ANR - K Balachander PM

On the occasion of receiving Dr Akkineni Nageswara Rao International Award for the year 2010, K Balachander organized a press meet at Annapurna Studios in which Nageswara Rao also participated.


Addressing the media Dr Nageswara Rao said, “I got the idea of this award while I was receiving the Dada Saheb Phalke Award. The film industry supported me right from the beginning of my career. Hence I wanted to do something in return and organized this award. I’ve not worked with Balachander except that I met him in various occasions. Thus our association grew. Balachander garu said that he will do the remake of ‘Maro Charitra’ with me stating that I look very young even at the age of 87. I feel very happy when someone talks from their heart and that is the secret behind my fitness. I hope my children and their future generation will continue this tradition of giving this award forever.”


Dr K Balachander said, “Tears filled my eyes right from yesterday due to the affection shown by Andhra people. I’m in the film industry for the past 40 years. But the new directors of this generation are coming up with new conceptual films. Akkineni garu received many awards and I’m happy to be with him today. People of Tamil Nadu has a huge respect for him. Akkineni is the only person who has come to Hyderabad and established a good film studio and provided work for many. He plays a vital role in Indian cinema. He is also the part of Tamil film industry. Right from the time of ‘Devadas’, he did many remarkable films. Many Telugu directors are establishing themselves in Tamil Nadu. Telugu cinema was born in Tamil Nadu. I entered the film industry in 1950 when I was 12 years old. Later I resigned my job and dedicated myself to the film industry. I experimented a lot on the silver screen. I used to consider theater as my first wife due to which few problems also arised in the family. At the time I entered the film industry, MGR, Sivaji Ganesan and Gemini Ganesan used to rule the industry. I proved my talent by winning rave reviews from the audience. Till then only stars were being appreciated in the theatres. I made ‘Server Sundaram’ with the comedian Nagesh. One thing that I realized was the director should not repeat what he has already done. I decided to make every film with different concept and directed films in that manner. That is the reason why the audience have given me place in their heart, thus I created a special brand of my own. In this 40 years of film journey I received many awards and rewards, but this Akkineni Award is a special honor to me. I did not feel this excited when I received the national and state awards also. During my initial days everybody made fun of me. And I told them that TV would be the future field and time proved that my words are true. I’m now going back to Chennai with good memories.”