17th TANA 2009 at Chicago - Day 1

It is since 1977, the Telugu Association of North America (TANA), have been conducting nationwide conventions in the US every alternate year. Keeping in tradition this year also the convention started on July 2nd at Rosemont Convention Center near Chicago with a Banquet dinner for invitees and other attendees and the official convention started on July 3rd with formal inaugural events.

The night was glittery of stars and starlets all over the place. Seen around were Muralimohan, singers Mano, Suneetha, Vijayalakshmi, singer-music director R.P. Patnaik, writer-actor Paruchuri Gopalakrishna, lyricists Sirivennela Seetarama Sastry, Suddala Ashokteja, Andesri, artistes AVS, Uttej, Raghubabu, Maharshi Raghava, Navneet Kaur, Kamna Jethmalani, Jhansi, Apoorva, Rajitha, Gollapudi Marurthi Rao, Ravi Varma, actor-producer Meer Abdulla, producer Ravi Vallabhaneni, and other literary and culturally representative personalities of Telugu. Obviously with so many stars donning the banquet over 2000 people thronged in the banquet hall. A few politicians including ministers Galla Aruna Kumari and Mopidevi Venkataramana, MLAs Yarrabelli Dayakar Rao, Ganta Srinivasa Rao and MP Anjan Kumar Yadav were also seen.


Fun filled entertainment with awards ceremony and dinner formed part of today’s event. Classical dance performance, old and new song renditions by upcoming local artistes and singer Vijayalakshmi, mime news reading (popularised at the Telugu Cinema Vajrotsavam by Sunil), artistic creativity by 'Mimicry' Sreenivas not through his vocal talents but by using newspaper and folding it to form various caps and hats. Vijayalakshmi should be particularly mentioned, since she came back to the dais after dinner was over trying to get back the audience into the mood of enjoyment. Eminent individuals who served people in USA and India by way of considerable donations/charity, arts and culture etc., were felicitated by the Governer of Illinois, Patt Quinn.

Murali Mohan spared no words in praising the contribution by TANA. July 3rd and 4th are going to be more star-studded with S.P.B., Chandrabose, Gorati Venkanna, and others added to the list of attendees. A long line of film-based, cultural, and literary events are to be conducted these two days, along with TANA-MAA TV Super Singers competition.