Of Chiru, Mohan Babu and ANR - TeluguPeople.com News

Hyderabad: Some controversies refuse to die and some temperaments never cool down. The spar between Chiranjeevi and Mohan Babu came into the open during the Akkineni's 75years of acting function held at Shilpa Kala Vedika here.

True to his style Mohan Babu narrated an episode in which Akkineni's wife Annapurna had praised him for his dialogue delivery, which according to her was the best after NTR.

So I am a better actor than ANR and it means my dialogue delivery is better according to her said Mohan Babu in his inimitable style and continued, ANR then chided for the compliment saying, 'with your compliment this monkey will play havoc.'

ANR, known for his repartee from his long association with people like Atreya and others, in his thanks giving speech raised the issue. Immediately Mohan Babu fell on ANR's feet and pleaded to ignore the issue. That was not the end, it was rather the beginning.

Chiranjeevi took the mike from ANR on request and immediately Mohan Babu rushed to the centre stage.

The two were involved in a spar during a felicitating function of Chiranjeevi as Mohan Babu declared that he too was a talented actor and deserves the Award that was being conferred on Chiranjeevi, who went emotional and asked the organisers to preserve the Award and present it to the deserving person after a particular period.

This time around at the ANR function when Mohan Babu played the same prank, Chiranjeevi told the approaching Mohan Babu that it is going to be a positive one and the actor from Chittoor district withdrew.

Chiranjeevi too made comments, rather repeated ANR words, saying that he (ANR) had seen a threat in NTR who had charm, voice and expression. But he managed to remain in the industry by selecting by roles carefully and remained in the top. This is a rare quality in an artiste, Chiranjeevi said.

It took some time for people to understand whether it was praise or a rebuke. Coming to Annapurna-Mohan Babu episode, Chiranjeevi said, 'It's like a mother blessing her son.'

ANR did not take Mohan Babu's comments lightly. 'It is out of jealousy that people talk such things. I just ignore them and I have gone through them many times,' he said.

Though ANR completed his 75 years of acting a couple of years back, the film industry and it various wings planned to honour him and it did not materialise for whatever reason.

T Subbarami Reddy, known for his philanthropic and cultural acumen oraganised the event in his typical pompous style bringing stars of yesteryear's including Anjali Devi and B Saroja Devi besides a galaxy of heroines who acted with ANR on to one stage while MAA chief Murali Mohan was confined to shower praises on ANR.

As a prelude to the felicitation Dasari Narayana Rao had earlier made some pungent remarks on felicitating the same old set of people for the same old reasons while talented youngsters were being ignored.

The comments made some ripples but did not stir a hornet's nest as the industry is known for its sycophancy and some people and business houses have a vice like grip on every aspect of the film industry.

Controversy apart, at the felicitation function, ANR thanked his stars for being lucky, did we hear someone say that he is an atheist, for his long career and Awards and rewards which helped him to live this long.

Just wish me that I should live happily, was what he said to all those who adhered to the formality of saying that they wish to see more films of ANR in the days to come.