NTR National Awards announced
After virtually putting it in cold storage for over four years, the Andhra Pradesh government on Monday finally announced the prestigious NTR National Awards for the years 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Yesteryear superstar of Telugu films Krishna has been chosen for the NTR National Award for 2003 while ace music director maestro Ilayaraja has been chosen for 2004.
Popular Kannada film star-turned-politician Ambareesh bagged it for 2005 and yesteryear Bollywood actress Waheeda Rehman gets the award for 2006, according to State Information Minister A Ramanarayana Reddy.
Instituted after the legendary Telugu film star-turned-politician N T Rama Rao, the award carries a cash of Rs five lakh besides a citation.
Soon after coming to power, the Congress government led by Y S Rajasekhara Reddy stopped presenting the NTR National Award instituted by the previous TDP government. This led to a major controversy in the state with the TDP threatening to present the award on behalf of the party if the State government failed to do so.
But this being the election year, the Congress government revised the award and selected the four eminent film personalities for the honour.
Meanwhile, the State government also announced the prestigious Raghupathi Venkaiah Award, the Telugu equivalent of the Dada Saheb Phalke Award. Noted poet-producer-director M S Reddy has been chosen for the Raghupathi Venkaiah Award for 2005 and top producer D Ramanaidu for 2006.
The award carries a reward of Rs 50,000 and a golden Nandi.
Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy will present the awards at a function here on November 8.