Legendary ANR’s statue unveiled to mark his centenary year celebrations

Today, a bronze statue of the legendary actor-producer Akkineni Nageswara Rao (ANR) was unveiled at Annapurna Studios in Hyderabad to commemorate his centenary birth anniversary. The intricately designed statue, crafted by Chennai-based sculptor Vineesh Vijayan, pays homage to ANR during his prime years.

ANR centenary celebrations begin

 


Former Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu, had the honor of unveiling the statue, with several members of ANR’s family, including Nagarjuna, Naga Susheela, Amala, Naga Chaitanya, Akhil, Sumanth, Supriya, Sushanth, and numerous dignitaries in attendance.

The meticulous design process for the statue spanned five months, with Vineesh and his team meticulously studying photographic and video references provided by Naga Susheela, Sumanth, and other family members. Notably, the sculptor even watched ANR’s 1961 film “Velugu Needalu” to capture his subtle expressions accurately. The statue’s creation involved multiple stages, including 3D model development, 3D printing, clay modeling, and the final casting in bronze.

Standing proudly on the premises of the studio founded by Nageswara Rao, named after his wife, Annapurna, the unveiling marked the commencement of the centenary celebrations for the veteran actor-producer, who was born on September 20, 1923.

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For those gathered at the studio lawns on that morning, it was an opportunity to reflect on Akkineni Nageswara Rao’s immense contributions to Indian cinema. Nagarjuna Akkineni, the actor-producer’s son, remarked that the studio was his father’s cherished place and an appropriate location for the statue. He candidly shared that he had refrained from looking at the statue until the unveiling, as it meant accepting the reality of his father’s absence, emphasizing that ANR’s legacy lives on in their memories.

Nagarjuna shared insights into his father’s life and legacy, highlighting his father’s glorious career as an iconic actor, award-winner, and beloved figure in the Telugu film industry. He underscored ANR’s enduring popularity among the Telugu people and the warm memories he left with his family.

The event drew a star-studded audience, with the presence of prominent personalities such as DGP Anjani Kumar, T Subbirami Reddy, director SS Rajamouli, music composer MM Keeravani, producers Allu Aravind, Dil Raju, and Ashwini Dutt, actors Mohan Babu, Brahmanandam, Mahesh Babu, Namrata, Ram Charan, Nani, Vishnu Manchu, Jagapathi Babu, Jayasudha, Anupam Kher, Nasser, Rajendra Prasad, and many others.

Venkaiah Naidu fondly recalled his conversations with ANR and lauded the late actor’s contributions to the Telugu language and cinema. Mohan Babu shared his journey from attending a 100-day celebration of ANR’s film as a student in Tirupati to later collaborating with him in the film industry.

Brahmanandam charmed the audience by imitating ANR’s mannerisms, including the trademark raised eyebrow, and delivering a dialogue from the movie “Prem Nagar” (1974). Rajamouli shared an insightful interaction with ANR, where he had asked the actor why he chose to play a supporting role in “Missamma” when he was already a superstar. ANR had explained his desire for a change in his image since he was constantly being offered roles of alcohol-consuming leading men after “Devadasu.” Rajamouli also highlighted ANR’s ability to breathe life into devotional and mythological stories despite being an atheist.


Naga Chaitanya, who acted alongside his grandfather ANR in “Manam” and portrayed ANR in a cameo in the Savitri biopic “Mahanati,” emphasized the creative risks taken by his grandfather as a valuable lesson for film students. He expressed that he, too, is a student learning from his grandfather’s career and films, and the studio serves as a testament to one man’s extraordinary vision becoming a reality, inspiring him not to be afraid to dream. The statue stands as a tribute to ANR’s enduring legacy.

The event attracted film enthusiasts from various cities who had traveled to pay their respects to ANR.

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