Cinema unifies nation: Amitabh - TeluguPeople.com News

Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who graced the city on Thursday to receive the prestigious NTR National Award by the State government of Andhra Pradesh, was cynosure of all eyes.

Speaking at the grand gala event held at Telugu Lalithakala Thoranam at Nampally in the city, which saw the presentation of prestigious Nandi film awards for the year 2011, a visibly delighted Big B after receiving the award said, 'I'm at a loss for words to express my gratitude.

I feel very humbled and honoured to receive the award which is in the name of legendary NTR who is the son of the soil. I shared a lovely relation and special equation with him. Many of his films had been remade in Bollywood and vice versa. Cinema is a great integrator of a nation.

It unifies a nation. We laugh at a same joke in a film, we sing same song, we cry at same emotions portrayed in a film irrespective of our caste, creed, colour or religion. Cinema has been a great unifying element. I wish it grows further in unifying our nation.'

He said, 'Incidentally, this year marks 100 years of Indian cinema as the first feature film Dada Saheb Phalke's 'Raja Harischandra was released in 1913. I'm glad to receive the NTR National Award in this context. From the bottom of my heart, I thank all Telugu speaking people for the great honour given to me.'

Shyam Benegal, who was to receive the BN Reddy Award, missed the event owing to health reasons.

Kaikala Satyanarayana, who received the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award from the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said, 'I owe this honour to my directors, producers, co-artistes and people who have supported me by all means.'

Actor Mahesh Babu walked away with the Best Actor Award for the film 'Dookudu' which also won five other awards, including the one on Best Popular Film for providing wholesome entertainment, Best Screenplay (Srinu Vaitla), Best Male Comedian (MS Narayana), Best Supporting Actor (Prakash Raj), Best Editor (M R Varma) and Best Stunts (Vijay).

Actress Nayanatara was declared the Best Actress for her acting prowess as Sita in Bapu's masterpiece 'Srirama Rajyam'. It won six other awards including Best Feature Film, Best Cinematographer (PRK Raju), Best Music Director (Ilayaraja), Best Choreographer (Sreenu), Best Make-up (P Rambabu) and Best Female Dubbing Artist (Sunitha).

Mohan Babu's daughter, actress Lakshmi Manchu won the Best Villain for 'Anaganaga O Dheerudu'. N Shankar won the Best Director for the film 'Jai Bolo Telangana' that also won the Sarojini Devi Award for a Film on National Integration.

Bhanu Prakash got the Best debut director for his film 'Prayogam'. Nagarjuna ('Rajanna'), Charmi ('Mangala') and producer Ramesh Prasad ('Rushi') got special jury awards.

Noted journalist, author Rentala Jayadev was adjudged the Best Film Critic. Ilayaraja and Prakash Raj also did not attend the function to receive the awards. 'Srirama Rajyam' and 'Rajanna' bagged seven Nandi Awards each while 'Dookudu' walked away with six, and 'Jai Bolo Telangana' bagged three.

The Award Jury headed by S Gopal Reddy and members K Anand, Ampasayya Naveen, M Karunakaran, Basi Reddy, Manmohan Reddy, Mohan Gokireddy, Sailendra Kumar, Balabadra Patruni Ramani, Allani Sirdhar were also felicitated. Minister for Information and Public Relations DK Aruna, Minister for Major Industries J Geetha Reddy were also present.