Veteran director Shyam Benegal receives the ANR Award

Veteran director of Indian film industry Shyam Benegal was awarded with the ANR Award for the year 2012, at an event held at N Convention Center in Hyderabad on February 9, 2013.

The Central minister for Information and Broadcasting Manish Tewari, CM C Kiran Kumar Reddy, T Subbarami Reddy, Akkineni Nageswara Rao, Nagarjuna, Amala, 'Kalaa thapasvi' K Viswanath, 'Padma bhushan' Dr. D Ramanaidu, Akkineni Venkat and Naga Chaitanya were also present at the event.

On this occasion, Akkineni Nageswara Rao said "I have been very grateful to the industry, which have been genial towards me for the last 75 years. It was when I was received the 'Dada sahib phalke' award in 1991, I had decided to initiate an award to honour famous film personalities. After the amount had been funded, we have started this award. T Subbirami Reddy, Ramanaidu and Boney Kapoor have been the chief members associated with award. I am very delighted to give this award to Shyam Benegal, who has contributed a lot to Indian cinema."

Veteran director of Indian film industry Shyam Benegal was awarded with the ANR Award for the year 2012 in Hyderabad.

On this occasion the Veteran director also expressed himself by saying, "Today the most number of films in India are being made in Telugu only. Hyderabad has become the capital city of Indian cinema. I have been a native of Hyderabad. When I had decided to enter film industry, no one supported me."

Akkineni Nageswara Rao has played an important role in bringing Telugu film industry from Chennai to Hyderabad. He loves his studio so much. I have seen him so many times working himself in the studio. I remember asking ANR to rent a big crane for my movie 'Nishaanth' in Annapurna studios. I have been very grateful at receiving this award from such a big personality." concluded Shyam Benegal

CM Kiran Kumar Reddy said that he has also studied from The Nizam college like Shyam Benegal and that he feels proud at Shyam Benegal being a Hyderabadi.

Telugu actor Akkineni Nagarjuna also spoke at the event and said, CM Kiran Kumar Reddy has been a junior to me in college. I would have befriended him, if I had known that he will be the Chief minister. Its been a privilege to give this award to Shyam Benegal and he adds more reverence to the award".

Manish Tewari, member of parliament, also spoke on the contribution of Indian cinema, he said, the Indian film industry has been a platform of expression.

"I wish Indian cinema will produce many good films in the future" he added.

T Subbarami Reddy spoke on his long term association with the National award committee, "I've been the chairman of the committee two times and felt sad as the Telugu movies were not well recognised at the awards. Despite the scripts and the hardwork Telugu films did not receive many awards". He also wishes to produce a film under Shyam Benegal's direction.

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