The upcoming ANR Awards 2024 are set to be a momentous occasion as they coincide with the centenary celebrations of the legendary Akkineni Nageswara Rao, fondly remembered as ANR. These awards will take place on October 28 in Hyderabad and are of particular significance to actor-producer Nagarjuna Akkineni and his family. This year’s ANR Award has been dedicated to the Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi by none other than Bollywood icon Amitabh Bachchan.
During a break from filming at Annapurna Studios, Hyderabad, Nagarjuna shared insights with The Hindu regarding the significance of the ANR Awards. He explained that these awards are intended to honor those who have made invaluable contributions to Indian cinema, citing the example of acclaimed filmmaker SS Rajamouli, a previous recipient. Rajamouli is praised for elevating Indian cinema to global recognition—not just through critical acclaim but also at the commercial level, which is no small feat.
On selecting Chiranjeevi as this year’s award recipient, Nagarjuna pointed out his critical role in shaping the landscape of Telugu cinema. Reflecting on his father’s philosophy, Nagarjuna noted, “My father believed in cinema as a means of entertainment for everyone, not limited to a niche audience. Chiranjeevi’s films are recognised nationwide and he has had a holistic approach in his contribution to society through his blood bank and other charitable activities.”
This year has also seen other tributes to ANR’s legacy. Earlier, a statue of the revered actor was unveiled at Annapurna Studios, and a commemorative postal stamp was issued. In addition, ten of ANR’s iconic Telugu cinema classics, restored by the Film Heritage Foundation in collaboration with the National Film Archives of India (NFAI), were showcased in theaters across India.
The journey of restoring these classics is not without its challenges. Nagarjuna elaborated on this, highlighting a workshop hosted by Annapurna Studios in 2019 on film restoration with the Film Heritage Foundation. The process of preserving Telugu classics, unfortunately, has its obstacles due to improper storage of originals over the years. “It can cost nearly ₹80 lakh to restore a print. In several cases, we could not find the originals,” Nagarjuna remarked. As an example, he cited his iconic 1989 film, Geethanjali, directed by Mani Ratnam. “The negatives have holes, and the positives are gone. The available quality is insufficient for television broadcast, necessitating a lengthy process to convert it into 4K digital.”
So far, 21 of ANR’s films have been restored, with 10 carefully selected for public screenings, while further films continue to undergo restoration.
. Nagarjuna proudly noted the foresight of his father in maintaining the films he produced, ensuring their preservation. Annapurna Studios continues this legacy by carefully preserving all its productions.
Discussions are ongoing about making these restored classics accessible on digital platforms. Nagarjuna clarified that NFAI holds the repository of these films while they seek to permit their availability on Annapurna Studios’ website. Due to existing satellite rights with television channels, distribution to other digital platforms could prove tricky. However, there is talk about NFAI launching its platform where audiences might eventually pay to watch these restored films.
In an ever-evolving industry, Nagarjuna reflects on taking his father’s vision forward with new developments at Annapurna Studios. One excitement is the introduction of a Virtual Production Stage with plans to add cutting-edge technology for post-production soon. Nagarjuna sees artificial intelligence as a crucial tool in the creative process, mentioning Amitabh Bachchan’s AI-generated voice in the Telugu film Kalki as an example. His perspective is optimistic about AI’s potential in enhancing various dimensions of filmmaking.
The Annapurna College of Film and Media is similarly contributing to this vision, with many of its students moving into the industry as writers, directors, and technicians. Nagarjuna highlighted the success of Aarambham, a Telugu film created by the college’s alumni, and the notable short films by the current batch that have received recognition at international film festivals.
Shifting gears to his career, Nagarjuna is upbeat about new projects, such as the Tamil film “Coolie” directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj and starring Rajinikanth. He remarked with enthusiasm, “When I watched Lokesh’s Kaithi and Vikram, I was eager to work with him; I think I manifested this opportunity for Coolie.” Nagarjuna found his 15-day shooting experience for the film highly satisfying.
He also mentioned his role in Sekhar Kammula’s upcoming film “Kubera,” where he will star alongside Dhanush. “My character in this film is in contrast to that of Coolie. I have truly admired Sekhar’s sensibilities. It has been a journey of unlearning and learning,” he commented, adding that the project has offered him fresh perspectives in acting.
Nagarjuna’s dedication to honoring the past while embracing the future exemplifies his commitment to the cinematic art that his family has passionately supported for decades.
