Celebrating a century of Akkineni Nageswara Rao: A nationwide film festival
Honoring a legend
India’s Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) is gearing up to celebrate the centenary of Telugu cinema icon Akkineni Nageswara Rao with a grand film festival that spans the entire country. This event, titled “ANR 100 – King Of The Silver Screen,” will showcase ten meticulously restored classics from September 20-22, across 25 Indian cities.
A versatile career
Rao, renowned for his versatility, graced the Telugu, Tamil, and Hindi-language cinema industries over a remarkable 71-year career, starring in more than 250 films. His contributions to cinema earned him numerous accolades, including the prestigious Padma Vibhushan and Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest acting honor.
A retrospective of classics
The festival, coinciding with Rao’s 100th birth anniversary on September 20, will feature landmark Telugu films spanning six decades. Film enthusiasts can look forward to screenings of early classics like Devadasu (1953), Missamma (1955), and the mythological fantasy Mayabazar (1957). The 1960s will be represented by Bharya Bharthalu (1961), Gundamma Katha (1962), Doctor Chakravarthi (1964), and Sudigundalu (1968). The selection also includes later hits such as Prem Nagar (1971) and Premabhishekam (1981), concluding with Rao’s final film appearance in Manam (2014).
A legacy continued
Rao passed away in 2014, leaving behind a legacy that spans two generations of actors, including his son Akkineni Nagarjuna and grandsons Naga Chaitanya and Akhil Akkineni. This festival is a collaborative effort between the Film Heritage Foundation, the Akkineni Nageswara Rao family, NFDC – National Film Archive Of India, and multiplex chain PVR-Inox, with funding from India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting under the National Film Heritage Mission.
Bringing classics to the masses
These screenings will take place in major metros like Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Bengaluru, as well as smaller cities including Vadodara, Jalandhar, and Tumkur. This widespread reach ensures that fans from all corners of the country can partake in this cinematic celebration.
Preserving film heritage
Shivendra Singh Dungarpur, director of the Film Heritage Foundation, emphasized the importance of this retrospective: “The selection of films in this retrospective, beginning from 1953 to 2014, includes some of his biggest hits. This will give people a chance to see his remarkable range as an actor and understand why these films continue to resonate with audiences decades after they were made. It underscores the importance of preserving our film heritage.”
A pioneer remembered
Nagarjuna added, “He was rightly called ‘Natasamrat’ for his amazing 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 and minds for decades. He was a pioneer who established Annapurna Studios, laying the first foundation for the Telugu film industry in our state. We are very proud of his legacy, and through this festival, audiences across the country will remember an icon not just of Telugu cinema but of Indian cinema.”
A commitment to restoration
The Film Heritage Foundation, known for its restoration of Girish Kasaravalli’s Ghatashraddha, currently playing in Venice, has previously curated film festivals featuring restored prints of the films of Dev Anand, Dilip Kumar, and Amitabh Bachchan. Bachchan himself remarked, “I had the good fortune to meet him on several occasions, and I was always struck by his humility and simplicity. This is the first time a retrospective on this scale has been done for Telugu cinema in a manner befitting his stature. The festival aligns with the Film Heritage Foundation’s commitment to bringing the heritage of Indian cinema back on the big screen, the way these films were meant to be seen. This will give contemporary audiences an amazing opportunity to experience the tremendous screen presence, versatility, and range of a legendary actor.”
A testament to cultural heritage
Prithul Kumar, joint secretary (films) and managing director of NFDC-National Film Archive Of India, noted that seven of the featured classics have been restored in 4K from prints and negatives held in the archive’s collection. “This event is not just a tribute to a legendary actor but also a testament to our commitment to preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of Indian cinema. By bringing these masterpieces back to the big screen, we hope to evoke a deep sense of pride and nostalgia, allowing audiences to reconnect with the golden era of our film history,” Kumar said.
This festival is more than just a series of film screenings; it is a celebration of a cinematic legend whose work continues to inspire and entertain. For fans of cinema, this is an opportunity to witness the magic of Akkineni Nageswara Rao on the big screen once again.