Legendary actor Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR) is being celebrated in a grand retrospective film festival titled ANR 100: King of the Silver Screen. This film festival, dedicated to commemorating ANR’s remarkable legacy, is set to coincide with the revered actor’s 100th birthday on September 20. Organized by the actor’s family in collaboration with the Film Heritage Foundation, National Film Development Corporation, National Film Archive of India, and PVR-Inox, the event promises to screen ten of ANR’s most memorable films. This event is poised to be a nostalgic journey, showcasing ANR’s illustrious career and his influential contributions to Indian cinema.
The screenings will be held over three days from September 20 to 22 across 25 cities including Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Vadodara, Jalandhar, Rourkela, Warangal, Kakinada, and Tumkur. These cities were thoughtfully chosen to ensure that audiences from various regions can partake in this cinematic celebration.
The lineup of restored classics includes an array of ANR’s most beloved films: Devadasu (1953), Missamma (1955), Mayabazar (1957), Bharya Bharthalu (1961), Gundamma Katha (1962), Doctor Chakravarthi (1964), Sudigundalu (1968), Prem Nagar (1971), Premabhishekam (1981), and Manam (2014). These films not only highlight ANR’s versatile acting skills but also represent significant milestones in the Telugu cinema landscape.
Shivendra Singh Dungarpur from the Film Heritage Foundation expressed his enthusiasm about the retrospective festival. He noted that this festival comes on the heels of successful retrospectives for other Indian cinema stalwarts like Amitabh Bachchan, Dilip Kumar, and Dev Anand. According to Dungarpur, the selection of films spanning from 1953 to 2014 encapsulates some of ANR’s biggest hits, illustrating his enduring appeal and his ability to resonate with audiences across generations.
Representing the late actor’s family, ANR’s son Nagarjuna Akkineni shared heartfelt reflections on his father’s extraordinary career. He remarked, “My father was rightly called Natasamrat for his ability to play a range of roles—from a saint to an alcoholic to a romantic hero—in a way that has stayed in people’s hearts for decades. His performances in Devadasu, Premabhishekam, Doctor Chakravarthi, and Sudigundalu are beloved even today.
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Nagarjuna, also an accomplished actor, emphasized his father’s pioneering efforts in the Telugu film industry. “He was a pioneer; he established Annapurna Studios, laying the first foundation for the Telugu film industry in our State. We are proud of his legacy, and through this festival, audiences across the country will remember an icon of Indian cinema. We intend to preserve this legacy so that his contributions will be remembered for another 100 years,” he declared.
Esteemed actor Amitabh Bachchan, who has maintained a close association with the Film Heritage Foundation, also paid tribute to ANR. Bachchan recalled being deeply impressed by ANR’s humility and simplicity. He pointed out that this is the first retrospective of such scale dedicated to Telugu cinema and hailed it as a unique opportunity. “The festival will give contemporary audiences an opportunity to experience ANR’s screen presence, versatility, and range,” said Bachchan.
ANR’s career, which spanned an impressive 71 years, saw him acting and producing in more than 250 films across Telugu, Hindi, and Tamil languages. His body of work leaves an indelible mark on Indian cinema, with each film in the ANR 100 festival serving as a testament to his extraordinary talent and his ability to captivate audiences with his performances.
As India prepares to celebrate ANR’s centenary, the retrospective film festival stands as a fitting tribute to a man whose influence and legacy continue to inspire new generations of filmmakers and actors. This event will serve as both a commemoration of ANR’s timeless legacy and a reminder of the artistic heights that Indian cinema can achieve. The festival’s diverse screenings aim to evoke nostalgia among older audiences while introducing younger viewers to the charismatic and multifaceted world of ANR.
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