'ANR 100' festival to celebrate 100yrs of Nageswara Rao's legacy
The Film Heritage Foundation (FHF) is gearing up to celebrate the 100th birth anniversary of Telugu cinema icon Akkineni Nageswara Rao, reported Variety. The celebration will take the form of a nationwide film festival, titled "ANR 100 - King Of The Silver Screen." The event will feature 10 restored classics from Rao's extensive filmography, which spans over six decades and more than 250 movies.
Film festival to showcase Rao's landmark Telugu films
The film festival, which coincides with Rao's centenary on September 20, will showcase a selection of his landmark Telugu films. These include 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).
Festival to be held across 25 Indian cities
The film festival will take place from September 20-22 in 25 cities across India. These include Hyderabad, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Bengaluru, as well as Vadodara, Jalandhar and Tumkur. The event is a collaborative effort between the FHF, the Akkineni Nageswara Rao family, NFDC - National Film Archive Of India, and multiplex chain PVR-Inox. Funding for the festival is being provided by India's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting under the National Film Heritage Mission.
Rao's family expresses pride in his legacy
Rao's son, Akkineni Nagarjuna, spoke about his father's legacy. He said, "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," he added.
Seven featured classics restored in 4K from archive's collection
Prithul Kumar—joint secretary (films) and managing director, NFDC—noted that seven of the featured classics have been restored in 4K from prints and negatives held in the archive's collection. He said, "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."
