20th September 1923, Akkineni started his life in paddy fields and strode into theatre, then into movies and carved a name for himself in golden letters across the history of Tollywood. His 75 year old cinema career started in 1941, at the age of 17, when he made his debut with Telugu film 'Dharmapatni'. ANR married Annapurna in 1953, after whom his production house and studio is named, and the couple have five children. She breathed her last in 2011, leaving the legendary actor much depressed. Their children include Venkat, Nagarjuna, Satyavathi, Naga Suseela and Saroja.

Akkineni is a cinema library who starred in 250+ movies till date in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi, while 'Manam' is his last flick. There is no question of any role he hasn't played in his illustrious career. A prince, lover boy, depressed lover, government servant, soldier, holy saint and any mythological role, ANR excelled with ease and proved that there is no second best to him. Art lovers and critics love Nageswara Rao because he played on-screen roles of cultural icons of different regions of India. Literally, Akkineni is the one who first initiated Telugu cinema industry to move to Hyderabad from Madras, thus creating separate identity for Telugu movies. He happens to be the torch-bearer of new age Telugu cinema.

Awards are not a big thing before this legacy he achieved, but yes they should be mentioned. He is the recipient of Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. ANR won prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award in 1991, and also won 4 Filmfares, 2 Nandi awards, 2 Nandi special honours, and Kalaimamani (Tamilnadu), Kalidasu (Malayalam) state awards.

While revealing about his cancer earlier, ANR said 'Life is funny, now comes a twist'. His death is the permanent twist the actor has given to every cinema lover anyway. Deepest condolences to his family and every fan who will miss him forever. May his soul rest in peace!!! 

http://chithralahari2025.blogspot.in/